On Thursday, 19 March 2026, the Faculty of Architecture at Khon Kaen University and Really Corporation Co., Ltd. (SEA Bridge), an international innovation business development and consulting firm, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for academic cooperation. The ceremony was honoured by the presence of executives from both organisations, including Associate Professor Kitapatr Thapalabutr, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Khon Kaen University, and Mr. Thanakrit Sermsuksan, Chief Executive Officer of SEA Bridge. The signing, held at the Sarasin Room in the Sirikunakorn Building, Khon Kaen University, was witnessed by Assistant Professor Pongsutti Phuensane, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy, alongside distinguished guests, consular representatives, students, and private sector networks.
This collaboration, operating under the framework of “Dimensions of the Creative Industry,” aims to integrate knowledge in architecture, interior design, fashion, and brand development. The partnership will leverage design as a key mechanism to create added business value, enhancing the competitiveness of a new generation of entrepreneurs from the Isan region in ASEAN and global markets. The scope includes joint curriculum development between academia and industry, the establishment of an innovation platform, the development of a branding ecosystem through unique creative spaces, and providing opportunities for students to engage in internships and cooperative education with businesses at a regional level.
Associate Professor Kitapatr Thapalabutr, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, remarked at the ceremony, “This cooperation marks a significant step in elevating the Faculty’s role in driving the region’s creative economy. Design is not merely an art and a science, but a powerful tool for creating sustainable economic and social value. This aligns perfectly with Khon Kaen University’s vision to be an institution that drives innovation for society and the region.”
Mr. Thanakrit Sermsuksan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SEA Bridge, stated, “The Isan region possesses outstanding cultural capital, resources, and creativity. If developed and systematically connected, it can produce a new generation of entrepreneurs competitive in the ASEAN and global markets. I am confident that the collaboration with the Faculty of Architecture at Khon Kaen University will provide a solid foundation for achieving the goals of both our organisations.”
Assistant Professor Pongsutti Phuensane, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy (KKBS), Khon Kaen University, speaking as a co-organiser of ICIS 2025, commented, “Having followed and participated in this initiative for several years, I am immensely proud to witness this collaboration between the Faculty of Architecture and the private sector grow into a tangible partnership. It proves that academic institutions can be a genuine driving force for the creative economy in the Isan region.”
A key activity resulting from this MOU is SEA Bridge’s integration of the GEN SEA Summit 2026 into the Isan Creativity and Innovation Summit 2026 (ICIS 2026). The Faculty of Architecture, Khon Kaen University, will serve as the primary host for ICIS 2026, in collaboration with a network of partners including the Creative Economy Agency (Khon Kaen), The Secret Sauce, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB, Northeastern Region), and the Mekong Institute. The event is scheduled to take place from 18–19 July 2026, between 08:30 and 16:30 hrs., at the Khon Kaen International Convention and Exhibition Centre (KICE).
