Chulalongkorn University has invested heavily in developing an innovation ecosystem in its nearby areas and recently built a creative and startup village called Block28 to nurture and encourage deep-tech talents from every faculties to create spinoff companies. The university also attracted Tuspark to open a showroom showcasing China’s cutting-edge digital innovations and joined forces with ThaiBev and Kbank to obtain a cash injection.
Dr.Santhaya Kittikowit, Director of CU Innovation Hub and assistant to the President of Chulalongkorn University, said that to take the university to the next level- the 21 st-university-it essentially requires three pillars. First and foremost, it aims to be Entrepreneur University where startups and a new breed of graduates being high skilled in technology and innovation are nurtured and incubated. Secondly, it will convert R&D projects initiated by students and faculty members into commercial success at national and international level. Thirdly, the university will develop innovation ecosystem in Suanluang, Samyan and Rama IV road, areas and build an innovation district to accommodate all startups it had incubated. It will seek support and funding from government and private sectors while attracting foreign investors and teaming up with its international alliances for the exchange of digital knowledge.
Dr.Santhaya said that the Property Management of Chulalongkorn University (PMCU) has successfully built Block 28 C-Creative, the latest innovation district in the heart of city center. The village consists of five three-story commercial buildings which have a total area of 15,000 square meters. PMCU will provide office space for rent for a new generation of deep-tech startup entrepreneurs and CU alumni who want to get their startups off the ground. Moreover, Block 28 will be promoted as an innovation center to showcase the startups’ latest innovation and technology. The university has of late worked together with Tuspark, or Tsinghua University Science Park, which has agreed to sign a space rental agreement and set up the innovation center showcasing deep-tech innovation from China for the benefits of knowledge exchange of digital technologies between the two countries.
Block28 is designated as an incubation center for new startups as CU Innovation Hub will be offering advices and providing a window of opportunity for them. It will gather spinoff companies with great potential together. These spinoffs are set up by CU students and born from their R&D projects and technological inventions.
For example, Meticuly is a spinoff which comes to life in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and creates artificial bones made from Titanium. JuiceInno8 is a food -biotech startup that develops sugar reduction technology to produce low-calorie juices. BAIYA phytopharm, another spinoff from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, is now developing a much-needed Covid-19 vaccine. NABSOLUTE, a health tech startup, successfully develops protective sprays for cloth face masks.
In addition, there are many more spinoff companies to benefit from the center such as spinoffs from the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Veterinary Science and the Faculty of Dentistry.
Moreover, CU Innovation Hub will be the learning center for general public that fosters the growth of new technology and innovation developed by these spinoffs. For instance no Bitter, an agri-tech startup incubated by CU Innovation Hub, had once conducted a seminar about Vertical Farming to share knowledge about urban farming practices.
Furthermore Siam Innovation District (SID) aims to expand business opportunities and supports for startups by designating Siam Square One shopping mall as the main hub to capture the interest of investors from private sectors. At present, Chulalongkorn University has established CU Enterprise Co.,Ltd. which successfully attracted three big companies –namely Thai Beverage Public Company Ltd., KBank and Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA).
SID will become the exceptionally vibrant venue for organizing conferences, activities and exhibitions showcasing innovations by Thai people. It will accommodate visitors and entrepreneurs with innovation database and co-working space. In the future, there will be a campaign called “Pitching Startup” to promote the launch of new startup companies and their growing potentials.
Not only CU spinoffs but also general public can participate in the campaign. Additionally The School of Integrated Innovation, Chulalongkorn University first offered the Bachelor of Arts and Science in Integrated Innovation International program (BAScii) in the academic year 2019 and has produced a new breed of graduates ever since. This program is designed to meet the demands of startups in transforming the university’s R&D results into successful products and services in the marketplace and to help them integrate technology and innovation for a successful startup launch.
