Innovation agency plans to join with FTI in consulting
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The National Innovation Agency plans to collaborate with the Federation of Thai Industries to offer consulting services to the private sector, especially small and medium-sized enterprises.
Supachai Lorlowhakarn, director of the NIA, said that although Thai entrepreneurs were more aware of innovation, they were starting to run out of new ideas, so the agency would work with the FTI to help entrepreneurs generate more innovations.
The agency would begin with the food and rubber industries as a pilot project before expanding services to other industries.
The agency organises the National Innovation Awards annually to recognise achievements in innovation that benefit the economy and society with an aim to strengthen the national innovation culture and awareness at all levels of industry.
The NIA hosts the awards-presentation ceremony on October 5 every year, which is National Innovation Day. Awards are granted in two categories – social innovation and economic innovation.
Currently, the NIA provides the Innovation Management Course for Executives with the goal to develop new management skills, improve vision and enhance business skills. It also facilitates the application of innovation and new technology in the individual businesses of participants to create products, processes or services.
This course helps SMEs innovate successfully by accessing research and development support for new ideas as well as government, institutional and financial support services. The NIA under the supervision of the Science and Technology Ministry has already provided Bt729 million in financial support to 849 innovation projects worth more than Bt13.7 billion.
