Programs
PMU-C aims to develop knowledge and innovation to create value to agricultural and food products.
The Agriculture and Food Program supports the development of novel products and processes for the agriculture and food industry and the advancement of technologies from laboratory to industry with the goal to introduce innovative products to both domestic and international markets. The scope includes the development of functional ingredients, natural extracts, healthy food products, cold chain systems, and machineries for the agriculture and food industry. Capacity building of business operators, researchers and technologists as well as the development of dynamic innovation ecosystem are also emphasized to enable an innovation-driven economy.
Examples of research topics
- Production of health and functional food products meeting the market demand by employing advanced technologies
- Development of biological processes for the production of food ingredients and natural products, upcycling of agricultural and agro-industrial wastes, and circular agricultural and food production
- Development of equipment and machines to support farmers and food processing SMEs
Highlights
- Development of high-value products from porcine placenta functional ingredients
- Evaluation of consumption safety and effects of functional drink containing tuna oil on working memory, emotional stresses, and aging process in perimenopausal and menopausal women
- Pilot plant for standardized herbal extract phase 2
PMU-C aims to elevate health and medical industry and turn Thailand into the regional medical hub.
The COVID-19 pandemic has made a big impact to the public health and raised public awareness on the need to develop a healthy society. The Health and Medicine Program focuses on raising the capability of Thai health and wellness industry to be able to compete in the global market. The support is provided in the form of “matching fund” to encourage collaboration and joint investment from the industry in translational research and commercial production. The scope also includes an establishment of laboratories and pilot plant facilities in compliance with applicable standards to enable the development of medical innovations.
Examples of research topics
- Drugs, biopharmaceuticals, biosimilars, vaccines, cell therapy, targeted therapy, natural extract-based products and diagnostic assays with the focus on niche areas and aiming for the registration with the Thai FDA
- Frontier research projects in the areas of biomedical science, biomedical engineering and bioengineering which are co-sponsored by or to be licensed to the industry
- Advanced gene and cell therapy for treating genetic diseases, cancers and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), for instance
- Precision medicine, excluding projects under Genomics Thailand which are directly funded by the Health Systems Research Institute
- Invasive medical devices
- Assistive and preventive medical devices
- Targeted drug delivery system
Highlights
- Center for development of international standard and spectroscopy in medical laboratory
- Development of vacuum blood collection tube
- Collaborative laboratory network for diagnostic innovation: Prince of Songkla University and southern network (PSU Medical Diagnostic Technology and Health Informatics, MedTHI)
- Research and development on production of Clostridium botulinum antitoxin type A and B for preclinical studies
- Development of GMP/PICs pilot plant for the production of standardized herbal extract for medical and food applications: the preliminary study in kratom plant model
PMU-C supports research in waste and biomass valorization, converting them into energy, chemicals and biomaterials.
Thailand is an agricultural-based economy with vast agricultural land and millions of people working in the farming sector. However, agricultural commodities are sold at low prices, resulting in a “more for less” production system. Research and innovation have potential to add substantial value to farm products and agricultural wastes by turning them into energy, chemicals and biomaterials, thus raising the competitiveness of the country. The Energy, Chemicals and Biomaterials Program supports research and development in waste and biomass valorization by fostering collaboration between universities and the industry and strengthening infrastructure such as upscaling production facilities and bioprocess pilot facilities.
Examples of research topics
- Database to support the demand and supply management of biomass and logistics
- Bioenergy and biofuels
- Waste-to-energy
- Biomass fuel testing laboratories, pilot plants and joint research with the industry
- Biofuels and biochemicals such as high-purity industrial alcohol and high quality oleochemicals
- Biodegradable plastics such as polyethylene furanoate (PEF)
- Conversion of CO2 into fuels and chemical intermediates
Highlights
- Synthesis of wood surface protection coating from agricultural wastes using green technology
- Production of green fuel and synthetic fuel from green technologies for transportation
- Hybrid artificial intelligence optimizer for biodiesel and ethanol distiller for higher energy efficiency and automated early anomaly detection in biodiesel and ethanol industries
PMU-C aims to promote creative tourism and strengthen the competitiveness of Thai tourism industry.
The Tourism and Creative Economy Program supports research and development to strengthen the tourism industry, focusing on the management of tourism and creative economy, wellness tourism, the management of cultural and natural heritage to enable sustainable tourism.
