Khon Kaen is the education, economic and diplomatic heart of Isan – Thailand’s largest region with over one third of the country’s population with strong relations to its neighbours China, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. It is an important city due to its geography as well as its unique people and culture.
The city is undergoing change, driven not by central government nor powerful individuals, but by its collective citizens, young entrepreneurs, commerce and industry associations, universities, and active local administrations. This has made it youthful, collaborative, and very much open for business.
Message from the Chairman
Khon Kaen is the education, economic, and medical heart of Isan; Thailand’s largest region that is home to 22 million people or one third of the country’s population. The city’s geographical location at the center of Isan, and at the center of the Greater Mekong subregion, which includes Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Southern China, make it a dynamic melting pot with rich multi-cultural identities and heritage.
This city is undergoing change; driven in part by Thai government’s large-scale Northeastern Economic Corridor (NEEC) initiatives, and in part by the collective effort of its active citizens, entrepreneurs, commerce and industry associations, universities, regional institutions, and progressive local administrations. This has made the city youthful, collaborative, and very much open for business.
The Khon Kaen Innovation Center aims to be the innovation hub for Isan and its people. We believe that technological innovation has to go hand in hand with the advancement of human creativity in order to truly empower and enrich lives. We believe that to achieve such goal requires the right ecosystem and a collaborative culture only possible where people are happy to give as much as to take - the kind that thrives in this city.
Mitr Phol Group has been operating in Isan with our base in Khon Kaen for over 40 years. We have prospered from the sustainable harvests of the land and have built businesses that are global leaders in food, agriculture, renewable energy, and bio-technology. We are committed to ensuring that our world-class expertise and resources in such fields becomes seeds and nourishments for the next generation. We are proud to call Khon Kaen our home.
On behalf of Mitr Phol Group and our family shareholders
(Buntoeng Vongkusolkit)
Core Values
The “Core” or “Heart” of a being
Khon Kaen Innovation Center is designed with magnificent architecture that perfectly blends isan identity under the concept of being the core of the center, center of basis, core of cooperation and sharing.
Human Dignity
Believing in the value of people is the heart of sustainable development.
Creative
Creatively enhance the organization and drive to greatest effectiveness.
Collaboration
Create collaboration for positive and powerful change jointly.
Integrity
Hold on to honesty.
Extraordinary
Extraordinary expereince access.
Target Industries
Gastronomy, Food Ingredients & Agriculture
Bio-technology & Renewable Energy
Smart City & Collaborative Society
Creative Economy & Tourism
Medical & Wellness
Why Khon Kaen
Connectivity to ASEAN & China
Khon Kaen is a strategic logistics and commercial hub connecting Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam via land routes.
Gateway to Isan (Northeast Thailand)
Home to over 22 million people or 1/3 of Thailand, Khon Kaen houses some of the country’s largest and best universities, most accredited hospitals, 5 consulate generals, and the Isan’s biggest international airport with 5.1 million visitors capacity.
Open & Collaborative Culture
Isan is a melting pot of different cultures, where people are known to be sustainable, collaborative, creative, and very open to new ideas - a heritage of the past trade and agriculture based society.
Accessibility to Creative Young Talents
Khon Kaen University has over 40,000 students, with 10,000 post graduates, and 500 overseas students. It is one of seven large universities in the region. There is no shortage of creative and technology enabled talents in the city.
Excellent Quality of Life
A result of low cost of living, good access to high quality healthcare, education, recreation, and modern conveniences while being close to bountiful nature and clean air. Most of all, Khon Kaen’s main draw is the warm and welcoming character of its people..
Sustainable by Design
In line with Mitr Phol’s “live together, grow together” founding principle, the Khon Kaen Innovation Centre was developed with care not only for the environment, but for the local economy and people.
Pride Restored
Pride Restored
The project is a renovation and repurpose of a 28 stories building (the tallest building at the time) that was left uncompleted as an unsightly concrete structure since 1997. By breathing life to this old structure we saved 73,000 tonnes of concrete, 3,700 tonnes of steel, and converted a symbol of past failures into a beacon of pride for Khon Kaen.
Sustainable
Architecture
Sustainable
Architecture
The design, construction, and operation of Kaen were planned integratively with sustainability in mind - from intensive use of recycled materials (including Mitr Phol’s own Panel Plus MDF wood substitute) to the optimization of natural air circulations in all public spaces to keep indoor climate cool and reduce energy consumption.
Energy Savings
Energy Savings
A partnership with Banpu Plc., Asia’s leading energy company, also brought the installations of high efficiency solar panels and energy storage solutions that is able to generate 900 kWh of own energy per year.
Waste to Value
Waste to Value
Consistent with Mitr Phol’s zero waste and carbon neutral value chain, a waste treatment infrastructure, logistics, and operational design was put together, which, in addition to supporting waste management, also recycles 80,000 Cu.m of water per year - a nod to the most precious resource for the agricultural communities of Isan.
Grow Together
Grow Together
Our commitment to the people of Khon Kaen is to empower local communities, make positive economic and social impact, and uplift livelihood. We become a part of a movement that has been going on before Kaen was renovated by hiring and training local, supporting tourism initiatives, economic forums, university researches, city marathons, performing arts, recreational events, smart city developments, Michelin guide, and more. The goal is to grow the pie not to split it.
Sustainable Development Goals
เป้าหมายการพัฒนาสะท้อนมิติแห่งความยั่งยืน ด้วยการวางกรอบแนวคิดที่ใช้ในการขับเคลื่อน
เพื่อกำหนดทิศทางในการทำงานของทุกองค์ประกอบที่เชื่อมต่อกันทุกมิติ ชุมชน สังคม ประเทศอย่างบูรณาการและยั่งยืน
Promote in good health and well-being
Support and push
forward
quality education
Innovation industrial
and
infrastructure driven
Support Green Energy
Decent Work
and
Economic Growth
Industry, Innovation
and
Infrastructure
Support in reduced Thailand’s social Inequality leads to equal development in various aspects
Promote city and local community towards sustainable development
Be responsible for quality consumption from good production throughout the process
Promote and push forward in balancing environment conservation as well aims to reduce Greenhouse Gas for a sustainable environment
Promote on good quality of life lead to greater well-being life
Support in cooperation for common sustainable goal