Friday, August 5, 2022 – Khon Kaen University joined the Science, Research and Innovation Promotion and Utilization Division; the Northeast Regional Network Operating Unit of MHESI; the Northeast Convention and Exhibition Bureau; the Industrial Council, and other allies to hold the Food and Agro Tech 2022. The event was chaired by Prof. Thidarat Boonmars, Ph.D., Vice President of Khon Kaen University for Innovation and Enterprise; Prof. Supachai Pathumnakul, Ph.D., Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation; and Dr. Taweesan Wichaiwong, President of Khon Kaen Industrial Council and the Head of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization). The event, which was held at the Golden Jubilee Convention Center, Khon Kaen University, was aimed at extending the knowledge and transferring technologies and innovations towards social and commercial utilization.

Prof. Supachai Pathumnakul, Ph.D., Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation revealed that the Government has a policy and aim for the country to become a developed country within the year 2037. Therefore, we cannot refuse that technologies, research and innovations are very important for the deployment towards the target. Universities and the Ministry should see the same direction for utilization of technologies, research and innovations. First, we have to admit that before the spread of Covid, technologies, research and innovations were already important. After Covid, they have become the accelerators that should urgently be used, especially in digital infrastructure. These are divided into two parts: basic research and applied research.

“Everyone knows about the importance of technology, research and innovation. But the way to put them into practice is not clear. For MHESI, the idea is that first, research must be carried out with one who wants to use it from the start, so that it is certain it is going to be used. MHESI and universities also deploy the work through funding, promotion of benefits from research. There is a new act that promotes utilization of research based on the measure that we have to allocate budget so that the work will be truly utilized. The next part is the standard criteria of new programs that are expected to be effective as of September 27 this year. We will open for the private sector to join in developing programs with universities so that we can build manpower that we need. They will be able to analyze, think and work with the private sector and from this, there will be useful research and innovation. Lastly, we will build Start-up, as it is the point where technology and innovation can be developed. I would like universities and the private sector to work together on new platforms and new ecological systems. It would be best for the private sector to learn under the new 3 dimensions with universities. This will be the path that leads us to the goal, with research works that benefit future society and commerce,” said Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation.

Prof. Thidarat Boonmars, Ph.D., Vice President of Khon Kaen University for Innovation and Enterprise said that universities are aware of the importance in developing works in academic, research and innovation for social and commercial benefits, and for enhancing competitive competency and national development for sustainability and security in the long run. At present, KKU has a lot of innovative works, in medicine, agriculture, food, education, and energy. Recently, KKU has collaborated and implemented works related to innovation development and utilization with external organizations, both governmental, industrial, and the communities. Start-ups have been set up with community enterprises, joint investment in business with the private sector and communities around the university and the provinces nearby.

“The Food and Agro Tech 2022” and “Tech innovation for sustainable future” which transfers technologies and innovations for commercial and social utilization is thus another collaboration that we are very pleased to host the event today with the Science, Research and Innovation Promotion and Utilization Division; the Northeast Regional Network Operating Unit of MHESI; the Northeast Convention and Exhibition Bureau; the Industrial Council, and other allies. The event is expected for true utilization as well as promoting competitive competency for sustainable national development,” said KKU Vice President for Innovation and Enterprise.

The event features over 130 exhibitions and selling of goods from Khon Kaen University, and institutions under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. The works comprise innovations and products in education such as:

Board Game Learning Kits – that promote learning of sciences, computer, and social science for learners at the elementary and secondary levels. The kits have been developed by a group of researchers and educational innovation creators of the Faculty of Education and teachers of the Demonstration School, Khon Kaen University. The kits were shown at Booth B 27.

There are also innovations in agriculture, herbs such as form Sodsai Farm. Mrs. Duangduan Patitangkho, a farmer from Sodsai Herb Farm, Khaen Sub-district, Wapeepathum District, Mahasarakham said when she joined the project, she received budget and there have been people coming to support her farm from upstream until the end of stream or from preparing the soil, checking the soil, and developing the products until they are standardized as organic products, designing of products and marketing. At present the farm is a community enterprise, with people joining in growing herbs in over 200 rais of land. There are herbs grown as cultivars, for manufacturing in different products, or for medical use in hospitals all over Isan. The farm also dispatches fresh herbs to famous and leading brands such as Abhaibhubejhr. This is really helpful to the locals and also those who want to run start-ups that bring incomes back to the community. If interested, follow the work at Facebook Page: Rai Sodsai.

