Walailak University students from the Petrochemical and Polymer Program, and the Electrical Engineering Program have won the national championship of the 2023 Startup Thailand League and received 50,000 THB award. The team, called Spark Energy, is composed of Nitit Thamrongtheppitak and Sirikwan Damkum from the Electrical Engineering Program, and Nongnapat Daosuwan and Narathip Chaiyarat from the Petrochemical and Polymer Program under the supervision of Assistant Professor Dr. Uthen Thubsuang and Assistant Professor Dr. Kamon Thinsurat.
The team’s winning innovation is GreenSupercap, a carbon charcoal made from rubber wood sawdust. The charcoal is made through a surface improvement process that gives it a high surface area and porosity, which allows it to retain electrical charges. This makes it a valuable material for use in supercapacitors, energy storage devices that are becoming increasingly popular.
In addition to winning the national championship, Walailak University was also awarded the University of the Year award for its outstanding performance in creating and promoting student entrepreneurs. A total of 49 universities from across the country participated in the competition, and the final 14 teams represented each region in the national finals.
Pichayapa Boonsuk, a member of the Spark Energy team, said, “We are very proud to have won the first prize in this competition. It is a great honor for our school and university. Participating in this contest has given us valuable experience and knowledge in marketing, business development, and career partnerships. Most importantly, it has allowed us to apply the skills and knowledge we learned in our courses to a real-world problem. We are grateful for the opportunity to compete in this competition and to represent Walailak University.”
The Startup Thailand League is a national competition that aims to promote entrepreneurship among university students. The competition is organized by the National Innovation Agency (NIA) and the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
The victory of the Spark Energy team is a testament to the quality of education and research at Walailak University. The university is committed to providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the global economy.