The Behavioral Marketing Research Group (RG), Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship Clinic and Business Incubator (KKIB), Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), strengthened their partnership in developing a research-based startup incubation ecosystem through a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) held on Tuesday, 18 November 2025. The forum served as an academic platform to examine the role of incubators in nurturing research-driven innovative business ideas within higher education institutions.

Dr. Ahmad Ikhwan Setiawan, Head of the Behavioral Marketing Research Group at FEB UNS, emphasized that business incubators are a critical foundation for supporting students and researchers in developing ideas, building business models, and receiving professional mentoring. He noted that incubators can accelerate the transformation of innovation into solutions that provide value and benefits to society.

Prof. Dr. Datien Eriska Utami from UIN RM Said highlighted the importance of establishing modern incubators as collaborative ecosystems that adapt to market dynamics and technological developments. She pointed out the need for multidisciplinary approaches, including product design, consumer behavior analysis, and digital marketing strategies, to ensure that tenants remain competitive. For her, the success of an incubator depends not only on physical facilities but also on strong mentoring networks, market access, and the integration of research outcomes with industry needs.

From the incubator management perspective, Dr. Idris, Head of KKIB UNDIP, explained that universities must provide an enabling environment for startup growth. This includes space for creativity, experimentation, and a strong culture of innovation. He added that institutional policies, research support, and industry partnerships are essential factors that enable startups to grow from idea development to commercialization.

Through this FGD, both institutions agreed to strengthen research collaboration, share best practices, and promote the development of an incubator model capable of supporting the emergence of competitive startups at the national level. This collaboration is expected to enhance the campus entrepreneurship ecosystem while contributing to national innovation and competitiveness.

This incubation initiative aligns with SDG 4 (Quality Education) through improved research-based entrepreneurship capacity; SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through the creation of new business opportunities and the strengthening of the creative economy; and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) through the advancement of innovation ecosystems, industry collaboration, and research commercialization in higher education institutions.