The first deal, worth Bt700,000, was signed yesterday between Napavarn Noparatnara-porn, a researcher in Kasetsart University's Department of Microbiology, and Adinop, a manufacturer of food additives and ingredients, animal feed, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, for research on photosynthetic bacteria to be used in raising the productivity of rice fields and shrimp farms.

The signing was conducted at Techno Mart 2006, an exhibition on technologies and innovations that runs through tomorrow at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Bang Na.

Adinop managing director Chutinun Snunsieng said the technology transfer would take about a year to complete and that the company expected to generate almost Bt100 million in new business by-products to be marketed domestically and exported.

Another research deal worth Bt400,000 and which will be signed in the near future involves glucosamine, which is used in medicine for degenerative joint disease. The agreement will be between Chulalongkorn University researcher Rath Pichayangkul and Greater Pharma. The company expects the research to generate more than Bt15 million worth of new business.

NIA director Supachai Lorlowhakarn said the IP Management unit would work as a consultant and provider of all intellectual-property services, such as the registration of patents and intellectual property rights.

"We'll also work as an IP

broker, matching local researchers pursuing valuable research and private companies that want to manufacture by-products from that research," said Supachai.

"There are about 10,000 researchers in Thailand at local universities and research institutes. But most [projects] are left on the shelf. Very few research projects have been successfully commercialised to create business value," said Supachai, adding that IP Management expected to create more than 15 deals for local research projects involving food, nutrition, nutraceuticals, ceramics, electronics, biotechnology and chemical products in the first year, with total transactions valued at more than Bt15 million.

Napavarn said she had spent almost 30 years studying photosynthetic bacteria, ever since working on her doctoral thesis. She dreamed her research would someday benefit the Kingdom and wants to transfer her work to any business organisation that can create commercial value from her research for domestic sales and export.

"As a researcher, I've encountered many obstacles that limit the growth of the local research industry," said Napavarn. "Heads of universities and research institutes do not understand the significance of research projects that need time and money before to enter the next stage of development. Universities and research institutes should have their own internal departments that work to commercialise valuable research through businesses, making money and benefiting the country overall."

Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn

The Nation