“Transformation for a Sustainable Tomorrow” Drives Research at Ppc & Petromat Symposium

Center of Excellence on Petrochemical and Materials Technology in collaboration with the Petroleum and Petrochemical College, the Metallurgy and Materials Science Research Institute of Chulalongkorn University, the Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry Association of Thailand, and Shinshu University, Japan, hosted “The 31st PPC Symposium on Petroleum, Petrochemicals, and Polymers and the 16th Research Symposium on Petrochemical and Materials Technology,” held alongside the 9th SKY Symposium (SKY 2025) and the Workshop on Water 2025. The event took place on June 26, 2025, at Mandarin Hotel Bangkok.

The symposium opened with welcoming remarks by Prof. Wilert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University. The program featured plenary and keynote sessions, along with over 100 student presentations across five sessions under the theme “Transformation Toward a Sustainable Tomorrow,” with participation from more than 200 attendees.

A key highlight was PETROMAT’s seminar, titled “Thai Industries on the Path to Net Zero,” opened by Prof. Hathaikarn Manuspiya, Director of PETROMAT. The seminar featured Asst. Prof. Siriluk Chiarakorn (King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi), Dr. Sontaya Krichnavaruk (The Federation of Thai Industries), and Dr. Krit Sitathani (Kasikorn Research Center), attracting attendees from both academia and industry.

The speakers emphasized the urgency of reducing emissions, managing carbon footprints, and preparing for upcoming climate legislation—such as carbon taxes and emissions trading schemes. They also highlighted the role of sustainable finance, particularly for SMEs, and the rapid rise of ESG as both a market driver and a risk factor. These insights called for timely, informed action and stronger collaboration between researchers and businesses to navigate a low-carbon future.

The seminar aimed to inspire the industrial sector to adopt innovative approaches and strengthen collaboration with researchers to achieve Net Zero targets. With the exchange of knowledge and partnerships fostered at the symposium, Thailand is taking confident steps toward a sustainable tomorrow.