AIT Launches First Industry-Academia Business Incubation Conclave: Fostering Innovation, Collaboration, and Sustainable Growth

Prof. Pai-Chi Li, AIT President and Patron of IAIBIC 2024, emphasized the critical importance of collaboration in driving innovation and connecting academia with industry. "Collaboration is the most critical part—it combines the intellectual curiosity of academia with the practical market knowledge of industry. AIT is uniquely positioned as a BOI Science and Technology Park to foster an innovation ecosystem. IAIBIC 2024 offers opportunities for inspiration, meaningful discussions, and networking to drive impactful outcomes,"

Prof. Nitin K. Tripathi, Vice President for Academic Affairs at AIT and Chairman of the conclave, provided an overview of the event's transformative goals. "This conclave unites academia, industry, and policymakers to foster sustainable growth. With 17 companies committing to startups at AIT, we are redefining education by empowering students and researchers to create real-world impact,"

A highlight of the opening session was a Distinguished Entrepreneur Award presented to H.E. Dr. Subin Pinkayan, former Foreign Minister of Thailand and Former AIT Board Chairman. The award was presented by Mr. Suthiket Thatpitak-kul, the Deputy Secretary General of the BOI, and Felicitation was carried by Prof. Li and Prof. Tripathi. In his keynote, H.E. Dr. Subin reflected on his journey, from pioneering Thailand's first consulting engineering firm to advancing industrial estates and renewable energy. He credited professors, colleagues and students, shared plans to test solar technologies at AIT's Science and Technology Park, and emphasized academia-industry synergy in driving progress. His reflections, filled with gratitude and vision, inspired attendees with a legacy of resilience, collaboration, and innovation.

The plenary session, chaired by Dr. Bindu Lohani, Former Vice President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development at ADB, included notable speakers:

• H.E. Mr. Nagesh Singh, Ambassador of India to Thailand
• Mr. Suthiket Thatpitak-kul, BOI Deputy Secretary General
• H.E. Mr. Pavel Pitel, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Thailand
• Mr. Montri Mahaplerkpong, Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce Thailand
• Dr. Charnwit Tridech, Director of the Technological and Innovative Business Promotion Group at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation (MHESI)

Discussions emphasized the transformative potential of academia-industry-government collaborations in driving innovation, skill development, and sustainable growth. Insights were shared on India's emergence as an R&D hub, Thailand's regional science parks, and the Czech Republic's leadership in startups. Technologies like AI, clean energy, and robotics, coupled with supportive policies, were seen as key drivers for sustainable economic growth.

The event featured dynamic sessions on innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurship. A session on Business Opportunities through Industry-Academia Collaboration in ASEAN focused on how partnerships address challenges in healthcare, transportation, and infrastructure. It highlighted Thailand's progress in medical robotics and the need for improved frameworks to scale innovations.

The Roundtable: Entrepreneurship Ecosystem: Challenges and Solutions emphasized fostering purpose-driven startups, sustainable models, and regional strategies in sectors like AI and food tech. Mentorship, flexible funding, and collaboration were highlighted as key to scaling and ensuring global competitiveness.

A session on Academia to Industry stressed bridging academic research and real-world applications through partnerships, funding, and updated curricula to prepare students for evolving careers and global challenges. The session was chaired by Dr. Michael Phillips, (Session Chair), Co-Founder / Director of FUTUREFISH and featured university leaders Prof. Nitin Kumar Tripathi; Prof. Rajat Moona, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) Dr. Pornchai Mongkolvanit, Siam University (SU); Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thanapat Wanichanon, MU; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sommai Pivsa-Art, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi (RMUTT). Speakers underscored the importance of mentorship, interdisciplinary curricula, and practical skills to bridge academic research with real-world applications.

IAIBIC 2024 brought together policymakers, investors, researchers, and industry leaders to explore thematic areas like AI, quantum computing, sustainable solutions, and disruptive technologies. Participants engaged in networking, brainstorming, and matchmaking activities that formalized partnerships. Highlighting AIT's Science and Technology Park as a hub for innovation, the event featured interactive exhibitions connecting academia, industry, and startups.

AIT signed partnership agreements with 14 leading companies, paving the way for groundbreaking initiatives, innovative solutions, and significant contributions to entrepreneurial and academic landscapes regionally and globally. The agreements were signed by Prof. Pai-Chi Li. IAIBIC 2024 reaffirmed AIT's dedication to nurturing startups, advancing sustainable development goals, and fostering impactful innovation across the region and beyond.

The event concluded with a celebration of AIT receiving the International Green Gown Award in the '2030 Climate Action' category for its transformative project, "Net Zero Campus Initiative: A Leap Towards Sustainable Climate Action." The occasion also marked the launch of the AIT Research Report.