TECH PLANTER Thailand 2026 Announces Distinguished Judges and Ecosystem Partners

Chief judge

Dr. Kihoko Tokue, Education Research Institute Head, Leave a Nest Co., Ltd 

Raised across five countries, she earned a Ph.D. in ecology and joined Leave a Nest in 2011. After launching the International Development Division, she led global expansion efforts, establishing Leave a Nest Malaysia in 2013 and becoming its Managing Director. She joined the ASEAN Young Leaders Summit in 2015 and became Managing Director of Leave a Nest Singapore in 2016. In 2019, she signed an MoU with Enterprise Singapore to support startups. She leads the TECH PLANTER program in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, and actively fosters international collaboration through bilingual communication, holding a Grade A in the UN English Proficiency Test.

Dr. Dieter Trau, Faculty at the School of Management (SOM), Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)

Prof Trau holds an engineering degree (Dipl. Ing. FH) from the Aachen University of Applied Science, Germany, 1994 in Chemical and Bioengineering and a PhD from the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST) 2001 in Chemistry. From 1994 to 1998 he worked as a Research Engineer at the Institute of Bio- and Chemical Sensors in Müenster, Germany. At that time he also started his entrepreneurial activities with the foundation of the biotechnology companies Xantec (1995), 8sens biognostic (2000) in Germany, AYOXXA Pte Ltd (2010), Tip Biosystems Pte Ltd (2014) and E3A Healthcare Pte Ltd (2019) in Singapore. He became a cofounder of AVECRIS Pte Ltd in Singapore in 2018. He was a Research Fellow, Assistant Lecturer/Assistant Professor at HKUST from 2001 to 2004. In 2004 he joined the Division of Bioengineering and the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS) as an Assistant Professor. He was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2013. In July 2019 he was hired as the Dean of Engineering by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) as a full Professor and also took over the role of the Founding Director of the AIT Entrepreneurship Center. In June 2023 he completed his 4-year tenure as Dean and continues as a full Professor at the Department of Industrial Systems Engineering (ISE) teaching medical engineering and bio-nanotechnology. Today, he is a Faculty at the School of Management (SOM) at AIT teaching entrepreneurship and holds several Director Positions in his startup companies.

Prof. Dr. Siripon Anantawaraskul, Vice Dean for Research Affairs and Innovation, Kasetsart University

Prof. Dr. Siripon Anantawaraskul is a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Kasetsart University, Thailand. He obtained his Ph.D. and M.Eng. in Chemical Engineering from McGill University, Canada, and specializes in polymer reaction engineering, polyolefin structure characterization, process modeling, and AI applications in polymer engineering. His research integrates advanced computational modeling, machine learning, and chemical engineering to develop next-generation polymer materials and manufacturing processes. With nearly 60 publications in leading international journals, Prof. Siripon has established himself as a leading expert in polymer science and engineering, actively bridging academic research with industrial innovation and advanced manufacturing.

Dr. Krithpaka Boonfueng, Executive Director, (National Innovation Agency (NIA)

Dr. Krithpaka Boonfueng is the Executive Director of the National Innovation Agency (NIA), Thailand. She is a visionary leader in shaping the national innovation ecosystem, driving strategic initiatives that empower deep-tech startups and foster public-private collaborations to accelerate the country's innovation-driven economy.

Dr. Wanwipa (Jeab) S. , Venture Partner, Vectors Capital

Dr. Wanwipa is a seasoned ClimateTech investor and sustainability champion. With a strong background in science with a BS from MIT and a PhD. from Princeton and a passion for innovation, she has successfully bridged the gap between research and real-world impact. Her academic career includes leading bio- and chemical technology studies, resulting in publications in leading journals and receipt of Mitsui Chemicals Award (TECH PLANTER Thailand 2019). She honed her skills in corporate innovation at RISE, fostering entrepreneurship and leading technology incubation programs. Currently at Vectors Capital, Dr. Wanwipa manages the entire investment process for ClimateTech startups (Pre-Seed to Series A). Her focus areas encompass renewables, storage, hydrogen, EV infrastructure, CCUS, and sustainable fuels.

Dr. Apiwat Thongprasert, Managing Director. VISUP Company Limited

Dr. Apiwat Thongprasert is the Managing Director of VISUP, specializing in microchip design, RFID, IoT, and IP strategy. With extensive experience in high-tech B2B and international business, he drives the commercialization of deep-tech research into global markets.

Mr. Kosei Konno, Manager, Japan Tobacco Inc.

Charles Konno is a serial entrepreneur born in Beijing and raised in Los Angeles. He graduated from Peking University and Waseda University before joining Japan Tobacco (JT), where he worked in finance and international M&A. He currently leads venture building, new business development, and fund management in the wellness and food & beverage sectors. With extensive experience across the U.S., ASEAN, China, the Middle East, and East Africa, he specializes in innovation and cross-border business development. He is fluent in Japanese, English, and Chinese.

Mr. Akihiro ISUMI, Senior Technology Strategist, Soken Chemical & Engineering Co., Ltd.

Soken Group is a research-driven polymer manufacturer, specializing in a wide range of technologies from plant design to polymer development, including adhesives, particulates, coatings, and biomass materials. They actively seek collaboration opportunities such as technical partnerships and investments to leverage their diverse manufacturing technologies.
Mr. Akihiro ISUMI, a Senior Technology Strategist, has extensive experience in material development for regenerative medicine within the pharmaceutical industry. He primarily focuses on biotechnology, medical, and materials development. Additionally, drawing from his experience as the General Manager directing international business at a medical device venture, he explores startups with scalable business models.

Mr. Norio Asahara, Regional R&D Director, Ezaki Glico Co. Ltd.

Glico manufactures not only confectionery and ice cream, but also a wide range of food categories such as beverages, dairy products, processed foods and baby milk powder. Mr. ASAHARA is the director of research and development in Glico Asia Pacific. He is looking for new research partners as well as technical support, investment and opportunities for various collaborations such as buying of new ingredients. He is responsible for new business in Asia  Pacific.

Dr. Claudia Fujita, Senior Research Engineer, Taisei Corporation

Claudia was born in Germany and studied Water Management with a specialization in groundwater management. A study-abroad experience in Japan inspired her to pursue a career there and challenge herself in a new environment. Since joining Taisei Corporation, she has worked on a wide range of environmental, energy, and underground construction technologies, gaining experience in both research and construction. Passionate about connecting Japan’s technological strengths with global innovation, she is now based at Taisei’s Innovation Hub in Singapore, building bridges between Japan and Southeast Asia through technology, innovation, and collaboration.

Mr. Junki Ishii, Growth Manager, UntroD Asia Capital / Assistant Manager, Iwatani Singapore

Junki joined Iwatani Singapore in 2020, where he engaged in the trading of inorganic chemical raw materials such as rare earths. He currently serves as an Assistant Manager at the company and is seconded to UntroD Asia Capital as a Growth Manager. He is currently focusing on new business development through collaboration and investment with startups. Leveraging his deep expertise in chemistry, he is dedicated to evaluating technological potentials and driving open innovation. He holds a Master's degree in Chemistry from the Graduate School of Tokyo University of Science, where he conducted research on photocatalysts.

For more information about TECH PLANTER Thailand 2026, please visit:

https://techplanter.lne.st/thailand/thailand2026/