EU delegation joins forces with NSTDA to |organise science/technology conference

The event, a forum to exchange ideas and raise awareness about science and technology, will enable participants to be part of extensive discussions, workshops and exhibitions involving the scientific community, with public and media involvement. About 100 participants including scientists, researchers, academics; private sector reps, and the press – will hear from European and Thai experts about work in science programmes and events – ranging from those like “Science Festival” – to small activities organised by local communities.

“The past decade has seen a substantial increase in the level of cooperation in science, technology, and innovation between Asean and the EU. Asean researchers are currently participating in the EU Seventh Framework (FP7) programme, with funding worth more than 517 million euro” said ambassador Jesus Miguel Sanz, head of the EU delegation. “This cooperation continues to expand as well as deepens and involves an increasingly wide range of actors,” he said. 

Asean-EU STI Days is being organised to highlight existing collaboration, to stimulate the network, and to identify new areas for cooperation. In addition to topics discussed at the conference, it will also see the launch of Horizon 2020 – a new EU Research and Innovation programme, offering almost 80 billion euros in funding, available over a seven-years period, from 2014 to 2020.

NSTDA head Dr Thaweesak Koanantakool said science and technology had become a big part of everyone’s daily lives. But he said awareness of the importance of science was limited to small groups. “This is a stepping stone for further collaboration in policy dialogue, besides increasing cooperation in areas of research.” – The Nation