On Monday, 1 September 2025, Associate Professor Dr. Montra Pongnil, Dean of the School of Political and Social Sciences, together with faculty members, participated in UP Innovation Day 2025: Innovation for Sustainability under the theme “From UP to Sustainability Impact.” The event was opened by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Supakorn Pongsabangpo, President of the University of Phayao, and organized by the Institute of Innovation and Technology Transfer at the Mueang Phayao Conference Room, Information and Communication Technology Building, University of Phayao.
The event served as a platform for showcasing practical innovations developed within the University, facilitating knowledge exchange, experience sharing, and collaboration among executives, academics, researchers, students, as well as public, private, and community sectors. It also aimed to support the translation of research and technologies into commercial and social impact.
The School of Political and Social Sciences presented its research project:
“Phayao Coffee Roastery: A Prototype Network for Circular Economy Innovation Management among Business, Government, and Community Sectors to Create Income-Generating Opportunities for New Generation Farmers in Phayao Province.”
This project is part of a broader research framework on creative economy development in Phayao Province aligned with sustainable development principles, under the Reinventing University initiative—Excellence Development Program for Higher Education Institutions and Advanced Human Capital—funded in fiscal year 2025.
The project team consists of:
- Dr. Buncha Phuthiwanakul – Project Leader
- Dr. Suthinee Chutimakulthawee – Researcher
- Dr. Atitaya Duangampai – Researcher
- Dr. Rakkiet Intabtun – Researcher
- Asst. Prof. Dr. Wannapa Thongdaeng – Researcher
The event also featured a panel discussion on the establishment of University Holding Companies as key mechanisms for scaling research outputs into commercial applications. Experts from national policy agencies, the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO), Maejo University, Chulalongkorn University, and Chiang Mai University shared their experiences. Funding opportunities and support mechanisms from partner organizations, such as the Agricultural Research Development Agency (ARDA), were also presented to encourage further utilization of research in real-world settings.