A special seminar unlocks research barriers to foster commercial utilization, industry-academic collaboration, and high-impact business solutions.
The National Phenome Centre of Khon Kaen University hosted a special seminar entitled “Bridging Academia and Industry: Unlocking Barriers, Connecting Research to Commercial Applications”. The event served as an academic platform for researchers and industry sectors to exchange knowledge, elevate research works into practical utilization, establish collaborative networks, and enhance opportunities in developing research proposals that address business and societal demands.
On 10 June 2026, the Business Collaboration and Research Development Division of the National Phenome Centre, Khon Kaen University (KKU), organised the special seminar at The Heritage Grand Khon Kaen Hotel and Convention in Khon Kaen Province. Aimed at promoting the commercial application of research findings and building institutional-industrial synergy, the event was held in conjunction with The 3rd Thailand Bioinformatics Research Network Conference 2026 (TBRN 2026).
Assoc. Prof.Chiranut Sa-Ngiamsak, Ph.D., Assistant to the President for Research and Innovation at Khon Kaen University, presided over the opening ceremony. In her remarks, she emphasized the significance of driving research and innovation to support national development, particularly through value creation from academic knowledge in the industrial, healthcare, and social sectors. She noted that achieving this requires integrated cooperation from all parties, especially between universities and industries, to foster a strong and sustainable research and innovation ecosystem.
Asst. Prof. Jutarop Phetcharaburanin, Ph.D., Director of the National Phenome Centre, stated that developing contemporary research and innovation to satisfy the requirements of the industrial sector and healthcare system demands strategic collaboration among academic institutions, research entities, and the private sector. Such cooperation ensures the formulation of research questions aligned with user needs, allowing for tangible socioeconomic expansion.
The Director added that this seminar also functioned as an intellectual arena to exchange knowledge, perspectives, and experiences from experts across academia and industry. This will lead to mutual understanding in determining research directions, developing competitive research proposals that match industrial needs for external funding agencies, and establishing robust networks to accommodate future research endeaovurs.
The event featured a special keynote lecture on “From Lab to Market: Transforming Research into Business and Industrial Opportunities” by Dr. Thidathip Wongsurawat from the Medical Bioinformatics Unit, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, who is also a co-founder of BiKraft Co., Ltd. She shared her experience on transforming laboratory research into commercial value. Additionally, a panel discussion on “From Industrial Needs to Joint Research Proposals: Fostering Collaboration to Elevate Research for Practical Utilization” was held, featuring distinguished industrial experts including Dr. Jakkapop Jitpimonmard from Omics Tech Co., Ltd., Dr. Jarika Makkoch from Genfosis Co., Ltd., and Dr. Siwarutt Boonyarattanakalin from SMS Corporation Co., Ltd. The panelists discussed research priorities in industry, gaps between academic and business sectors, guidelines for developing high-potential proposals for funding, intellectual property management, and collaborative opportunities in future technologies such as AI, Omics, and Precision Medicine.
The seminar attracted strong participation from researchers, faculty members, students, and representatives from the private sector and businesses related to research and innovation, both within and outside Khon Kaen University. Participants reflected positively on the event, noting that the discussion opened new perspectives on aligning research with user needs. It provided a clearer understanding of collaborative mechanisms between researchers and businesses, particularly in co-defining research questions, developing viable grant proposals, and commercialising outputs. This crucial knowledge can be applied to plan and design future research projects that generate tangible impacts on the nation’s economy, society, and healthcare systems.
The organisation of the “Bridging Academia and Industry” seminar marks another significant step for the National Phenome Centre of Khon Kaen University in strengthening a research and innovation ecosystem that links education, industry, and end-users. This initiative accelerates the translation of laboratory knowledge and technology into economic and social value, ultimately enhancing national competitiveness within a sustainable, innovation-driven economy.
News: Benjamaporn Mamook
Information/Images: National Phenome Centre, Khon Kaen University
