Assumption University (AU) supports industry, innovation and infrastructure by connecting academic expertise with industry, government and communities. Its food and health research has produced practical innovations, including the Rice Bio Beverage selected to represent Thailand at World Expo 2025 Osaka, and a premium goat milk cheese developed with the Nonthaburi Provincial Industry Office under the BCG model to help local enterprises. The University’s intellectual property portfolio comprises one invention patent application and 11 granted petty patents, some developed jointly with government research agencies.

AU also builds the infrastructure and talent that industry needs. It established the Alternative Energy Innovation Engineering Center with MG Sales (Thailand) for new energy vehicle technology, and was appointed host institution of the UNESCO International Workstation on Rural Creativity and Sustainable Development (Thailand). Students are supported in turning ideas into real ventures through AMBER, a university record label that has released more than 18 original singles and music videos since its launch in 2024, and the ABLE UBI Center, which incubates food-innovation startups such as “Say Hi Kimchi”.

9.2  University Intellectual Property (Patents and Petty Patents)

Invention Patent

Petty Patents

According to a search of the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) database, Assumption University is the applicant or co-applicant of 1 invention patent application and 11 petty patents. Most are innovations in food, functional beverages, herbal cleaning products and biotechnology developed by faculty members of the Theophane Venard School of Food Biotechnology and Innovation. Some were developed jointly with government research agencies, namely the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and the Agricultural Research Development Agency (Public Organization).

9.3  University Spin-offs

AMBER

AMBER is a university-based record label under the ABAC School of Music, Assumption University, established to bridge music education and the professional music industry. It was officially launched on 24 September 2024 and released its first single, “No Reason” by TWIN BEANIE, on 24 December 2024. To date it has co-produced and released more than 18 original singles and music videos, and it remains active.Background and key concepts

• Origin: Founded to transform music education by turning the classroom into a studio and a real-world arena for music production.

• Concept: Develops well-rounded students with skills in songwriting, production and music entrepreneurship, preparing them to become professional artists and behind-the-scenes practitioners.

• Debut: Launched with six new artists introduced to the music industry.

• Official launch: 24 September 2024 at Salle D’Expo, Hua Mak Campus, attended by guests from many sectors, including artists, record label representatives, music industry experts, corporate executives, members of the House of Representatives and the Assistant Minister of Industry.

• First release: The single “No Reason” by TWIN BEANIE (24 December 2024) marked the transition from an educational project to a record label that produces and publicly releases music.
• Scope of work: Artist development, songwriting, music production and recording, music video production, branding, marketing and digital music distribution.
• Portfolio: More than 18 original singles and music videos produced through collaboration among students, faculty and industry professionals.

• Philosophy: “Fail with Us, Succeed without Us” – encouraging students to discover their potential, take on professional-level responsibilities and build skills through real work in the music industry.

ABLE UBI Center and the “Say Hi Kimchi” Brand

Key points:

• Established mechanism for commercialisation: ABLE (Assumption Business Leading Entrepreneurship) was established on 27 October 2014 as the University’s business incubator. It serves as a hub linking students, alumni and staff with business experts, investors and funding sources, and acts as a key mechanism for commercialising research and innovation, supporting the transition from idea to startup company.

• Structured incubation programme: The ABLE-UBI programme provides a six-month incubation track for teams of students and staff with innovative ideas, covering business-model validation (months 1–2), minimum viable product (MVP) development with industry mentors (months 3–4), and market testing and pitch preparation for pre-seed investment (months 5–6). Incubatees receive free workspace, specialist advisors and access to an investor network, with centres at both the Hua Mak and Suvarnabhumi campuses.

• National startup ecosystem: ABLE coordinates the University’s participation in the Startup Thailand League, the national student-startup programme of the National Innovation Agency (NIA), coaching teams for the regional pitching and national rounds where they connect with mentors and investors.

• Startup acceleration: Assumption University’s ABLE UBI Center (University Business Incubator), led by Dr. Ekachai Junlakru, incubates and accelerates food-innovation businesses of students and entrepreneurs.

• Funding and production support: The kimchi brand “Say Hi Kimchi” (also known as Say Hi Probiotic Kimchi) is one of the projects selected by the ABLE Center to compete for and seek funding from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) for commercial product development. The team also made a study visit to a production plant (Jai Foods Co., Ltd., Ratchaburi Province) to connect university innovation with real business.

9.4 Research income from industry and commerce

References

• Assumption University of Thailand. SDG Report 2025 (SDGs_Report2025.pdf). https://sustainability.au.edu/report/
• AMBER: History and Background (AMBER record label background document, School of Music) https://music.au.edu/amber-music-label-th/
• Department of Intellectual Property. Patent, petty patent and trademark records of Assumption University, retrieved from search results for “มหาวิทยาลัยอัสสัมชัญ” (Assumption University) in the DIP database (search.ipthailand.go.th)