KKBS Welcomes TED Fund Executives to Drive Innovative Entrepreneurship and Boost Sustainable Growth for New Startups

30 January 2026
14:24

On 23 January 2026, the Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy (KKBS), Khon Kaen University, led by Assistant Professor Pongsutti Phuensane, Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy, together with Dr Vittika Tangchan, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and the Head of the KKBS TED Fellow Project, welcomed senior executives from the Technology and Innovation Entrepreneurship Development Fund (TED Fund) under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation.

Assistant Professor Pongsutti Phuensane, Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy

The visiting delegation was led by Dr Sanat Wongthawethong, Manager of the TED Fund, accompanied by Mr Kriangkrai Sinbuathong, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, along with other TED Fund representatives. The meeting aimed to discuss strategic guidelines for supporting and financing young innovation-driven entrepreneurs, as well as to monitor the progress of two projects currently supported by the TED Fund under the KKBS TED Fellow Project.

The two recognised projects were:

Project 1: Smart Maintenance Management System This system was presented by Mr. Treedanai Witayataem, this project received 1,500,000 baht under the TED Youth Startup (POC Programme). The initiative develops an AI-powered maintenance management system that analyses failure rates and integrates a “War Room” concept as a central operational hub. Through the Mercury platform, the system streamlines processes from repair notifications and status tracking to job completion, significantly enhancing efficiency, responsiveness, and operational continuity within organisations.

Project 2: CupCycle: A 3D Business from Type-7 Plastic Cup Waste Presented by Ms. Rawipa Puriwat, this project received 100,000 baht under the TED Youth Startup (IDEA Programme) in the Social and Environmental challenge category. CupCycle focuses on recycling used Polylactic Acid (PLA) plastic cups, classified as Type 7 plastics and difficult to decompose. By innovating sorting, cleaning, and melting processes, the project converts PLA waste into 3D-printing filaments, substantially increasing waste value and advancing circular economy practices.

This progress monitoring and knowledge exchange session highlights KKBS’s strategic role as a key mechanism for nurturing a new generation of innovation-driven entrepreneurs. It demonstrates the effective integration of business administration expertise, technological innovation, and government support, which is essential for driving startups towards sustainable growth and contributing meaningfully to the country’s long-term economic development goals.