1.4.2 Local start-up financial assistance
Metric: Community anti-poverty programmes
Provide financial assistance to the local community supporting the start-up of financially and socially sustainable businesses.
In Fiscal Year 2025, Prince of Songkla University (PSU), through the Southern Thailand Science Park, provided financial and business-development support to entrepreneurs and innovation-based businesses in southern Thailand through several funding mechanisms.
Under the Open Innovation Programme, a total of 20 projects received financial support amounting to THB 19,447,600. In addition to funding, entrepreneurs received proposal-development support, expert coaching, one-on-one business consultation and access to regional innovation networks.
Examples of Funded Local Innovation Projects
PSU’s Open Innovation Programme provides financial support to local businesses in southern Thailand to develop innovations that are both commercially viable and socially sustainable. Selected examples include:
Rask Kayii: Halal Body Scrub from Local Kayii Fruit Peel and Pattani Sweet Salt
A Pattani-based business received THB 910,000 in financial support to develop a halal body scrub using kayii fruit peel and Pattani sweet salt, both locally sourced materials. The innovation is expected to generate at least THB 3 million in economic impact per year, increase farmers’ income by approximately THB 1.63 million annually, reduce around 1 tonne of agricultural waste per year, and create new local employment. The project also supports income distribution and small business development in Thailand’s southern border provinces.
Longply: Thermoplastic Elastomer Bags from Natural Rubber and Recycled Plastic
A Songkhla-based company received THB 1,079,500 to develop fashion bags made from thermoplastic elastomer using natural rubber and recycled plastic. The project adds value to local rubber, reduces production costs, and is expected to generate approximately THB 2 million in annual economic and social impact. It is also projected to create 30 new jobs, while supporting local farmers and promoting the use of recycled materials.
Orgaelectra-P System: Sustainable Wastewater Treatment for the Palm Oil Industry
A Hat Yai-based environmental business received THB 1,061,500 to develop an innovative wastewater treatment system for the palm oil industry. The system reduces wastewater-treatment costs, enables water reuse, and creates additional economic value from recovered materials. The project is expected to generate approximately THB 2 million in economic, social and environmental impact annually, create new jobs, and support circular-economy practices in the region.
These examples demonstrate how PSU combines direct financial assistance, innovation development and local business support to strengthen financially viable enterprises while generating employment, community income, resource efficiency and wider social benefits in southern Thailand.
Key outcomes included 84 funding applications, 46 projects passing initial proposal review, 35 projects receiving expert coaching, 52 businesses receiving one-on-one consultation, and 231 participants joining entrepreneurship-support activities.
PSU also supported early-stage entrepreneurs through the TED Youth Startup 2025 Programme. Under the Proof of Concept mechanism, selected start-ups could receive financial support of up to THB 1.5 million per project for prototype development and market testing. The programme also provided mentoring, proposal-development support and access to PSU’s business-incubation ecosystem.
Together, these initiatives demonstrate PSU’s integrated approach to supporting entrepreneurship through direct financial assistance, incubation, mentoring, innovation development and market validation, helping local and early-stage businesses move towards greater commercial viability and long-term sustainability.