| NSTDA research highlights go on show at NAC 2008 | | | |
• Royal visit scheduled for 24 March 2008
• Public can book at NAC 2008 up to 500 clone saplings from auspicious Giant Swing teak trees
• Visitors invited to meet with scientists to discuss commercialization of projects
Reports:
• Goal to file 110 patent applications in 2008
• Fast Forward plan results in 75% more patent applications in 2007
• 54 patents commercially developed
• Goal to get Thai rice experiment into space
Bangkok (20 March 2008) – Thailand's top science and technology organisation, the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), today (20 March 2008) announced that it will showcase its research work conducted during the past year in partnership with many of the country’s universities and other research institutions under the Fast Forward plan at an open exhibition called NAC 2008.
The NAC 2008 exhibition will take place on 24-26 March 2008 at Thailand Science Park, Pathum Thani.
Up to 500 cloned saplings from the auspicious teak trees used to construct the Giant Swing will be available for booking for visitors to NAC 2008. The cloned saplings will be given to visitors in December 2008, by which time they will no longer need special nurturing.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will inspect the exhibition on 24 March 2008. For more information please check www.nstda.or.th/nac2008/.
Associate Professor Dr. Sakarindr Bhumiratana, President of the NSTDA, said, "The NSTDA and the various centres under its supervision, including BIOTEC, MTEC, NECTEC, NANOTEC, and TMC, increased by 75% the number of patents filed for innovations in 2007, as compared to the previous year. This is the result of our 3-year Fast Forward plan kicked off in 2007. The Fast Forward plan aims to accelerate the pace of innovation in Thailand and to get Thai scientists directly involved in the needs of industry, agriculture, and healthcare.
"Close collaboration with many universities and other research institutions has been a key component for this sharp acceleration in the pace of innovation," he said.
According to Assoc Prof Sakarindr, in 2007, NSTDA filed 92 patents, compared to 52 in the previous year.
For 2008, he anticipates that NSTDA will file 110 patent applications. "Scientists from the NSTDA and other partner institutions are currently working on 1,070 projects, and 54 of them have had patents issued and been commercially developed," he said.
Areas of research that have been the most fruitful in the past year are software, microchips and electronics, generating 29 per cent of the patents; medicine and public health, generating 20 per cent of the patents; and agriculture, generating 20 per cent of the patents.
"We will keep driving the Fast Forward plan by increasing our collaboration network with different universities, ministries and research institutions. This collaborative model that puts the nation first, will help ensure that we continue to accelerate the pace of innovation in Thailand and strengthen our economy," said Assoc Prof Sakarindr.
Professor Dr Morakot Tanticharoen, Director of the National Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), and the chairman of NAC 2008, said, "NSTDA focuses on research that is directly relevant to the needs of agriculture, industry and medicine.
"At NAC 2008 we are exhibiting current research projects, as well as those that have already been brought to the stage of commercial development. We are also putting on show those with real potential for commercial development so that business people and investors will have a chance to meet with scientists and discuss their work.
"We want to encourage dialogue that will help researchers understand the needs of industry better as well as what the market demands. We welcome commercial discussions so that the work which the NSTDA has been doing in collaboration with universities and other research organisations can quickly be put to benefiting our country," she said.
Prof Dr Morakot said that among the highlights of the displays at NAC 2008 would be a model of a potential project to grow Thai rice in space, the development of nanocrystals to make solar cells, new technology to measure the quality of biodiesel, a project that identified the DNA of the Giant Swing trees, and some projects that have already been commercialized by the private sector such as 'Bedtime Milk' and dental implants.
NSTDA holds an exhibition every year to inform the public of its work and stimulate the exchange of scientific knowledge. In addition to the exhibits, there will be seminars, business meetings, and lab tours to encourage greater commercialization of the research.
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