The Ambassador of Thailand to the UK visited The University of Manchester Innovation Centre (UMIC) to discuss opportunities for transnational education and the creation of research centres in the Southeast Asian country.
Pisanu Suvanajata also showed an interest in Graphene during the tour of UMIC’s facility on Grafton Street.
Speaking after the visit The Ambassador of Thailand to the UK said: “The University of Manchester is a world-renowned institution.
“During a fascinating tour of The University of Manchester Innovation Centre I was given insight into the state-of-the-art laboratory spaces which are home to a number of start-ups and SMEs.
“Fortunately, I was able to meet UMIC members of staff and some of the people behind a few of the start-up companies housed there.
“UMIC is certainly helping Manchester to further bolster the city region’s culture of enterprise and innovation.”
Suvanajata was joined by Rithavee Plikarnon, Thai Airways assistant general manager and First Secretary Piyapathu Ruktanonchai.
UMIC has three core facilities; the 86,500 sq ft Manchester Incubator Building, the 173,000 sq ft Core Technology Facility and the North Campus Incubator, which is known as ‘The Arches’.
The incubator houses Kaya Travel, Greenlight Computer, Frontier PR, Dexter Intelligence, App Focus and Siyemi.
Head of UMIC Yvonne Loughlin described the Thailand UK Ambassador’s visit as “inspirational.”
“After a short tour of the UMIC facilities we sat down and discussed ways we could collaborate and work together, which is fantastic,” she said.
“We are very excited about what this collaboration will bring to both UMIC and to Thailand.
“For the staff at UMIC, as well as the innovative companies based here, it was certainly inspiring to meet the ambassador and his team and to share stories too.”