Demomatika#16 once again presented an academic forum focused on strengthening the research capacity of postgraduate students. Carrying the theme “From Idea to Approval: Strategies for Winning Research Proposals,” the event was held on Monday, 9 February 2026, from 09.30 to 12.00 WIB at the RMJT Soehakso Auditorium, FMIPA.
The forum featured Dr. Paolo Giordano, Privatdoz. from the University of Vienna, as the keynote speaker. Participants included Master’s and Doctoral students in Mathematics (S2 and S3), as well as faculty members who sought to deepen their understanding of strategies for developing competitive research proposals with strong funding potential.
During the interactive session, Dr. Giordano emphasized that transforming innovative ideas into approved and funded research proposals remains one of the primary challenges in academia. According to him, the success of a proposal is determined not only by administrative completeness or formatting accuracy, but more importantly by the strength of its scientific argumentation and the clarity of its scholarly contribution.
Drawing on his academic and research experience, he outlined the fundamental logic behind proposals that successfully pass competitive selection. Participants were encouraged to sharpen their research focus, formulate precise research questions, and articulate the urgency, significance, and impact of their studies in a systematic and compelling manner. He also discussed the dynamics of academic evaluation processes and competitive grant mechanisms, which often pose challenges for early-career researchers.
Through Demomatika#16, postgraduate Mathematics students are expected to be better prepared to face research competitions at both national and international levels. The event also served as a strategic learning platform for developing proposals that are not only substantively strong but also competitive and sustainable in the long term.
Keywords: Competitive Research Proposal, Research Funding Strategy, Academic Capacity Building
Author: Iin Nauli Rahmawati
Photo: Muhammad Fakhri Zain Pribadi