PSU and NARIT Expand Partnership to University Level - Advancing Optics and Photonics Research Toward Practical Applications
Prince of Songkla University, or PSU, and the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand, or NARIT, have expanded their academic and research partnership following five years of continued collaboration.
The strengthened partnership brings together expertise, research facilities, scientific equipment, and knowledge from both institutions to further advance research and human resource development in science and technology, particularly in optics, photonics, and advanced scientific instrumentation, with an emphasis on practical applications.
On September 18, 2026, Assistant Professor Dr. Niwat Keawpradub, President of Prince of Songkla University, and Dr. Wiphu Rujopakarn, Executive Director of NARIT, signed a Memorandum of Understanding at PSU Hat Yai Campus. University executives, researchers, and staff from both institutions attended the ceremony.
Assistant Professor Dr. Niwat noted that the collaboration between PSU
and NARIT began in 2021, with the shared aim of strengthening scientific
and technological capabilities through research, human resource
development, and the exchange of knowledge and resources.
During the event, NARIT presented an overview of the achievements from the past five years, including collaborative work between its Center for Optics and Photonics Technology Development and PSU’s Faculty of Science. Researchers and executives from both institutions also discussed future directions and opportunities for further joint projects.
Under the new agreement, cooperation will cover research and development, shared research laboratories and scientific equipment, technical and engineering support, research funding opportunities, personnel development and exchange, scholarships and research grants, as well as academic conferences, technology transfer, and academic services.
The expanded partnership is expected to provide students and researchers from both institutions with greater opportunities to access expertise, scientific equipment, and research infrastructure, supporting the development of knowledge, technology, and innovations that can be translated into practical use.
As part of the visit, the NARIT delegation also toured the Optics Laboratory at PSU’s Faculty of Science, where both sides exchanged perspectives and explored further opportunities for research and technology collaboration.
The agreement marks another step in expanding the partnership from the organizational level to a broader university-wide collaboration, connecting knowledge, researchers, scientific equipment, and infrastructure to support research and innovation with practical value and contribute to Thailand’s future scientific and technological development.