There are also exhibitions of innovations realted to foods, health, energy, and different smart operating systems. At each exhibition booth, there are activities for visitors to join and have fun. Free products are distributed to visitors for trials. There is also the ‘golden time’ for cheap goods selling. In addition, there are shows and performances on the open stage making the event joyful. The other part is a special talk by Prof. Supachai Pathumnakul, Ph.D., Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation on: “Innovations towards Utilization”, an academic forum on “Future Food for Thai to Global Society” and the “Tips that are not secret – how to make Startup successful”. Moreover, there are activities to enhance Soft Power of the elderly and the youths through the Music Contest and “TECH INNO ISAN Cover Dance”, and open-air movies are shown every evening. The event is organized from August 5-7, 2022 at the Golden Jubilee Convention Center, Khon Kaen University. For more information call Tel. 06-3786-8254 (Mallika Plaungklang, Information Technology Officer, Innovation and Enterprise Section, KKU.

News / Photos: Jiraporn Prathumchai

[Thai]

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February 19, 2022 – the workshop on management of industrial research potential was held under the TALENT MOBILITY (TM Clearing House) project. The activity included discussion on the selection of Talent Mobility projects. Roughly 284 were completed in the fiscal years 2016-2019. Projects with commercial utilization potentiality were being aimed at. Prof. Supachai Pathumnakul, Ph.D., Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation presided over the opening session. Among participants joining the selection process were Mr. Panpermsak Arunee, an expert in human resources; Prof. Thidarat Boonmars, Ph.D., Vice President of Khon Kaen University for Innovation and Enterprise; Mr. Apirachai Wongsriworapon, Director of Khon Kaen University Science Park; Mr. Worasan Sopon, Deputy Director of the Science Park of Prince of Songkhla University; and representatives of the 6 Talent Mobility network universities, including Chulalongkorn University, Khon Kaen University, Chiangmai University, King Mongkut University of Technology Thonburi, Mahidol University and Prince of Songkhla University.

Prof. Supachai Pathumnakul, Ph.D., Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation explained that the important goal of the Talent Mobility Project is to enable researchers to collaborate with the private sector to upgrade the industry. What MHESI wants to happen in the future is to have researchers working full time with the private sector. With the situation and many constraints, this was not possible before. It is hoped that in the future, relevant personnel would help propel this objective and make it really happen for a long term so that the private sector would be confident that what had been developed would answer the problem and would be worth the budget and time spent. The key propeller is the Clearing House, which should intensively collaborate and proceed towards the aim. This means ‘talent mobility’ is upgraded to another level, enabling researchers to be part of or become officers in the private sector until the expertise has been acquired. The researchers or university lecturers will also be able to apply for higher academic positions from the outcomes of the work. Finally, it is hoped that students can take part in the research and work with the private sector. The teaching and learning in the university can be changed from the former methods, using experiences of the lecturers and researchers together with the theoretical knowledge.

The afternoon and evening sessions featured the work on the project management guidelines. These sessions were led by Prof. Peerapong Teekasakul, the Managing Committee member of the Talent Mobility Project. Prof. Peerapong Teekasakul said, “All through the 7 years of the project, we have learned a lot in management and administration of the project. The common objective is for fast development of the private sector. Universities including lecturers, researchers, students and coordinators had to work intensively with the private sector, bringing with them knowledge in research and development while the budget being allocated. The important thing is that there must be the true outcomes. Universities all over the country have a lot of potential researchers. We have to push these researchers to help in the private sector and industries. It is good for the researchers themselves, and the private sector will benefit from value addition in the goods, industries and services. If such integration of work goes on, the industrial and private sector will certainly leap forward. I’d like the university sector to help develop the R&D potential for the private sector, because this will be the basis for self-development in the future. The important thing is that we should see the problem clearly and solve it efficiently. All must have the same goal and work towards it. Thailand will certainly become a developed country.”

The last part was a talk on “Applying for an academic position with the work outcomes from the Talent Mobility project”, by Asst. Prof. Surapin Promdaen, a researcher from the Talent Mobility project from Lanna Rajamangala University of Technology. Asst. Prof. Surapin Promdaen is the first lecturer who applied for an academic position with the work from the Talent Mobility project under the second category: other types of work (academic work for industry).

News / photos: Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation

[Thai]

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