South Korea\'s renowned Busan Economic Promotion Agency (BEPA) and the Chulalongkorn School of Integrated Innovation (CSII) have joined forces to create a support framework focused on nurturing an innovation ecosystem that will be advantageous for startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Additionally, they will create an incubation program to foster startup and innovation projects. This initiative follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on October 12, 2023 by BEPA President Yang Hyun Jin and CSII Executive Director Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai.

The agreement aims to promote the growth of startups and SMEs, share exchange-related knowledge, and foster cooperation over research and development (R&D), educational exchanges, internships, and other matters related to the development of innovation as well as commercial, industrial, and technical exchanges. Moreover, the two institutions will seek to expand opportunities through knowledge sharing via seminars, symposiums, workshops, business meetings, trade fairs, and trade promotion groups.

\"We are proud to partner with Thailand\'s number one university,\" President Jin Yang-Hyun remarked while addressing the gathering assembled to witness the MoU signing ceremony. Expanding on BEPA\'s mission, President Jin emphasized the organization\'s commitment to supporting startups and SMEs in Busan. Describing Busan as a youthful city, President Jin expressed his eagerness to deepen BEPA’s involvement in Thailand\'s startup ecosystem.

\"Our school integrates various disciplines, and as a young institution, it remains highly agile,\" Prof. Worsak informed the visiting delegation. \"The first batch of CSII recently graduated, and our goal is to produce graduates who create jobs rather than simply seek them. Our graduates are global citizens who possess 21st-century skills, a deep understanding of global cultures, and future literacy,\" Prof. Worsak added before highlighting the school\'s ability to attract top talent and emphasizing that all students are AI-literate in addition to developing a dual core competency in technology and business. Prof. Worsak also commended CSII faculty member Dr. Ronnakorn Viyavuth for his role in fostering the partnership between BEPA and CSII.

The visiting delegation included BEPA’s President Jin Yang-Yun, Director Kim Jae Gab and Team Leader Song Sunae, June Kung from the Korea SME and Startup Agency (KOSME) as well as Director Netnapit Chulakanista and Trade Officers Wannapong Waiyawuththanapoom and Manapat Nabwandee from Thailand\'s Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP).

CSII was represented by Prof. Worsak, Dr. Ronnakorn and other faculty and staff members. Daria Dmitrieva, International Affairs Officer at CSII, served as the event emcee. The visiting delegation also participated in a deliberation on Chulalongkorn Startups and was introduced to startup pitching within the university.