Semarang – Universitas Diponegoro has once again achieved a remarkable milestone through the Artificial Fish Apartment (AFA) innovation developed by a research team led by Prof. Dr. Ir. Munasik, M.Sc.. The innovation has officially been selected as one of the participants in the Lab2Market 2026 Program, a national initiative aimed at accelerating the downstreaming and commercialization of university-based research innovations in Indonesia.
The selection was officially announced by the Lab2Market committee on 9 June 2026. The program serves as a strategic platform for research-based innovations with strong potential to be transformed into practical solutions ready for industrial and community implementation.
Artificial Fish Apartment (AFA) is an innovative artificial reef technology developed using Fly Ash Bottom Ash (FABA), an industrial by-product that is repurposed into environmentally friendly structures for marine habitats. The technology was designed to support coastal ecosystem restoration, enhance fisheries productivity, and strengthen the economic resilience of coastal communities through a sustainable approach.
Currently, AFA has reached Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7–8 and has been tested in several coastal areas across Indonesia. Monitoring results have demonstrated increases in fish abundance, biodiversity, and habitat complexity. In addition to its ecological benefits, AFA is also considered economically efficient, with production costs significantly lower than comparable imported artificial reef products.
Through the Lab2Market 2026 Program, the AFA team will receive intensive mentoring in market validation, business model development, intellectual property strengthening, commercialization strategies, and investor engagement. This support is expected to accelerate the broader implementation of AFA as an innovative solution for marine ecosystem restoration and blue economy development in Indonesia.
Prof. Munasik stated that this achievement serves as strong motivation for the research team to continue transforming scientific innovation into real benefits for society.
“We are grateful that AFA has been selected for the Lab2Market 2026 Program. This opportunity will strengthen the commercialization process of the innovation we have developed. We hope AFA can become not only a research product, but also a practical solution that contributes to marine ecosystem restoration and the welfare of coastal communities,” he said.
The AFA Development Team consists of multidisciplinary academics and practitioners from Universitas Diponegoro with expertise in marine ecology, fisheries technology, engineering design, production systems, and environmental monitoring. The innovation also reflects Undip’s commitment to supporting the Blue Economy agenda and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 14: Life Below Water.
As part of the program, the AFA team is scheduled to participate in the Lab2Market 2026 Kick-Off Program, which will take place in Jakarta on 25–26 June 2026. The event will mark the beginning of a structured commercialization journey aimed at transforming scientific innovation into tangible social, environmental, and economic impact.