Agency names top ten innovative products

The National Innovation Agency (NIA) has named Thailand's top ten innovative businesses in 2008, and the products that won their recognition.

The successful companies were selected from a total of 335 projects that received NIA funding for research amounting to Bt350 million. They were judged according to six criteria: an innovative business model; support from distinguished technology; high potential for success in global markets; good corporate management; compliance with intellectual property procedures; and encouragement of an innovative environment.

Biodegradable packaging

Poly Material Technology, a company of the CPPC Group, has researched its own formula for a bioplastic compound from which to produce biodegradable packaging.

The bioplastic, produced from polylactic acid or polylactide (PLA), is transparent and cannot stand temperatures higher than 50 degrees Celsius, so it is suitable for use as shopping bags or food packaging. The new plastic material decomposes completely within months.

The formula uses local natural materials such as calcium carbonate and talc to increase the strength of the product. The development will add value to the local cassava crop and help drive recognition of Thailand as a centre for development of bioplastics.

The innovation will enable the Thai firm to use local raw materials to help meet global demand for environmentally friendly products.

Good Grace organic soap

Chiangmai Organic and Spa, the local manufacturer of Good Grace-brand organic soap, has researched and developed its own innovative soap by using local ingredients, including organic coconut oil, sesame oil, safflower oil, lye, pure essential kaffir lime oil, tea tree and rice. The soap is without chemical substances and waste water after its use has no chemical residues.

The company is successfully exporting its organic soap to global markets such as the United States, Italy and Japan. It expects to double its production capacity, from 30,000 cakes per month to 60,000 in 2009. Its price is Bt450 for one cake of soap.

ZoNop zinc oxide nanoparticles

Nano Material Technology has developed the production of lower-cost zinc oxide nanoparticles by using local materials. The nanoparticles are used to enhance protection from ultraviolet light and also have anti-bacterial properties. The company's production will be used by local textile and cosmetic producers to improve the quality of their products and enhance their business amid the economic slowdown.

Stem cells from babies' teeth

Bio Eden Asia is the first Thai company to extract and sustain stem cells from babies' teeth, for use in medical treatments. This proposes the development of a personalised form of medicine for treating diseases and injuries that may occur later in a baby's lifetime, including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, juvenile diabetes, spinal cord injuries, and even cancer and heart disease.

Stem cell therapy is now being used around the world.

I-Mo two-wheeled personal vehicles

I-Mobility has developed a locally made two-wheeled electronic vehicle called I-Mo. Local development means users pay only about around Bt80,000 for one of the vehicles, instead of Bt400,000 for an imported product.

The company applied the two-wheeled electronic-vehicle concept and further developed it for use in Thailand. Technologies embedded in the device include a gyroscope sensor - used to detect tilting - an electric motor, chips, wheels and a joystick to ride the vehicle.

The company plans to make the vehicles by order rather than distributing them to the market. Target customers are resorts, hotels, shopping malls, hospitals, schools and villages.

Food supplements, algal extracts for the brain

A group of local companies led by Maysa Corporation has researched and developed the extraction of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from microalgae of the genus Schizochytrium, instead of using the conventional source, fish oil. The microalgae have been developed as a commercial source of DHA, which is an essential fatty acid vital to the health of the brain and the retinas of the eyes, as well as having other beneficial actions.

The companies' research has helped to reduce the cost of DHA by 30 to 40 per cent and provides additional safety because the Schizochytrium microalgae are produced and fed in a controlled environment.

i-Spa intelligent bathtub

Bathroom Design has given the humble bathtub some local developments, and in the process has converted itself from a distributor of bathroom products to the producer of its own i-Spa local brand. The company is exporting its bathtubs to foreign markets as well as supplying local hotels and resorts.

Osiris cosmetics from silk sericin

Nature Max has developed and produces local cosmetics under Osiris brand from silk sericin, a local natural material treated with a spray drying process. Thailand has abundant quantities of silk sericin, which is yellow silk. It has 88 proteins (more than the white silk that is the natural material in overseas countries) and 18 amino acids. It is a natural product that leaves no chemical residues.

Ku Wax, a biocompound for coating fruit

A local company, Ku Wax, has developed a biocompound for coating fruit, helping the local agricultural industry to reduce costs by avoiding the need for imported products. It is the first locally developed biocompound for coating fruit, and more than 1,000 litres has already been used for coating local oranges.

Phutawan biofertiliser for organic farming

Pooton Agritecture Industrial has developed and produces its own biofertiliser by using various species of naturally-occurring nitrogen-fixing bacteria to generate plant nutrients. This biofertiliser is certified by International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements. It is capable of adding more than Bt1 billion per year to the value of local organic farming and will lift the value of the local biofertiliser industry to about Bt300 billion per year.