Science 'key to our future'
The Science and Technology Ministry is proposing the country spends a minimum of one per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) on science and technology.
It will introduce a bill to legislate spending levels in a move intended to increase Thailand's international competitiveness.Currently the country spends 0.26 per cent only of GDP on science and technology. GDP is approximately Bt7 trillion. "The goal is expected to be achieved in the next few years. When the science minister met recently met with the prime minister, the latter extended his full support for the proposed law," deputy chief of the National Nanotechnology Centre Dr Teerachai Pornsinsirirak said. Thailand's spending on science and technology is among the lowest in Asia. "More advanced countries such as Taiwan and Korea spend more than one per cent of GDP on science and technology," Teerachai said. "Even China is spending slightly more than one per cent now. Singapore and Malaysia are also spending more than us. We need to accelerate science and technology spending to about one per cent of GDP to really get to a turning point in our economic development. Research, education, and innovation are key elements for competitiveness." The nanotechnology centre is one of the key units of the Nation-al Science and Technology Devel-opment Agency. It is hosting the second international conference on nanotechnology here. Nophakhun Limsamarnphan The Nation
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