CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY

Their core work

Chulalongkorn University is Thailand's oldest and highest-ranked university, contributing biomedical and life sciences expertise to European research networks primarily through MSCA-RISE staff exchange programs. Their researchers work on tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, cancer therapeutics (photodynamic therapy, gene therapy), and food supply chain sustainability. They serve as a key Southeast Asian node for EU-funded mobility programs, enabling researcher exchange between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the earlier period (2015-2019), Chulalongkorn's involvement was broad — spanning marine biotechnology, biobanking/cell preservation, tissue engineering with natural materials, and food supply chain management. From 2019 onward, their focus sharpened significantly toward biomedical applications: cancer-targeted therapies (photodynamic therapy, gene therapy, nanocarriers) and advanced tissue engineering (green chemistry approaches, bench-to-bedside translation). The trajectory shows a clear shift from dispersed life sciences interests toward concentrated biomedical and therapeutic research.

Moving decisively toward translational cancer therapy and advanced biomaterials, making them an increasingly relevant partner for European biomedical consortia seeking Asian clinical and research networks.

How they like to work

Chulalongkorn has never coordinated an H2020 project and participates almost exclusively as a third-party partner in MSCA-RISE staff exchange programs (7 of 8 projects). This means they function as a researcher mobility host and sender rather than a project driver. With 72 unique partners across 37 countries, they have an exceptionally wide but shallow network — typical of a university that joins many mobility networks without deep bilateral project commitments.

Remarkably broad network for a non-EU institution: 72 unique partners across 37 countries, built almost entirely through MSCA-RISE staff exchange programs. This positions them as a major Asia-Europe research bridge, though connections are mobility-based rather than deep project collaborations.

What sets them apart

As Thailand's premier university, Chulalongkorn is one of the most active Southeast Asian participants in Horizon 2020, offering European consortia a credible gateway to Thai research infrastructure, clinical networks, and regional expertise. Their biomedical focus — particularly in tissue engineering and cancer therapy — combined with MSCA-RISE experience makes them an effective partner for projects needing Asia-Pacific researcher mobility. For consortia requiring a non-EU associated country partner with genuine research capacity, they are a proven and well-connected choice.

Highlights from their portfolio

• TASCMAR
  Their only project with direct EC funding (€299,975) and only non-MSCA project — marine biotechnology work on bioactive compounds from invertebrates.
• SUPRO-GEN
  Most recent and therapeutically ambitious project: supramolecular gene vectors targeting cancer stem cells, representing their newest research direction.
• SHIFT
  Bridges tissue engineering with green chemistry and product design — signals interest in sustainable, translational biomedical manufacturing.