Examples of research topics
- Development of local tourism businesses, second city tourism and creative districts such as creative startups and social enterprises that support responsible tourism
- Development of tourism standards and safety
- Development of databases of local resources and carrying capacity management
- Market studies and identity & brand building
- Classification of tourists and marketing strategies for niche and high-income tourists
- Development of products and services, quality standards and new business models for wellness tourism
- Development and application of digital technology in wellness tourism
- Skill development of workers in the service industry
- Market research and consumer behavior study in wellness tourism
- Development of platforms and integration of databases and infrastructure to support data analysis and strategy formulation for wellness tourism
- Development of tourism promotional materials based on local stories, legends, history and culture
- Development of local and creative products using geographical indications (GIs)
Highlights
- A creative railroad tourism development beyond Lanna modernization era
- Prototype of administration of WellHotel to be a quality health tourism destination
- Storytelling through food and developing food ambassadors
PMU-C supports Thailand’s transformation into a digital economy with research and development in digital technology to enhance industrial competitiveness.
Digital technology has become indispensable in every aspect of our lives. Digital tools have been developed to support various applications such as market forecasting, productivity improvement in manufacturing, and disease diagnosis. In developed nations, sizable investments are made to develop digital technology and increase people’s digital literacy as a strategy to drive the economic growth and enhance the competitiveness. The Digital Platform Program supports the development and application of digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to support various operations ranging from SMEs to factories and even medical professionals and boost the competitiveness of Thai industry.
Examples of research topics
- Development of a national data platform for connecting and sharing data – on agriculture, food, healthcare, livable city, energy, tourism, GI products and regional BCG – via an application programming interface (API)
- Improvement of data visualization and data analytics for big data in agriculture, food, health, environment and tourism
- Development of precision agriculture platforms to support the Internet of Food (IoF)
- Development of telehealth platforms and platforms connecting health facilities
- Development of analytical and AI platforms to support primary healthcare for the elderly
Highlights
- Automated glaucoma screening system using visual field based on virtual reality and fundus image based on deep learning
- Development of a Bangkok Cooperative Store Management System
- Development of a deep learning system for smart robot bin-picking
PMU-C aims to promote the circular economy.
The circular economy is a new economic model for sustainable development by maximizing the value of resources, eliminating waste and lowering pollution, especially greenhouse gas emissions. It can be achieved with the adoption of circular concept in the design of products, services, technologies and business models, the implementation of the 4R principle of reduce, repair, reuse and recycle, as well as the creation of a closed loop. Companies around the world are now embracing the circular concept to support environmental causes and, at the same time, expand their businesses into the circular economy. The Circular Economy Program supports the development of technology, innovation, value chain collaboration, platform and ecosystem to facilitate the transition into the circular economy which will contribute to sustainable economic growth and sustainability of resources and the environment.
Examples of research topics
- Upcycling innovation and demand creation for circular economy products
- Digital platform for waste management
- Pilot upcycling facility
- Quality testing facility for secondary raw material
- Research and development in the areas of material flow and circular technology & design to reduce resource consumption and support the recycling industry
- Eco-friendly product design
- Development of life cycle inventory (LCI) database, verification system and environmental footprint standards
- Research and development of circular economy standards and indicators
Highlights
- Improving performance and quality of recycled PET for packaging industry
- Development of the modular steel building construction system with a digital platform to improve competitiveness to make a transition to a circular economy
- Study on the circular dairy farming model for waste
- Development of circular product labelling system to promote material circularity to move towards the national policy of circular economy
PMU-C aims to build the foundation for the development of future mobility, robotics and automation.
The Future Transportation, Robotics and Automation Program supports research and capacity building of Thai industry to manufacture commercial products for replacing imports. The scope includes electric vehicles, railway system and aviation.
Examples of research topics
- Next-generation automotive such as electric bus, electric trucks, electric motorcycles, electric boats, EV parts, modified electric trucks, battery, charging stations and autonomous cars
- Railway system such as light rail, passenger trains and train parts
- Drone and aviation such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and logistics management of UAV
Highlights
- Next generation automotive industry’s capability enhancement in Thailand through the development of swappable battery platform for electric motorcycle
- Research and development for electric waterjet boat
- Prototype development of passenger train (Thai-made Train)
- Intelligent unmanned aerial logistics management system development for urban areas
PMU-C uses technology localization as a strategy to develop and enhance the competitiveness of target industries and build a strong foundation for economic development.
The Technology Localization Program enables the adaptation of foreign technologies from TRL5 and beyond to local conditions – technological capacity, industrial processes, consumers’ needs and standards compliance – in Thailand. The program aims to accelerate the development of advanced technology to support innovative businesses by way of adapting foreign technologies to suit local users and local business models via technology testing, data collection and market study. Emphasis is given to large-scale projects or projects with high economic impacts. The program will strengthen Thailand’s research, development and innovation (RDI) capability, improve the competitiveness, engage strategic alliances in the co-development process, and transform Thai industry from OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing) to ODM (Original Design Manufacturing). It is expected to deliver technologies that are ready for commercialization in Thailand.
