SUT Joins Forces with 3 Leading Institutes—Chulalongkorn, NARIT, and SLRI—to Expand the "Thai-JUNO Consortium" Under the Royal Initiative, Aiming for World-Class High-Energy Physics Research and Experiments

     Bangkok - Suranaree University of Technology (SUT), represented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sittichai Seangatith, Acting Rector, participated in a significant academic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony to extend the "Thai-JUNO Consortium" for another five years. This extension is in collaboration with Chulalongkorn University, the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Public Organization) or NARIT, and the Synchrotron Light Research Institute (Public Organization) or SLRI, which joined as a new member to help strengthen the collaborative project. The initiative aims to unify the research potential of Thai associate organizations to elevate the roles of Thai researchers and engineers in global-scale experiments. It seeks to build the national research ecosystem alongside the concrete development of the country's research capabilities and human resources, providing opportunities for knowledge exchange, personnel development, and the creation of high-potential international research.

      The "Thai-JUNO Consortium Academic MOU Signing Ceremony," a collaboration between Thailand's leading higher education and research institutes and the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) of the People's Republic of China, was held on August 28, 2026, at the Prince Mahidol Room, Chemistry Building 2, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University. The ceremony was honorably witnessed and presided over by Prof. Dr. Pairash Thajchayapong,  Member of the Executive Board and Secretary General of the Information Technology Foundation under the Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. This signing marks a consolidation of forces among four of the country's leading institutions, co-signed by Prof. Dr. Wilert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sittichai Seangatith, Acting Rector of SUT; Asst. Prof. Dr. Wiphu Rujopakarn, Director of NARIT; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saroj Rujirawat, Director of SLRI. On this occasion, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atthaphon Maneedaeng, Acting Vice Rector for Research and Enterprise at SUT, Prof. Dr. Santi Maensiri, Acting Dean of the Institute of Science at SUT, and the SUT delegation, along with Prof. Dr. Pranut Potiyaraj, Dean of the Faculty of Science at Chulalongkorn University, and executives from each institution, attended as witnesses.

      This collaboration represents a historic unification of four pillars of Thai science and technology to carry forward the royal aspirations of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who graciously presided over the MOU signing ceremony with the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) in Beijing, People's Republic of China, in 2017. Regarding this milestone, for SUT's part, Prof. Emeritus Dr. Prasart Suebka, former Rector of SUT, led the university to become a member of the JUNO Collaboration in January 2016.

     Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sittichai Seangatith, Acting Rector of SUT, stated, "SUT has been certified as a member of the JUNO Collaboration since January 2016. Subsequently, on April 7, 2017, SUT, Chulalongkorn University, and the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Public Organization) signed an academic collaboration agreement with the Institute of High Energy Physics in Beijing, People's Republic of China, where Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously presided over the signing ceremony. Over the past nine years, working groups from all three institutes have tangibly participated in world-class advanced research. This notably includes co-developing the Earth Magnetic Field Shielding to enhance PMT performance, as well as making advancements in theoretical research, such as computer simulations to detect neutrinos from supernovas and studying the Unitarity properties of the mixing matrix when neutrinos propagate through dense matter. Joining the JUNO collaboration also led to the establishment of a magnetic field laboratory to test PMTs and extended the application of our knowledge and expertise in magnetic fields to participate in the KATRIN experiment in the Federal Republic of Germany for high-intensity magnetic field measurements. This expertise has been internationally recognized, as evidenced by Thai associate institutes co-hosting international workshops with scientists and engineers from China. Furthermore, the Thai-JUNO Consortium has continuously helped cultivate high-energy physics knowledge among Thai youth through the organization of the Thai-JUNO School on Neutrino Physics on multiple occasions."

      "This MOU signing is, therefore, a crucial milestone in combining the capabilities of Suranaree University of Technology, Chulalongkorn University, NARIT, and SLRI into a 'Thailand Consortium' to elevate the roles of Thai researchers and engineers in global experiments and further concretely strengthen Thailand's advanced science research ecosystem. SUT is firmly committed to supporting manpower, knowledge, and research equipment, in conjunction with the Thai consortium network, to continually enhance the roles of Thai researchers and engineers in the global Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) experiment alongside associates from 17 countries worldwide."

Division of Public Relations

August 28, 2026