Empowering Chulalongkorn through Research and Knowledge with C2F, towards Being a World-Class Innovative University for Society  

Prof. Dr. Bundhit Eua-arporn, Chulalongkorn University President, chaired the C2F Directive and Policy Committee meeting, the last meeting of the C2F committee under the current Chulalongkorn’s Administrative Board whose term ends on May 17, 2024. Prof. Dr. Chakkaphan Sutthirat, Vice President for Research Affairs, Chulalongkorn University, and Prof. Dr. Parichart Sthapitanonda, Vice President for Academic Affairs, along with the University Council committee and distinguished external committee members, also attended the meeting.  

The objectives of the Chulalongkorn University Second Century Fund (C2F) are to promote academic development, research, and innovations towards commercial applications and support social development for sustainability. There are four strategic plans: supporting human resource development, developing advanced technologies to support in-depth academic work, collaborating with leading global universities, and supporting large-scale projects that impact society and the nation and address global issues. 

The meeting reviewed the operations of C2F that corresponded with the Strategic Plan for a World-Class National University including creating future leaders, creative research and innovations, and sustainable development. The details are as follows:  

• 2,697 scholarships awarded to lecturers, researchers, and students at various levels: These included 1,815 scholarships given to foreign students and researchers resulting in 1,386 high-quality research works, 11 platforms for leading research, and continuous research grants. C2F received research funding from external sources for 273 million Baht and collaborated with 150 world-class universities.  
• The platform for leading research has continuously provided research grants to lecturers, researchers, and students. Some of the research and academic works that were awarded research grants are as follows:  

• Technological Science: Fundamental physics of the universe (CUniverse), CO₂ capturing and utilization (CrystalLyte), surface innovation spinoff company (Nexurf), microneedle patch (Mineed), etc.  
• Health Science: CAR T-Cell therapy for cancer (CAR T-Cell), Thai silk for medical products (EngineLife), educational innovation development project to enhance patient care capabilities with virtual reality (ER-VIPE), etc.  
• Social Science and Humanities: Chula ARi for the elderly, architectural designs for society project (D4S), creative tourism project, digital art project (FAAMAI), Psychological Development Center (Life-Di), Nelson Mandela Center for Peace, etc.  
• Developing researchers to support research and innovation enterprises (Talent for Enterprise, T4Ent) to drive science and technology towards commercialization (Innovation Driven Enterprise). This is done in collaboration with the Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research, and Innovation (PMU-B) to support post-graduate and post-doctoral researchers to commercialize innovations. PMU-B has contributed 16 million baht for developing curricula in innovation human resources, while C2F provides 40 scholarships for a master’s program (Research for Enterprise, R4Ent) to support innovation research.  
• For the fiscal year 2023, the C2F fund has allocated a total budget of 562 million baht, and for the year 2024, a budget of 398 million baht has been allocated. 

During the meeting, 7 completed High Impact Program (HIP) research projects were presented. Asst. Prof. Sarayut Supsook, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University, presented the Design for Society (D4S) project, and Prof. Dr. Bussakorn Binson, former Dean of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, presented the digital art project (FAAMAI). Chulalongkorn President stated, “The aim of the C2F is not to address short-term issues. Instead, this fund is like a vitamin that enhances the power of Chula personnel to produce research work, teaching, and up-to-date knowledge, as well as various works for a sustainable society. Chula’s C2F fund has yielded many tangible outcomes that are nationally and internationally recognized, aligning with Chula’s strategy to be a leading innovative university with world-class research.” 

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