Examples of research topics:
- Future transportation: next generation automotive, railway, aviation and logistics
- Robotics and automation: industrial robots and automated manufacturing
- Food: high-value food products and functional ingredients, quality preservation and value addition of agricultural and food products
- Health and medicine: drugs, biopharmaceuticals, cell therapy, diagnostic test kits, non-in vitro diagnostic devices and nutraceuticals
- Energy and biomaterials: energy efficiency improvement and final energy consumption reduction, energy storage, connected vehicle and smart grid
Highlights
- Research and development of light rail transit vehicle prototype using Thailand’s localization in order to extend into industrial production
PMU-C aims to reinvent Thai universities by supporting an accelerator platform to push deep science and technology research to market.
Universities have the capacity and talent to perform deep science and technology research that can be further developed into innovations, products and services to build successful businesses. Support systems such as IP management and business incubation center also place universities in an advantageous position to move technology from lab to market. Recognizing the potential of universities to bring research to market, PMU-C supports the development of the Deep Science & Technology Accelerator Platform, focusing on the development of infrastructure and innovation ecosystem that will help research make the leap from lab to market, thus elevating overall competitiveness of Thai enterprises.
Highlights
- A platform to enhance competitiveness and commercialization of innovation for a good quality of life (smart living)
- Accelerator platform for science and tech innovation: Accessible design for elderly well-being, food, cosmeceutical and physical safety
- Total Innovation Business Development Center
PMU-C forges collaboration and networking between the government and private sector to turn high-tech research and development into value-added products and services.
As the source of innovation and employment, the industrial sector plays a vital role in freeing Thailand from the middle-income trap and leading Thailand to become a high-income nation by 2036 – the goal set in Thailand’s 20-Year National Strategy. It is necessary to build technological capacity of Thai enterprises so that they can be upgraded to innovation driven enterprises (IDEs) to fuel the economy and enable Thailand to achieve its goal. At present, only a small number of enterprises engage in research and innovation. Half of the research spending comes from 15 large and multinational companies. Meanwhile, Thai SMEs are unable to engage in research due to the lack of knowledge, personnel and funding, thus losing the competitive advantage to their international competitors. The government can help resolve this situation by linking SMEs to potential customers and helping them get access to knowledge and technology from larger enterprises in the value chain.
The Public Private Partnership – Innovation Driven Enterprise (PPP-IDEs) Program aims at developing technological capacity of SMEs by connecting them to potential clients – public or private organizations – and enabling them to develop products and services meeting customers’ requirements. The program also promotes the knowledge and technology diffusion from large enterprises to smaller ones in the value chain, thus strengthening the entire industry.
Hilights Reimagination of Kang Kradang recipe with molecular gastronomy to improve its nutritional value for the elderly
PMU-C employs international collaboration as a strategy to raise the capacity of Thai academia and industry.
Collaboration with foreign partners is a mechanism that can be employed to enhance the national competitiveness. The Global Partnership Program fosters the linkage between Thai researchers/entrepreneurs and their foreign counterparts that will facilitate the diffusion of knowledge and technology and introduce new business opportunities in areas essential to the national social and economic development. The program helps strengthen the capability of Thai researchers and businesses, enabling Thailand to become more self-reliant in term of technology. Collaboration with foreign partners can also accelerate the innovation development in Thai firms and offer an opportunity to introduce Thai goods and services to international markets.
Highlights
- Electroplating technologies of highly durable coatings for sustainable manufacturing and high temperature applications
- Joint cognitive innovation city development: Korea and Thailand partnership in safe and secure intelligent system
- South Korea-Thailand smart city development collaboration in holistic and continuity elderly care platform
PMU-C supports the development of national quality infrastructure to encourage industrial development and facilitate global trade for Thai industry.
Highly competitive markets, technological disruption and new requirements of consumers are among factors that set new quality standards. It is therefore imperative to ensure that the national quality infrastructure is competent and easily accessible, as well as keeps abreast of new standards in order to support Thai industry to manufacture high-quality products and services to compete in the global market. The National Quality Infrastructure Program aims at strengthening Thailand’s quality infrastructure system to provide product quality assessment and certification in accordance with international standards. The scope includes an upgrade of testing laboratories, investment in necessary scientific equipment, implementation of a quality assurance program and human resource development.
Highlights
- BCG Innovation Hub: Thailand Clinical Research Enterprise (TCRE)
- FFC Thailand – Food with Function Claims Thailand
