Chula gets innovation hub

The faculty of Medicine of Chulalongkorn University has launched the Chula Medical Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre (CMICe).

Dr Chanchai Sittipunt, dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University, said on Monday that the centre is one of the university’s resolutions on innovation for society to improve patients’ quality of life and to enhance illness recovery.

The faculty closely worked with the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital and the Thai Red Cross Society to promote the development of medical innovation in the country, he said.

Dr Rangsan Rueknimitr, CMICe director said that the centre would bridge the needs of healthcare workers to innovative companies so they can develop products based on patients’ medical requirements as much as possible.

He further added that the centre would also upgrade staff efficiency with the aid of innovative technology.

“Usually, private companies love to donate medical tools to the hospital. But this time, we move forward to further cooperation to support innovation from the business sector. It is a winwin situation and we consider it to be growth in a sustainable way,” he noted.

The innovation centre was established last year under close cooperation from the business sector. Companies which are set to join the scheme include SMEs, entrepreneurs, and giant companies that have extended their business opportunities to medical innovation such as Charoen Pokphand Group, and IRPC which produces a pillow that could reduce symptoms of acid reflux while sleeping.