On 15 November 2568, the Northeastern Regional Science Park 2 hosted the 13th Regional Round of the Research to Market (R2M#13) Programme competition.
The opening ceremony was honoured by the attendance of Assistant Professor Papakorn Pittayachawal, Ph.D., Director of the Northeastern Regional Science Park 2, who delivered the opening remarks. The Khon Kaen University Science Park, led by Dr. Apirachai Wongsriwarapol, Director, participated alongside staff, management, personnel, researchers, and students from the Northeastern Science Park network at Hall 1 (A305) on the third floor of the Northeastern Regional Science Park 2 Administration Building.
The competition featured representatives from four universities in the Northeast region: Mahasarakham University, Suranaree University of Technology, Ubon Ratchathani University, and Khon Kaen University (KKU). They presented various research outcomes poised for commercialisation to a panel of experts from diverse governmental and private sectors.
Khon Kaen University secured two accolades, with students from the Faculty of Economics taking the Second Runner-up prize. The winning team, ‘Songkhram Song Duan’ (Urgent War), comprised five students from the Faculty of Economics and the Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy: Mr. Chokchai Chanaphan (Economics), Mr. Phanupat Phookanngam (Economics), Mr. Denis Kaiser (Economics), Miss Thitaree Phatthanachatchai (Economics), and Mr. Chonlakorn Ruangwachirapanya (Business Administration and Accountancy). Their entry featured research on liquid toothpaste, developed by Professor Suwimol Taweechaisupapong, Ph.D., from the Faculty of Dentistry and Professor Watcharee Kuankitti, Ph.D., from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University.
Mr. Chokchai Chanaphan, a Faculty of Economics student and Second Runner-up prize winner with the ‘Songkhram Song Duan’ team, stated, “We managed to solve a key pain point for customers, particularly elderly patients with limited mobility. This issue can lead to oral thrush and subsequent related diseases. Our research directly addresses this problem and simplifies the usage process, which ultimately impressed the judges. We were excited and very pleased to win because every team was highly competent; we did not expect this award. However, everyone in the team dedicated themselves fully and thoroughly, and I am extremely proud of our team.”
Mr. Chokchai further elaborated, “We received excellent support from the Science Park and our advisory lecturers. The research owners provided detailed consultations and answers to all our questions. We also benefited from the Science Park opening a forum for marketers and researchers to meet, alongside providing various training and knowledge sessions. In the future, I plan to pass on this advice to younger students interested in entering this competition, as it has been a truly special and valuable experience.”
The First Runner-up award, receiving 15,000 Baht and a plaque, went to Khon Kaen University’s ‘Phor Krub Phom Yak Pen Miss Grand’ team. Their research focused on the Kosakonia radicincitans biofertiliser (BG Power), developed by Assistant Professor Suwanna Niemsanit, Ph.D., from the Faculty of Science. The team consisted of four students from the Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy: Miss Jetsirin Kaewkum, Miss Laura Khutny, Mr. Thepparat Singsutham, and Mr. Pisitpong Narongchai.
The Second Runner-up award, receiving 10,000 Baht and a plaque, went to Khon Kaen University’s ‘Songkhram Song Duan’ team. Their research on liquid toothpaste was developed by Professor Suwimol Taweechaisupapong, Ph.D., and Professor Watcharee Kuankitti, Ph.D., from the Faculty of Dentistry and Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, respectively. The team comprised five students from the Faculty of Economics and the Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy: Mr. Chokchai Chanaphan, Mr. Phanupat Phookanngam, Mr. Denis Kaiser, Miss Thitaree Phatthanachatchai, and Mr. Chonlakorn Ruangwachirapanya.
The overall champion was the ‘Ecosphere’ team from Suranaree University of Technology, winning 20,000 Baht and a plaque for their gelatin film product. Three teams also received Commendation Prizes, each winning 5,000 Baht and a plaque.
The prize-winning students will go on to represent the Northeastern region in the national competition round at Prince of Songkla University Science Park in February 2026
