TMC plans lab2market project

TMC director Chachanat Thebta-ranonth, working under the National Science and Technology Develop-ment Agency (NSTDA), said the project aims to enable Thai researchers to become aware the impact of their research on the market, encourage Thai businesses to incorporate technology into their  strategies and businesses, and build as many links as possible between technology developers and businesses.

"The project will enable resear-chers to understand the market before they conduct any research so that their R&D can help develop commercially-viable products," she said.

Chachanat said there are more than 400 NSTDA patents, which can  enable researchers and businesses to support product development and come up with new products to compete in the marketplace. The project expects about 30 R&D projects to be completed and developed into new products for the commercial market by the end of the first year.

She said that under the Lab2Market project, the agency will conduct three activities. First, the L2M Boot Camp, which will provide a training programme for researchers and businessmen and enable them to work together for finding commercial solutions to problems.

Second, the agency will conduct the Idea2Product Asia Competition, co-hosted with the University of Texas, in December, researchers and business students will present their innovative business solutions to investors, lawyers and businessmen.

Lastly, NSTDA will award "Tech-nopreneurship" prizes to those students and researchers who have successfully incorporated NSTDA's technologies into a business plan.

Thammasat Business School dean Gasinee Witoonchart said the collaboration will create competitiveness of the country.

NSTDA president Sakarindr Bhumiratana said the agency has a duty to help the country build its science base for long-term sustainability since Thailand is entering a knowledge-based era, where companies will focus on utilising new technology to gain competitiveness in the market.