On February 20, 2025, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suwit Saetia, President of King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), along with Prof.Dr. Morakot Tanticharoen, Senior Advisor to the President, and Dr. Kanyawim Kirtikara, Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation, welcomed representatives from the Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development,Research and Innovation (PMU-B). The visiting delegation included Mr. Jakkapan Sakornchaijaroen, Senior Analyst (Net Zero Program), Dr. Supparoek Boopasiri, Senior Analyst (Thachawit Program and High-Performance Workforce Development), and Ms. Aksorn Chaisuwan, Senior Communications Officer. The visit aimed to review the first-year deliverables of a research project funded by PMU-B under the Thachawit Program, titled: “Development of New Algae Strains Using Synthetic Biology Innovations to Enhance Carbon Dioxide Capture Efficiency from Industrial Sources, Supporting Thailand’s Net Zero Emission Goals.”
On this occasion, Prof.Dr. Nawadol Laosiripojana, Project Leader from the Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment (JGSEE), KMUTT, outlined the objectives of the project. The research team, comprising representatives from the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Kasetsart University, Khon Kaen University, Naresuan University, and Mahidol University, presented their work plans and relevant research frameworks. The presentation was led by Dr. Kalyanee Paithoonrangsarid from the Algae Biotechnology Laboratory (IBEG-NSTDA), NSTDA.
Following this, discussions were held on strategies for private sector collaboration to advance cutting-edge research, support future industries, and develop a high-performance workforce under: Dimension 2: Frontier Science Alliances, and Dimension 3: Future Graduates Platform.
The discussions focused on four key areas: (1) Establishing a consortium, its management structure, and an activity roadmap, (2) Setting a target for private sector collaboration to contribute 10% of the project’s total value, (3) Identifying participating private sector partners, and (4) Defining membership models and the benefits offered to private sector collaborators. The meeting took place at Prapha Prachaksuphaniti Meeting Room on the 9th Floor, Office of the President Building, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi.