Published on June 27, 2005

Astrategic plan has been drafted by the National Nanotechnology Centre to make the country an Asean leader in nanotechnology research and development (R&D).

The 10-year plan not only sets guidelines for Thailand’s nanotechnology development, but also creates cluster platforms among researchers, institutes and industries.

Centre director Wiwat Tanthapanichakoon said the draft was nearly complete and would be sent to the National Nanotechnology Committee next month before going to the Cabinet for approval. It should be announced as the country’s master plan in the next few months.

The plan’s goal is for Thailand to produce its own nanotechnology-based products, worth Bt120 billion over the next 10 years. The technology is still in the early stages, but scientists believe it is already revolutionising industry. The National Science Foundation says its use in each industry will continue to grow, with the total value of nanotechnology-based products reaching US$1 trillion (Bt40.86 trillion) annually by 2015.

Worldwide, nanotechnology will eventually play an important role in five key areas: energy, healthcare and medicine, food and agriculture, electronics and the environment. Thailand seems to be following that trend. Wiwat says the plan aims at promoting nanotechnology to support seven major industries of food and agriculture, cars and car parts, electronics, petrochemicals and textiles, energy and the environment and healthcare, plus One Tambon One Product projects.

He said the development of nano-materials, -electronics and -biotechnology is the key foundation for further development of nanotechnology-based products.

To move in the right direction, the plan has set six target products for development: sensors, nano-electronic devices, drug-delivery systems, nano-coating materials, nano-catalysts and nano-composites.

“These are targeted nano-products in which we see a potential for nanotechnology,” said Wiwat.

Qualified personnel are also a factor. Wiwat said the plan called for training 2,500 people in R&D and increasing the R&D budget to Bt12 billion in the next 10 years.

Of total R&D funding, at least 30 per cent would come from the private sector.

It is hoped that R&D will enable the country to have 300 nanotechnology-related patents registered during the next 10 years, with at least 300 private companies in the country using nanotechnology in the production process and to develop new products.

Wiwat said that infrastructure to support nanotechnology was also required. Related equipment is still expensive, so the centre will propose the government build an R&D facility, affording the private sector and researchers access to equipment and tools for their research.

“This will save industry costs while promoting nanotechnology development,” he said.

The Taiwanese government has allocated Bt1.4 billion especially for nanotechnology equipment, and China Bt1 billion.

They hope to be able to provide enough facilities to support development of the technology, as they believe this would help strengthen their economies.

Pongpen Sutharoj

The Nation

pongpen@nationgroup.com

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