On 23 January 2026, the Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy (KKBS), Khon Kaen University, represented by Assistant Professor Pongsutti Phuensane, Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy, and Dr. Vittika Tangchan, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, along with 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.
The visiting delegation included Dr. Sanat Wongthawethong, Manager of the TED Fund, and Mr. Kriangkrai Sinbuathong, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, accompanied by other TED Fund representatives. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss guidelines for developing and supporting funding for young innovation entrepreneurs and to monitor the progress of two established 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, who received funding of 1,500,000 Baht under the “TED Youth Startup (POC Programme).” This project involves developing a maintenance management system powered by AI technology to analyse failure rates. It introduces a ‘War Room’ concept as a central management hub, systematically handling operations from repair notification and status tracking to complete job closure via the Mercury platform. This innovation enhances the efficiency, speed, and continuity of maintenance management within organisations.
Project 2: CupCycle: A 3D Business from Type-7 Plastic Cup Waste This initiative was presented by Ms. Rawipa Puriwat, who received 100,000 Baht under the “TED Youth Startup (IDEA Programme)” within the Social and Environmental challenge industry group. CupCycle focuses on recycling used Polylactic Acid (PLA) plastic waste. Although PLA is a bio-plastic made from natural materials, it is classified as Type 7 plastic and remains difficult to decompose. The project employs innovation in sorting, cleaning, and melting used PLA to develop plastic filaments for 3D printing. This process substantially increases the value of the waste and promotes the efficient use of resources within the circular economy framework.
This progress monitoring and exchange session underscore KKBS’s vital role as a mechanism for developing a new generation of innovative entrepreneurs. It highlights the successful integration of business administration knowledge, technology, and government support crucial for driving startups and entrepreneurs toward sustainable growth, thereby addressing the nation’s long-term economic development objectives.
