Ministry of Science and Technology(MOST) states 6 months achievement report reveal to use innovation as ”Joint” to strengthen economic, social and environmental security.
Dr.Pichet Durongkaveroj, Minister of Science and Technology says that during 6 months ago, MOST operates according to Government Policies forward to our country reform by enhancing science, technology, R&D and innovation utilization. MOST ensures to be “Joint” with every ministries and private sectors as joint power for economic, social and environmental development. According to our gradual intension bring forward the outstanding results in various dimensions for instance R&D reform to support R&D investment through the goal not less than 1% of National Income and the proportion of government per private sectors is 30:70. As the National Economic and Social Development Plan increases the measurement to grant the corporate income tax exemption for R&D technology and innovation expenditures from 200% to 300% including assurance for companies instead for each project and accelerates the corporate and personal income tax exemption for the contribution to research fund. This measurement also stimulates innovation for commercialization, making innovation lists and propel the innovation to be national agenda.
In case, to reform for social innovation especially to support science, technology and innovation human resources development, MOST by National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Office relieves the researchers and government scholarship students from universities and research institutes to work for increasing capabilities in the private sectors (Talent Mobility) in full-time and get official ages or working ages and also gain salary promotion from the originated agencies. Talent Mobility Clearing House is established in 5 regions around the country. In addition National Science and Technology Development Agency(NSTDA) develops human resources and also supports domestic technology and industrial development in order to support the growth of mega project on rail transport system by operating the pilot project to develop rail transport system and industries concerned.
Minister of Science and Technology says that the reform to distribute science, technology and innovation opportunities to the communities, MOST formulates “Thailand Science, Technology and Innovation Reform” and manages operation system in order to upgrade living standard of the people. MOST cooperates with Ministry of Interior to set the science advisory team in every provinces and also Vice Governors, as science executives to jointly drive the operation. Meanwhile MOST impels R&D to commercialize and gradually supports SMEs, increases value-added agricultural products, promotes industries, strengthens the communities and also creates the economic value more than 10,000 million baht.
Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR) links herbal research in laboratories by extracting Thai herbs and developing for health product in form of herbal medicine products, dietary supplement and cosmeceutical products for commercialization. It can reduce import and promote export. It also can help farmers to get permanent income from raw planting and increase capable competitiveness for entrepreneurs in the world markets.
Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology(TINT) provides radiation for exported Thai fruits as longans and lynchees to Australia and New Zealand markets which can increase value-added exports not less than 300 million baht per year
Additionally, MOST can help the rubber farmers to solve the problem of depressed rubber prices by natural rubber processing to develop track and field sports. Department of Science Services cooperates with Sports Authority of Thailand to study and develop the synthetic and natural rubber to build track and field sports and improve to serve the international standard.
National Innovation Agency (NIA) supports Ban Mai-Tra water hyacinth community enterprise to develop processes of textile production from water hyacinth by extending research results from Kasetsart Agricultural and Agro Industrial Product Improvement Institute and Thailand Textile Institute. NIA develops pilot products from water hyacinth textile for fashion and costume products.
In medical aspect, Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciences (TCELS) cooperates with Medical Genome Center, Mahidol University, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital and Naresuan University develop application for patients in the hospitals and for interested people. The application gives R&D basic knowledge on innovation for transcription of Genetics code on DNA Human Genome in form of easily understanding in order to know and plan for preventing genetic transfuse to the offspring.
Dr.Pichet Durongkaveroj says that Science Technology Innovation Reform for natural resources, MOST integrates the operation with various agencies in order to manage natural resources of the country and formulates disasters prevention plan especially during forest fire crisis. Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISDA) integrates space technology with Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment support to utilize the satellite photograph in the areas of Hot Spot and apply with the aerial photograph of agencies concerned for accurate and referring database, not overlapped analysis. Moreover, Satellite technology is applied to follow up droughts crisis in agricultural areas and to inspect the reduction of the off-season rice areas which is one of the government’s measurement to prevent water shortage in the agricultural season.
The reform for creating youth’s science and technology awareness is essential for national economic drive in the future. MOST collaborates with Ministry of Education to integrate development on science knowledge-base. MOST by National Science Museum arranges the project ”Bring back Happiness to You-Youth”
National Astronomical Research Institute(NARIT) reduces unequaliy to access the educational resources by operating the project “The Distribution of Learning Opportunities in Astronomy” for 77 provinces, providing astronomical telescopes and the instructional media for schools, academic institutes both public and government agencies in domestic and in neighboring countries. NARIT also arranges training courses for astronomical lecturers and training to use astronomical equipment. On November 2014, NARIT opened the Regional Observatory for the Public in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Dr.Pichet says that the reform on science, technology and innovation infrastructure application development, Synchrotron Light Research Institute assists the social disadvantaged person by producing 20-cell-Braille Display pilot project for distributing to the blind. National Institute of Metrology produces chemical reference material for example the reference material for cadmium in rice analysis, the reference material for BIX analysis and the reference material for oxygen analysis in order to promote laboratories and entrepreneurs’ potential to analyze chemical indicator in order to assure the quality and security for the economic crops of the country, to create equality for farmers and to promote potential and capability for exporting agricultural products through the world market.
Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute establishes the provincial water resources management center for local agencies to have data system for following up water resources situation and for planning to improve water resources in the area and for supporting flood disaster warning and water resources management during crisis for local area.
Office of Atoms for Peace builds the radiation safety robot for mobile radiation inspecting center to assure in case of radiation crisis.
In foreign relations aspect, MOST signs Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation on Science, Technology and Innovation Between The Ministry of Science and Technology of The Lao People’s Democratic Republic and MOST of Thailand. In addition, MOST cooperates with National Graduate Institute for Policy Study (GRIPS) of Japan to support fellowship for science, technology and innovation policy development. Additionally, cooperation between World Materials Research Institutes Forum (WMRIF) and National Science and Technology Development Agency.
GISDA operates 2 cooperation: Cooperation with Wuhan University, People’s Republic of China to establish “Sirindhorn International Center for Geo-Informatics” and India-ASEAN Archaeological Atlas from Satellite data ”Connectivity of Regional Culture” Finite Route, Infinite Value The Buddha Organic Evolution from India to Southeast Asia. Both cooperation commemorate HRH.Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on the occasion to celebrate the 5th Cycle Birthday Anniversary
National Astronomic Research Institute signs Memorandum of Understanding on the Collaboration in Astronomy and Astrophysics Between Yunnan Observatories, the People’s Republic of China and NARIT.
