Chiang Mai University (CMU) initiated , hosted and participated in a cross-sectoral dialogue on the SDGs at the CMU SDG Forum 2025,held on 26 November 2025 at the Rice Grain Auditorium of the Northern Science Park in Chiang Mai. Under the theme “Empowering Education for Sustainability”, the forum asked how different sectors can pool resources to provide solutions to SDG-related issues,with a focus on Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and on partnership under Sustainable Development Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)
The Chair of the CMU Council,Prof.Emeritus Dr.Surakiart Sathirathai,opened the day with a keynote on what higher education can contribute to global sustainability partnerships, after a welcome from President Prof.Dr.Pongruk Sribanditmongkol. The panel that followed put four sectors on one stage. Victor Seah, Group CEO of Nestle Indochina, spoke for the private sector.Suwimol Jiwalak, Director and Managing Director of the SCG Foundation, brought the view of a non-profit foundation.Dr.Monthip Sriratana Tabucanon, Director of the Climate Change Research Strategies Center, National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) , represented the government, and CMU spoke for higher education.
The forum produced two concrete results. CMU and Nestle Indochina signed a memorandum of understanding on innovation, research, and sustainability and in the afternoon the CMU SDGs Showcase let participants from every sector see the university’s research, innovations and prototypes at first hand.
Earlier in the year, on 27 January 2025, CMU’s Multidisciplinary Research Institute and Office of Academic Services worked with the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), a government research agency, to launch the Thai BioChar Consortium. A morning signing was followed by an afternoon workshop on turning Biodry-sorted waste into biochar for a carbon-negative society, in support of Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action). Vice President Assoc.Prof.Dr.Winita Punyodom opened the session.
In March, the conversation moved to climate technology. On 14 March 2025, at Novotel Bangkok Future Park Rangsit in Pathum Thani, CMU sat down with government agencies, a state enterprise, industry bodies and private companies to launch the Thailand CCUS Alliance (TCCA) and talk through how Thailand can capture, use and store carbon. Around the table were the Department of Climate Change and Environment, PMU-B, and the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) from government; the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) as a state enterprise; the Federation of Thai Industries and the Thai Cement Manufacturers Association for industry; and PTTEP and WHA Group from the private sector. On the panel “The Next Steps of TCCA towards Carbon Neutrality with CCUS”, Assoc. Prof.Dr.Suparit Tangparitikul set out what a university can bring to the alliance: research, academic advice and training for the people who will run these technologies, in support of Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action).
Sources:
- Chiang Mai University. CMU SDG Forum 2025: Empowering Education for Sustainability. 26 September 2025.
- Chiang Mai University. Launch of the Thai BioChar Consortium with MTEC. 27 January 2025.
- Chiang Mai University. Panel on the next step of TCCA towards carbon neutrality with CCUS, 14 March 2025.
- Chiang Mai University. CMU an the Agricultural Land Reform Office agree a five-year partnership, 22 September 2025.
- AcAir CMU. CMU welcomes the UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand to discuss SDG cooperation, 14 November 2025.