Showcasing The Portable Machine of Tempeh Making in Austria, Two Indonesian High School Students Ready to Promote Indonesian Cuisine in Europe

Tempeh, often known as a traditional Indonesian delicacy, that is easily cooked into various dishes, has gained popularity for its affordability and widespread appeal to people of all backgrounds. Surprisingly, this soybean-based food has been hailed as one of the best vegan foods globally. The name “tempeh” has gained recognition among European communities, particularly among vegetarians.

In response to the growing popularity of tempeh in Europe, two students from BINUS SCHOOL Simprug embarked on an innovative endeavor to create a Portable Machine of Tempeh Making. This technology was showcased to the European public at the Ars Electronica Festival 2023, held at POSTCITY Linz in Linz, Austria, from 6-10 September 2023.

At this event, the BINUS SCHOOL Simprug booth adopted the theme “Tempeh Universe: Revealing the Secret of Tempeh – Indonesian Food Heritage and Vegan Life” featuring the Portable Machine of Tempeh Making, a technology that processes soybeans into tempeh.

The Portable Machine of Tempeh Making is the creation of two 10th-grade students from BINUS SCHOOL Simprug, Kenneth William Santoso and Davrell Mylka Jowkins. Their presence at this international event was accompanied by BINUS SCHOOL Simprug teacher Ms. Savita as research mentor, as well as Dr. Rinda Hedwig as Research Interest Group Leader and Marcel Saputra as Research & Development Coordinator from BINUS University’s Computer Engineering department, and Chef Trias Septyoari Putranto.

With pride and enthusiasm, Kenneth William Santoso and Davrell Mylka Jowkins provided an explanation of how the device operates. Kenneth explained that the concept behind this technology is relatively simple, involving the control of all tempeh processing stages, from initial steps like soybean washing, boiling, to soybean and hull removal.

“The first step of the machine is to soak the soybeans for 6 hours while the machine oscillates back and forth to ensure the separation of the hull from the bean. Secondly, the machine will bring the soybean and water to a boiling temperature. Thirdly, the machine will increase its rotation speed to ensure the absolute separation of the hull from the bean,” explained Davrell.

Kenneth added that the machine also adds yeast as a fundamental ingredient in soybean processing into tempeh. The machine’s temperature adapts to room temperature, complete with air circulation to facilitate fermentation.

“The result of this controlled process is eventually the creation of the tempeh dishes. This machine exercises the entire process from soybean to tempeh offering consumers consistent quality and less work,” continued Kenneth.

The Portable Machine of Tempeh Making is planned to be marketed in non-Asian countries, excluding Japan, with the goal of promoting traditional Indonesian cuisine to the world.

Mr. Isaac Koh, the Principal of BINUS SCHOOL Simprug, expressed that every student’s talent and interests should be continuously supported to hone their potential, allowing it to have a positive impact on society.

“Here, we believe in encouraging students to explore their interests and talents and supporting them with the resources to achieve them at the highest level possible,” Mr. Isaac explained.

As a research mentor to Kenneth and Davrell, Ms. Savita is truly proud of the opportunity to have a showcase at the Ars Electronica Festival 2023, especially considering the positive response from the audience.

“During our exhibition in Austria, the response we received was incredibly enthusiastic. It was evident that many people in Europe were highly interested in this tempeh processing technology, and they also seemed to enjoy dishes made from tempeh,” expressed Ms. Savita.

The Indonesian Embassy in Austria (KBRI/PTRI) also attended and provided support to the BINUS SCHOOL Simprug delegation, which proudly represents Indonesia through their innovative technology. The Ars Electronica Festival is an exhibition that combines various fields, including science, business, creativity, art, and local wisdom from around the world.

BINUS SCHOOL Simprug’s presence with the Portable Machine of Tempeh Making demonstrates that BINUS SCHOOL Education always fully supports its students in their creative endeavors and innovations, particularly when they are impactful to society, aligning with the vision of BINA NUSANTARA to foster and empower society in building and serving the nation.