By Panichat Kitisittichai, SasinSEC To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the target year 2030 will require innovative solutions and transformative change on a global scale. Especially helpful are the collaborative efforts of multi-stakeholder groups such as government, academic, and business institutions as outlined in SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). One example is the just-formed relationship between Science and Technology Park of Chiang Mai University (STeP CMU) and Sasin Sustainability & Entrepreneurship Center (SasinSEC). This alliance highlights the transformative potential of cross-sector collaborations and knowledge-exchange in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship for the SDGs. On 10 April, SasinSEC met with STeP CMU Director, Associate Professor Pitiwat Wattanachai, Ph.D., and colleagues to explore leveraging the strengths of both institutions to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in support of the SDGs. The Sasin Japan Center (SJC) helped commemorate the occasion. This collaboration embodies the essence of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through –

• Sharing knowledge and best practices: The partnership fosters a dynamic learning environment, enabling the exchange of ideas, experiences, and best practices between researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry experts from both institutions. This knowledge-sharing culture facilitates continuous improvement and helps identify innovative solutions to the challenges identified by the SDGs. 
• Encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship: By providing support and resources to entrepreneurs and startups focused on sustainable solutions, the partnership helps fuel an ecosystem that drives innovation and progress on the SDGs. This includes access to mentorship, funding, and networking opportunities that can help startups scale and make significant impacts.
• Support for sustainability-minded entrepreneurs: The partnership nurtures an ecosystem that promotes innovation and drives progress on the SDGs.
• Stakeholder engagement and policy advocacy: The collaboration recognizes the importance of engaging a wide range of stakeholders. These include government agencies, businesses, and civil society organizations to help create a multi-stakeholder platform to promote the widespread adoption of a sustainability mindset.

As the world races against time to deal with the existential threats posed by climate change, poverty, and inequality, collaborations like this are crucial for catalyzing the transformative change needed to secure a sustainable future.