As climate change continues to affect communities in increasingly complex ways, Gulf Development Public Company Limited (GULF), in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, is creating opportunities for young people across Thailand to develop innovative solutions to environmental challenges through “Green Mission by Chula x GULF: Mission for Sustainability, Year 3.” Under the theme “Resilient LAB: Solutions for Our Communities,” the program encourages participants to combine climate change mitigation with adaptation and community resilience, transforming their ideas into innovation prototypes with the potential to be tested and applied in real-world settings.
The program attracted strong interest from young people nationwide, with 927 teams applying to participate. Twenty teams were selected to join an intensive incubation process to further develop their ideas and innovations, before eight finalists advanced to the Final Pitching round to present their solutions to a panel of judges.
Throughout the program, the 20 selected teams took their learning beyond the classroom, gaining first-hand exposure to how energy and technology are applied in real-world operations. Participants visited GULF Group’s Uthai Power Plant and the ground station operated by Gulf Space Technology Public Company Limited in Pathum Thani, before joining a three-day, two-night Bootcamp at Chulalongkorn University’s Center of Learning Network for the Region (CLNR) in Saraburi. The Bootcamp was organized as a carbon-neutral event.
During the Bootcamp, participants built their knowledge of climate change and Design Thinking, from understanding challenges faced by communities and developing solutions to building and testing prototypes. GULF also co-designed interactive learning activities through the “Who Made Change?” and “Solar Slap” games, making topics such as climate change, the energy sector, and clean energy more accessible and engaging. Each team also received one-on-one guidance from university faculty members and industry experts to further refine their projects ahead of the Final Pitching round.
The Final Pitching was judged by distinguished faculty members from Chulalongkorn University and industry experts, with Dr. Amnuayporn Prakobnoppakao, Managing Director of GULF1 Company Limited (Solar Business for Commercial, Industrial, and Residential Sectors) and Senior Executive Vice President, Gulf Development Public Company Limited, joining the judging panel. Projects were evaluated based on academic soundness, feasibility for real-world application, the distinctiveness of their development approach, and the quality of their presentation.
The winning team, from The Demonstration School of Silpakorn University (Secondary), presented “Fang Work,” a platform connecting farmers looking to sell rice straw with buyers who can put the material to productive use. The solution aims to turn agricultural residues into a source of value and additional income for farmers while reducing open-field straw burning, one of the contributors to PM2.5 air pollution. The platform also incorporates satellite data to estimate available straw volumes and calculate avoided carbon emissions from eliminating burning. The team received a trophy and a THB 40,000 scholarship.
First runner-up, Mahidol Wittayanusorn School, developed an innovative forest monitoring and intrusion detection system using a network of compact IoT devices, or “Nodes.” The system is designed to detect unusual activities and relay information between Nodes, enabling forest officers to identify potential incidents and inspect affected areas more quickly.
Second runner-up, Chonprathan Wittaya School in Nonthaburi, presented “Root to Roof,” an insulation panel made from water hyacinth for small-scale laying hen houses. Inspired by challenges faced by the Plai Bang community in Bang Kruai District, Nonthaburi, the solution is designed to reduce heat inside poultry houses while repurposing water hyacinth, itself an environmental challenge for local waterways, into a useful material.
The program also presented the Outstanding Advisor Awards to Ms. Nad-anong Phetsidam of Hatyaiwittayalai School and Ms. Wachiraporn Akara-athimat of The Demonstration School of Silpakorn University (Secondary) in recognition of their roles in mentoring students and helping them develop and advance their ideas throughout the program.
Green Mission is designed to go beyond recognizing ideas on the competition stage. Its broader goal is to help promising youth-led innovations move toward practical application. The winning team, first runner-up, and second runner-up will each receive up to THB 20,000 in additional funding to test their prototypes in real communities, supported by faculty members from Chulalongkorn University and experts from GULF.
A representative of the winning team from The Demonstration School of Silpakorn University (Secondary) shared, “Fang Work began with a problem we saw first-hand in the community: the burning of rice straw after the harvest season. We are very happy and proud to have won Green Mission because it has shown us that even a problem close to home can become an idea that benefits the wider community if we are willing to think about it and take action. Our next step is to pilot the platform with communities in Nakhon Pathom before expanding to other areas. We also plan to explore opportunities to connect the platform with carbon credits, creating long-term value for both farmers and the environment.”
Associate Professor Dr. Witaya Wannasuphoprasit, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, said, “The 20 teams selected from applicants nationwide have demonstrated the potential, creativity, and determination of young people to play an active role in addressing environmental and social challenges. I believe they are all part of a ‘Green Generation’ that can become an important force for change in the future. Green Mission is therefore about much more than a competition or an award. It is about giving young people opportunities to learn through real-world experiences and turn their ideas into tangible solutions. A small idea today, when supported with the right knowledge, opportunities, and encouragement, can grow into an innovation that creates lasting benefits for society and the environment.”
Mr. Sitamon Ratanavadi, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Gulf Development Public Company Limited, said, “What impressed me most about this year’s Green Mission was seeing how many of the students’ ideas started with something very close to them, a problem they had experienced at home or in their own communities, followed by a simple question: ‘What can we do to make a difference?’ I think that is an important starting point. At GULF, we want to create a space where young people can experiment, turn their ideas into action, and learn from real experience. Most importantly, we do not want these ideas to end when the competition is over. That is why we are supporting the winning teams in taking the prototypes they presented and testing them in real communities, so they can continue developing their solutions and, ultimately, create meaningful benefits for communities and the environment.”
In addition to the awards presented by the judging panel, the public will have an opportunity to support their favorite innovations through the Popular Vote by GULF. Two teams receiving the highest engagement will each be awarded a THB 5,000 scholarship. Voting will be open via posts on the GULF SPARK Facebook page and videos on GULF SPARK’s Instagram and TikTok channels from October 15 to 26, 2026, until 12:00 noon, with the results to be announced on October 28, 2026.
For the latest news and updates from GULF, visit the GULF website, Facebook pages “Gulf Development” and “Gulf SPARK,” TikTok “GULF SPARK,” and Instagram accounts “gulfdevelopment.th” and “gulfspark.th.”
