In celebration of its 60th anniversary, PT DAHANA (Persero) has once again organized D’INNOVATE 2026—a platform designed to foster ideas, creativity, and innovation within the mining industry. The initiative comprises two primary categories: D’BEST (DAHANA Blasting & Energetics Summit) 2026 and the DIA (Dahana Innovation Award) 2026.
The final presentation round for both categories took place in Subang on Thursday (October 8, 2026). This event served as a stage for university students and DAHANA personnel to showcase innovative concepts with the potential to address industry challenges and the company’s specific needs.
The D’BEST category is an innovation competition that featured 10 student teams from various universities. Prior to reaching the final round, all participants underwent a rigorous selection process, evaluated by a panel of experts in the field.
Irwan Ibrahim, Director of Technology and Development at PT DAHANA (Persero), emphasized that the capacity for innovation is a crucial factor for the company to remain relevant and competitive amidst an increasingly dynamic industrial landscape.
“Innovation cannot simply stop at the idea stage; it must address specific needs, undergo testing and development, and ultimately provide solutions and tangible benefits to the company,” said Irwan.
Meanwhile, the Dahana Innovation Award (DIA) category involved 17 internal DAHANA teams, divided into two tracks: Exact Sciences and Non-Exact Sciences. Through this competition, DAHANA personnel are encouraged to develop innovations that are not merely theoretical, but also practical and capable of addressing various operational challenges and supporting the company’s development. Director of Operations at PT DAHANA (Persero), Abdul Haris Atbaro, expressed his appreciation for the D’INNOVATE 2026 event, noting its role as a platform for generating innovative solutions to address real-world challenges in the field.
“D’INNOVATE has now been held for two consecutive years, while this year marks the inaugural edition of D’BEST. The participants here have brought forward ideas specifically designed to tackle challenges within the mining sector,” stated Abdul Haris Atbaro.
As the highlight of the competition series, the D’BEST 2026 category saw the PINN-Master team from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) take first place, followed by the AB 1 team from Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in second place, and the AHMASYA team from the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) in third place. Meanwhile, the “Most Favorite Team” award was presented to Terrasync, a collaborative team from UIN Jakarta (UINJ) and Brawijaya University (UB).
The achievements of these winners demonstrate the enthusiasm of the younger generation in developing innovations that have the potential to make a tangible contribution to the advancement of Indonesia’s mining industry.