On June 10, 2022, at the SCL124 room in the Science Laboratory Building, Faculty of Science, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), the “Innovation for KMUTT Sustainability 2022: KMUTT SDGs Transformation Contest” was held. The event, focusing on the proposal presentation round, was opened by Associate Professor Dr. Chaowalit Limmaneevichitr, Vice President for Student Development. Dr. Panalee Tanprasert, Acting Director of the Student Affairs Office, also attended to support the participating students.
The judging panel was led by Dr. Tatsaniwan Laksanaphisit, Head of KMUTT Entrepreneurship at the Student Innovation Promotion Center (Hatch), Dr. Rangsan Kittikunnanont, a faculty member at the Graduate School of Management and Innovation (GMI), Kittinut Kaewthong from the Energy, Environmental, Safety, and Occupational Health Management Center (EESH), Lieutenant Naphop Yangsuang, Assistant Director of the Building and Facilities Management Office, and Dr. Pitiwut Teerakittikul, Chair of the King Mongkut’s Scholarship Committee for Creative and Innovative Ideas.
The “Innovation for KMUTT Sustainability 2022: KMUTT SDGs Transformation Contest” is part of KMUTT’s response to its 13th strategic plan, aiming to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset in students for driving change towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project started in February 2022 and invited student innovations that contribute to KMUTT’s sustainability under three main categories: 1) Innovation with Execution, 2) For KMUTT Sustainability, and 3) Promoting KMUTT’s Carbon Neutrality by 2040 (KMUTT Carbon Neutrality 2040). The competition saw a keen interest from students, with selected projects entering the Incubation Workshop by the Student Innovation Promotion Center (Hatch).
Out of 15 projects in the incubation phase, 8 teams presented in the Proposal Presentation round, and 4 were selected to receive funding for developing prototypes for the final presentation round. The qualifying teams were: 1) Team MDP KMUTT with their project R2SUS (Race to Sustainability), 2) Team PET Block with their innovation of building blocks from recycled PET plastic bottles, 3) Team Moo Kata with their project META Wireless Charger for Electric Vehicles, and 4) Team Labtasoil with their research on the impact of Microbial Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) on ancient bricks.