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Published on March 17, 2008

"We've not yet reached the point where American universities are: when the private funding to a top institute exceeds US$100 million [Bt3.1 billion] a year. But it's a meaningful beginning," said Suttiporn Jitmitrapab, Chulalongkorn's deputy rector for research.

PTT Chemical and SCG have agreed to inject Bt30 million each into Chulalongkorn to jointly develop chemical synthesising technology this year.

The biggest sponsor is a Japanese semiconductor company which awarded Bt150 million for the development of flexible materials used in chip production. Chulalongkorn's researchers are also involved with the development of other innovations like the nano-particles for washing-machine makers.

During four years in office, Suttiporn has witnessed an increase in private funding: from Bt100 million in 2005 to Bt75 million in 2006 and more than Bt100 million last year. This year, the funding totals Bt250 million.

Under the joint programme, university researchers and the participants' researchers are set to work together to share their knowledge at the university and the private companies' labs. While the companies own the copyrights for the innovations, the university is earning fees from their commercial value.

Suttiporn said that accommodating greater cooperation with the business world is a new building at the back of the National Stadium which, when completed in July, will provide basic R&D tools to any private company. Assisting them will be graduate students who, with their experience, can start to work for companies in their respective fields.

"Our researchers would have no exposure to the business world if they only stayed in the labs. Private companies' researchers would also have no access to our research if they kept working by themselves."

The current strategy is inspired by the success of American universities which have worked closely with companies in developing innovations that have put many US companies in the top leagues in their fields.

Aside from R&D with the outside world, Chulalongkorn also has a Business Incubation Unit where research that can be commercialised is presented to private companies for industrial production. Researchers will in return benefit from licensing fees.

Chulalongkorn is also seeking strong partners to expand its research expertise. A partnership with the University of Nagoya allows the company to conduct R&D for components specially made for vehicles distributed in Southeast Asia for Toyota.

The university has also launched Asia Pacific CRO in collaboration with the Netherlands' leading research company, IATEC, as the first in Thailand to provide full-circle clinical research services. This paves the way for Chulalongkorn to conduct clinical research for major pharmaceutical companies.

Achara Deboonme,

Chularat Saengpassa

The Nation