The plan, which was approved by the Cabinet last month, is an expansion of the existing Thailand Science Park in Pathum Thani province, to boost local science and technology development to serve local needs in each part of Thailand.

The National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) will take care of the parks' establishment and operation.

Science Minister Yongyuth Yuthavong said the new science parks would be part of core infrastructure to promote R&D work to serve local businesses and industries in the provinces.

In the first stage, NSTDA will create a network among researchers in universities and the private sector to conduct R&D activities for technology development to serve local demands.

Yongyuth said there would be co-operation with local universities to conduct research work in each region.

To set up the science park in the northeast, NSTDA will work with Khon Khaen University, Ubon Ratchathani University, Maha Sarakham University and Suranaree University of Technology, while in the south, collaboration with Prince of Songkla University, Thaksin University and Walailak University will be initiated to build an R&D environment in the area, Yongyuth said.

Each park will use cost Bt3.5 billion to establish, and the Cabinet initially approved Bt600 million to start the two parks.

"Each park will be run under a Bt300-million budget for the first three years," he said.

NSTDA president Sakarindr Bhumiratana said the budget would be used to conduct R&D activities for researchers in the region so they could build up technology to serve local businesses and industries.

In the first three years, the agency plans to develop an R&D network in each region while stimulating both researchers and the private sector in the area to conduct technology development to serve their needs.

The agency will also set up an incubator to facilitate those who want to do research and development with technology transfer, financial support, facilities and services, as well as expert consultancy. This includes facilitating technology transfer from universities while encouraging industry-university collaboration.

"We hope that regional science parks will encourage researchers and the private sector in the provinces to work together on R&D, and transfer knowledge for the main purpose of developing technology for commercial use," Sakarindr said.

He added that after three years, the agency would then consider physical infrastructure such as buildings for the parks.

The first three years, which will run during 2007 through to 2009, are the early stage of the parks' establishment, to lay down soft infrastructure, Sakarindr added.

To further develop the two science parks, the agency has explored each park's strengths for technology development. In the northeast, he said technology-development activities would be related to software, automotive, agriculture and silk industries, while in the south, R&D activities will support, for example, the development of oil palm, rubber and software.

He said the setting-up of two new science parks was hoped to help local communities develop their own technology and knowledge, which would eventually bring them to the so-called knowledge-based society.

Apart from the establishment of regional science parks, NSTDA also received a Bt1.8-billion budget this year to expand its R&D estate at the Phatum Thani site. Sakarindr said the budget would be used over three years to build more infrastructure to allow the private sector to participate in the park to conduct R&D activities for their businesses.

He said the expansion phase was hoped to attract private companies to join in the park, from 50 companies now to 200 in the next three years.

During five years of the park's operation, there were more than 100 projects from private companies undertaken, with an estimated economic value of over Bt3 billion per year, while the park also encouraged the employment of more than 200 researchers.

 It's hoped that around Bt2.5 billion to Bt2.7 billion of revenue would be generated from 200 companies joining in the park.

Pongpen Sutharoj

The Nation