Thailand’s Green and Inclusive Innovation Policy

Dr. Nares Damrongchainares@sti.or.thAPEC/ISTWG Innovation Policy DialogueWestin St. Francis Hotel, California EastSunday, 18 Sep 2011

Government policies for promoting open innovation and international cooperation on account of business’s approach

Dr. Nares Damrongchai @2010 Please do not circulate outside APEC ISTWG

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Thailand At a Glance• Thailand is the world's 50th largest country in

terms of total area (slightly larger than Spain)• The 21st most-populous country, with

approximately 67 million people. • About 75% of the population is ethnically

Thai, 14% is of Chinese origin, and 3% is ethnically Malay; the rest belong to minority groups including Mons, Khmers and various hill tribes.

• Official language is Thai. • Primary religion is Buddhism, which is

practiced by around 95% of all Thais.• Thailand has a GDP worth US$264 billion and

per capita GDP of US$3,845 (2009).• Economic sector by GDP: Agriculture (9%)

Industry (39%) Service (52%)

Green Innovation Concept

Policy to encourage innovation in …• Green consumption

– Higher efficiency on the consumers’ side• Green industry (production)

– Bio-based industry (petrochemical etc.)– Services and Tourism with environmental awareness

• Environment protection and utilization– R&D in biodiversity– Water management

Inclusive Innovation Concept: A move from a traditional approach to science and technology policy to a broader system of innovation policy

• STI policy should be inclusive that is intended to drive research, development and commercialization (R,D,&C)

• Capability building and on the interactions between the different organizations responsible for the creation, acquisition and use of knowledge for innovation.

• Improve innovative capacity of the poor people, to empower them such that they are the subject and part of the innovation process and not a mere object

Key Government PoliciesAs announced on 24 August 2011

• Reorganize national research and innovation system, with 2% R&D intensity target.

• One tablet per child• Public-private co-investment

and partnership, especially for R&D and technology transfer

• R&D in local context, including TK, to create local value added products

• Encourage direct investment in high value added and environmental friendly industries, with technology transfer

• New cities, with improved physical and legal infrastructure

• Fund for SMEs entrepreneurs (1 billion baht) and incubators in educational institutes

• Lowering company revenue tax

One Tablet Per Child

Two important mechanisms

• Research and innovation system

• Public-private partnership

Research and innovation system

• Generation, management, and dissemination of new knowledge at all levels

• Overall 2% R&D out of GDP• National Research Councils (or NIH) style

management system with holistic approach in budgeting.– Agriculture– Health

• National research infrastructures

principle

Management and

Investment

Thailand ---

10-year Plan

Today

R&D /GDP = 0.21 %

R&D Personnel (FTE)

6.76:10,000

R&D expenditure(Government:

Private)60:40

1 %15:10,0

0030:70

Note: In 2007 R&D Exp = 18,225 MB R&D Exp : Gov : Private =10,935:7,290

MB R&D Personnel = 42,624 (man-year)

Target by 2016

Source: STI (2011)

Human resource

• Emphasis on high level– Industrial MSc, PhD– “mobility fund” to support

sabbatical leave from state universities to work in companies

– 15 research personnel / 10,000 by 2016

• Overseas researchers / expats– Tax deduction or exemption

Dr. Nares Damrongchai @2010 Please do not circulate outside APEC ISTWG

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PPP: SMEs

Research

Centers

Private(Entrepreneur)

PublicUniversityKnowledge and

innovation

Researchcollaboration

•Investment•Funding•personnel

Researchtopic

Source: Praserttham (2010)

•Researchers•Students

Dr. Nares Damrongchai @2010 Please do not circulate outside APEC ISTWG

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PPP: large corporations

University

PrivatePublicKnowledge and

innovation

•Research funding•Research topic•Personnel

infrastructure

newproducts

Source: Praserttham (2010)

Direct PPP

Dr. Nares Damrongchainares@sti.or.thAPEC/ISTWG Innovation Policy DialogueWestin St. Francis Hotel, California EastSunday, 18 Sep 2011