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CMU Faculty of Public Health Wins First Runner-up at 2026 National Innovation Awards

6 October 2026
Corporate Communication and Alumni Relations Center (CCARC)
The Faculty of Public Health, Chiang Mai University, received the First Runner-up Award in the Social Innovation category, Government and Non-Profit Organizations division, at the 2026 National Innovation Awards for “Moonnic VR: An Innovative Learning Program for Developing Social Skills in Children with Autism Using Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence.”

The award was received by Assoc. Professor Dr. Kannikar Intawong, lead researcher of the project, from Prof. Dr. Yodchanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, at the 2026 National Innovation Day event on 2 October 2026.

Moonnic VR integrates Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help children with autism develop social and life skills through realistic simulated situations, including waiting in line, shopping, communicating at school, and crossing the road. The system allows children to practice safely and repeatedly while AI analyzes their performance and tracks their progress.

Trials involving more than 1,400 children found that participants completed at least 70% of assigned tasks, while task completion time and reliance on caregivers decreased by 60%. More than 80% of parents reported that their children were able to apply the skills learned to real-life situations.

The achievement highlights Chiang Mai University’s commitment to advancing research and innovation that can be translated into practical solutions and create meaningful impact on society.
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