NALIN VIBOONCHART THE NATION Rayong
The Science Ministry wants to see Thailand's annual spending on research and development reach Bt100 billion from both state and private sources - equal to 1 per cent of the Kingdom's gross domestic product - by 2016.
Science Minister Kalaya Sophonpanich yesterday said R&D spending on such a scale would reduce spending on imports of technology and innovative products.
To achieve this target, the ministry will continue to encourage the private sector to focus more on R&D investment as a way to develop Thai products and reduce operating costs arising from the need to import technology from abroad.
Kalaya was speaking at the |opening of PTT Chemical's Science and Innovation Centre in Rayong province.
BOOSTING THE BUDGET
She said Thailand's present R&D budget was Bt25 billion, equal to only 0.25 per cent of the Bt10-trillion GDP. The ministry expects spending on R&D to reach the Bt100-billion target by the end of the 11th National Economic and Social Development plan in 2016.
"We have many scholarly scientists in the Science Ministry, as does the private sector. Therefore, if people in the state agencies could cooperate with those in the private sector, I believe we could create more R&D investment," Kalaya said.
Thai scientist have been able to invent a sugar-cane harvesting machine that costs between Bt4 million and Bt5 million, less than the Bt10-million cost of an imported machine. Thai inventors have also been able to make a mobile-phone jammer priced at only Bt400,000 - far cheaper than the Bt1 million cost of an imported product.
These examples show if Thai scientists can create innovative products, the country can reduce the cost of imported goods, Kalaya said.
She said if Thailand could achieve this R&D target, it would not be on a watch list for breaches of intellectual-property laws.
The ministry is also communicating with other countries to let them know Thailand is pushing ahead with R&D for innovative products, Kalaya said. It expects foreign firms to eye Thailand as a potential destination for their R&D investments and bring their money here.
PTT Chemical president and chief executive Veerasak Kositpaisal said his company planned to increase its R&D budget from less than 1 per cent of revenue now to 2 per cent.
Last year, the company generated revenue of Bt80 billion. It expects revenue to reach Bt100 billion this year.
Veerasak said PTT Chemical spent Bt1 billion to set up the Science and Innovation Centre in Rayong as an open innovation centre for both itself and other companies wanting to cooperate in researching petrochemical products.
