Chiang Mai University Science and Technology Park (STeP CMU) demonstrates a comprehensive commitment to alleviating poverty through local startup assistance, providing both educational resources and financial support for sustainable business development. This integrated approach enables economically vulnerable entrepreneurs to establish financially viable and socially sustainable businesses within the northern Thailand region.
Mentorship and Technical Consulting Services
STeP CMU provides free-of-charge consulting services to aspiring entrepreneurs, offering mentorship programmes, training workshops, and access to university facilities including co-working spaces. These assistance services directly support business model development, technology innovation, and market strategy planning. The case of BeNeat—a professional housemaid booking platform—exemplifies this support, where STeP CMU provided free-of-charge business consulting, platform optimization guidance, and systems management training. This comprehensive mentorship enables entrepreneurs from low-income backgrounds to overcome barriers to business formation, reducing financial vulnerability during critical startup phases. Additionally, specialized programmes like Builds-CMU and Basecamp24 provide structured incubation, curriculum development for entrepreneurship skills, and networking opportunities specifically designed to promote sustainable business growth among emerging entrepreneurs. Moreover, for small entrepreneurs, community enterprises, and farmers, STeP also operates free consulting and hosts NSP Inno Store, a no-cost retail space for test-selling and gathering customer data.
Basecamp24
STeP's flagship incubator Basecamp24 provides round-the-clock (24 hours) startup incubation to students, CMU alumni, and new entrepreneurs in Chiang Mai and nearby provinces, running since 2022. For small entrepreneurs, community enterprises, and farmers, STeP also operates a free consulting and diagnostic service and hosts NSP Inno Store, a no-cost retail space for entrepreneurs and students to test-sell products and gather real customer data. To date, Basecamp24 has provided more than THB 200 million in funding to 486 startups through 24 incubator programs.
Basecamp24 Incubation Programme
A five-stage “Camp 0–4” roadmap taking startups from prototype/MVP development through market validation to scale-up, aiming for a startup valuation of THB 300 million (Pony Stage). Participants access co-working space, specialised labs, and prototyping tools at the Northern Science Park at no cost.
STeP not only organizes activities and workshops independently but also collaborates with government organizations nationwide to support small entrepreneurs in sustaining and growing their businesses through mentorship programs, training workshops, and access to university facilities.
NEC BizUp Chiang Mai 2025
NEC BizUp Chiang Mai 2025 was organized on March 28th, 2025. The free one-day seminar was arranged especially for MSMEs, community enterprises, and farmers in Chiang Mai, co-organised with the Chiang Mai Provincial Commerce Office. The seminar focused on business growth and development, featuring practical insights and strategies from experienced entrepreneurs. It also aimed to strengthen participants’ competitiveness by providing opportunities to access business benefits, investment opportunities, and market expansion to international markets. Additionally, participants further received support from government agencies and business partners, as well as opportunities to connect their business needs with cutting-edge research. In addition, the seminar provided in-depth guidance on enhancing and developing products and services through innovation.
NEC BizUp Lamphun 2025
NEC BizUp Lamphun was organized on July 8 - 9, 2025. The free two-day seminar, capped at 150 participants, was arranged especially for MSMEs, community enterprises, and farmers in Lamphun, covering business growth strategy, investment promotion, and site visits, co-organised with the Lamphun Provincial Commerce Office. The seminar focused on in-depth strategies for building and growing businesses sustainably, drawing on practical insights from experienced business owners. It aimed to strengthen participants’ competitiveness and provide opportunities to access investment promotion and business incentives. The seminar also broadened participants’ perspectives on expanding into international markets, while connecting them with support from government agencies and business partners. In addition, participants gained access to innovations, research, and new knowledge to enhance their products and services and better respond to future market needs. Lastly, the program included study visits to high-potential areas aligned with the target industries of the Northern Economic Corridor (NEC).
Local Chef Restaurant Development Programme
Local Chef Restaurant Development Programme offers a free 10-day hands-on training course with certification for community restaurant operators in the Northern part of Thailand, covering professional restaurant management standards and menu development, plus free restaurant review content from food bloggers, delivered with THACCA. The programme provides local community members with free access to restaurant development training. Beyond enhancing their culinary and gastronomy skills, it also aims to stimulate the local economy by strengthening community-based food businesses and creating opportunities for sustainable economic growth.
FOOD SKILLS 360
The Faculty of Agro-Industry, Chiang Mai University, in collaboration with the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), organized a hands-on training program titled “FOOD SKILLS 360: Advancing Competencies for the New Era of Food Industry” during November 10–14, 2025 at Kantary Hills Hotel, Chiang Mai, and the Faculty of Agro-Industry, Chiang Mai University. The program attracted over 40 participants, including entrepreneurs and workers from the agro-industrial and food sectors in the Northern Economic Corridor (NEC)—comprising Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, and Lampang. This five-day intensive workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ skills in multiple dimensions: food safety, quality control and assurance, product development and food innovation, food processing, and modern food marketing. Participants gained in-depth knowledge from industry experts, engaged in practical training in the faculty’s laboratories, and explored strategies for developing innovative food business models suited to the changing market landscape. The program also fostered networking among emerging entrepreneurs across the northern region, paving the way for the sustainable growth of Thailand’s food industry.
Financial Assistance and Funding Mechanisms
STeP CMU extends financial support through the Innovation Driven Enterprises (IDEs) programme, offering direct startup funding and investment facilitation. This demonstrates a measurable commitment to poverty reduction by providing capital access to entrepreneurs who would otherwise lack resources for business initialization. The support framework includes co-investment options, shared laboratory access, and technology licensing arrangements that substantially reduce startup costs. BeNeat’s expansion from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and surrounding provinces was facilitated through this funding network, creating sustainable livelihoods for over 15,000 service providers earning improved income and economic security.
2025 Science Coupon for OTOP
Chiang Mai University, in collaboration with the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (OPS-MHESI), provided THB 1,059,000 in funding to support seven projects from seven businesses. The project ensured that the participating products met the Science Coupon for OTOP Guidelines across key areas, including innovation, packaging, production processes, machinery standards, and the quality of upstream raw materials. The project aims to improve the quality and production standards of local products while enhancing their competitiveness in the market. It also supports the development of attractive packaging to better meet consumer needs and increase market appeal. Through these efforts, the project seeks to help small entrepreneurs generate higher incomes and contribute to strengthening economic activity at the grassroots level.
Sustainable Business Impact and Community Outcomes
These initiatives generate documented social and economic sustainability by creating formal employment pathways, reducing income inequality, and building local economic resilience. The programmes align with university-level economic responsibility by supporting 70 communities across northern Thailand through collaborative research and technology transfer projects. Training in financial literacy, business accounting, and marketing—delivered through integrated programmes—ensures entrepreneurs develop competency for long-term business viability and economic independence.
STeP CMU’s integrated support ecosystem addresses poverty reduction through systematic business startup assistance, combining mentorship resources with direct financial support. This comprehensive model enables economically disadvantaged populations to access the resources necessary for sustainable business development, creating viable entrepreneurial pathways and strengthening local economic systems in northern Thailand.
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