|
|
| • EXCH RATES |
|
Baht/$ 35.27/31 (Bid/Ask)
|
GOLD |
12,900
+ 450
|
|
Bio-related product development pushed
CHATRUDEE THEPARAT
NUREMBERG, GERMANY : The National Innovation Agency (NIA) plans to spend 400 million baht next year to help Thai companies apply knowledge management to achieve innovation, says director Supachai Lorlowhakarn.
 |
| Supachai: Deal with Bayern to be signed |
About 350 million baht will be spent to promote the development of bio-related businesses, focusing on products with high market potential such as food, as well as eco-industry and design.
Another 50 million will be needed to develop technology, seek venture capital, assistance with intellectual property management and market access, with a target to help 99 companies expand.
The state-run agency has supported 350 companies in the past five years but they are still small with only one million baht in capital. Therefore, the agency will encourage them to increase investment to 10-20 million baht each.
This budget is part of a three-year outlay of 316 million baht that the agency has earmarked for the establishment of an innovation park as a focal point for business incubation.
Dr Supachai said the agency planned to sign a memorandum of understanding with Germany's Bayern Innovative GmbH in order to be better equipped to support Thai business in upgrading and transferring technology.
Bayern Innovative is a private research company with technologies in various fields to support industries ranging from automotive to environment, energy, food, and bio-based businesses. It is also looking for investment opportunities globally in industries to which it can transfer technology.
The NIA and Thai-German Chamber of Commerce recently staged a trip for state agencies, schools and eight Thai companies to visit companies with innovative developments in Germany such as Merck KGaA, Bayer HealthCare AG, Bayer MaterialScience AG, Siemens AG, and Bayern Innovative GmbH.
The NIA is preparing to stage InnoAsia 2009: Food in the Future, from Aug 20-22 next year. The event offers consumers a venue to seek for more convenient, better-tasting and more effective food and beverages because healthy consumption is going to be the powerful influence on consumers' food choices. It expects 3,000 to 4,000 participants from 25 countries.
Dr Supachai said worldwide demand for functional food would grow rapidly for the next several years.
According to the NIA, natural products worldwide are worth US$513 billion a year with the growth projection of 25-30% annually for the next five years. Asia Pacific should contribute more than 50% of the total as its consumers are becoming more environmentally aware.
Dr Supachai said Thailand had high potential to support and contribute to the food industry and the capability to serve as a regional hub for ''nutraceutical'' and functional food production.
Sura-at Supachatturat said the InnoAsia 2009 conference would focus on four categories. Functional foods and beverages are related to healthy food choices such as NIA-supported projects including NutraGABA rice, beauty drinks and Y-ZA, a fruit juice with lactobacillus.
Medical foods are intended for use solely under medical supervision to meet the nutritional requirements of specific conditions such as diabetes.
Organic foods include natural and organic beef and organic asparagus. Novel foods are produced under the process resulting in a significant change in their composition or nutritional value or intended use, such as a fast-baking cake from rice powder. Other NIA initiatives include eco-industry, emphasising advanced eco-friendly technologies in three areas: clean energy, bio-based materials and organic agriculture. It will also has activities to support design and branding that have a rising role in successfully commercialising innovative products.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Next
