BT8 BN sought to set up Science Parks in 3 regions

The Cabinet is expected to |consider the proposal at its meeting today, a Science Ministry source said yesterday.
The science parks will be located at universities in three designated regions: at Chiang Mai University in the North, at Khon Kaen University in the Northeast and at Prince of Songkla University in the South.
The main focus for each region will be to research and seek innovation to enhance the competitiveness and value chain for major local commodity-based businesses. That means pursuing research and innovation for rice in the North, chicken in the Northeast and rubber in the South.
The source said the funds would be requested over a three-year period. Bt2.6 billion is being sought for next year, Bt2.7 billion for 2014 and Bt3.1 billion for 2015.
Associate Professor Dr Sermkiat Jomjunyong, dean of the faculty of engineering at Chiang Mai Uni-versity and proposer of what would be the North Science Park, said the facility would be a conduit for integrating collaboration between the state, the private sector and educational institutions in strengthening businesses in the region.
The project would drive science and technology to create business advantages, he said, adding that “Blue Ocean” competition incorporating new technology and innovation to add value to previous products from the business sector would enable companies to produce or imitate existing “Red Ocean” products.
In addition, the North Science Park would help the region prepare for competition when the Asean Economic Community becomes effective in 2015.
The park would pay serious attention to innovation to add value to Thai rice in the global market by upgrading the key commodity through the improvement of species, speeding up of cultivation and growth rates, and using technology to enhance harvesting efficiency. This should increase the quality of Thai rice to keep it competitive in both the domestic and international markets, Sermkiat said.
Potential customers of the park are industries involved in the value chain of local crops, notably vegetables, fruit and rice, and covering upstream activities, including new crop species and food processing; software businesses to improve the production industry, hand-made products, tourism and design and creative industries; the medical industry and biomass technology; and alternative-energy technology, including environmental-protection initiatives.
Other customers in the Northern region are industries that are keen to look into new and innovative methods to add value to their products, such as services and tourism, hand-made products, pottery, construction equipment, decorative products, electronics and other supported businesses in Chiang Mai’s North Indus-trial Park.
Based at Chiang Mai University, the science park would network with seven other universities in the North and work with 30 industrial sectors and private businesses in the region, said the dean.
The three-year project goal is to help with the success of at least 60 businesses by providing appropriate technology training with the hope that at least 10 of them will be able to set up new businesses.
They want to pursue at least 60 research and development projects, with more than 380 science and technology projects created specifically for individual businesses. It is also estimated that at least 560 industry researchers and developers will be employed.
The economic value derived from the project is expected to be at least Bt3.5 billion.