Khon kaen: Yotchanan is spearheading Khon Kaen University's initiative to commercialize its battery innovation, with plans to propose to the Council of University Presidents of Thailand (CUPT) to unlock the structure of higher education.
According to Thai News Agency, Yotchanan is collaborating with three regional universities to advance the commercialization of Khon Kaen University's battery innovations. The highlight of this initiative is KKUVolts, Thailand's pioneering model for producing sodium-ion batteries. Yotchanan envisions cross-institutional resource sharing and talent mobility, transforming local universities into dynamic sandboxes to drive national development.
In Khon Kaen Province, Professor Dr. Yotsanun Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), visited Khon Kaen to oversee progress in energy technology. He participated in setting the direction of Thai higher education at the 9th "3 Powers for the Nation" event at the Heritage Grand Hotel, alongside university executives and faculty members.
During the visit, the Minister explored the Khon Kaen University battery manufacturing plant (KKUVolts), an innovation hub that has been involved in research since 2010. The plant's successful production of Thailand's first sodium-ion battery marks a significant milestone. These batteries are versatile, suitable for use in vehicles ranging from motorcycles and golf carts to military tanks.
KKUVolts operates as a model facility offering a comprehensive value chain from upstream to downstream, encouraging research and development collaboration with the private sector. Khon Kaen University has furthered structural progress by launching a specialized battery program, with its first cohort of undergraduates nearing graduation, aiming to supply skilled personnel to the energy industry.
Later, Professor Dr. Yoschanan presided over the closing ceremony of the "Three Forces for the Nation" knowledge exchange event, a collaboration among Khon Kaen University, Chiang Mai University, and Prince of Songkla University. He proposed solutions to address structural limitations in university administration, emphasizing the need for resource management reform and talent mobility.
Professor Dr. Yotsanun highlighted the necessity of unlocking resource management to rectify budget allocation issues. He advocated for talent mobility, resource sharing, and reducing academic competition to elevate large-scale research projects and lessen staff stress.
The Minister is promoting these universities as national testing grounds (sandboxes) for building a robust knowledge foundation. He plans to discuss the jointly established standards at the Council of University Presidents of Thailand (CUPT) to support each university's strengths.
'The key objective this year is to make these universities the nation's hope, leading Thailand forward. If this mechanism is successful, development in other dimensions will also progress,' Prof. Dr. Yoschanan stated.
In the afternoon, Professor Dr. Yoschanan, along with Pheu Thai Party parliament members, will engage with Khon Kaen residents to gather insights and align policies with local needs.