Program Management Unit for Competitiveness (PMUC) joined forces with 11 organizations to jointly sign a “Memorandum of Intent: MOI” at Ballroom 38, 38th floor, Pullman Hotel, Silom Road, Bangkok, on September 22, 2023, from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM. After collaborating to promote and drive innovation and technology into the market under the Deep Science and Technology Accelerators project, the 11 organizations have committed to a three-year partnership, with the goal of delivering clear product and service solutions.
During a portion of the event, Dr. Wilaiporn Jettanajan, Chairperson of the Deep Science and Technology Accelerators Platform, delivered a lecture on the topic “3 Things Accelerator Must Have.” Dr. Wilaiporn explained that for accelerators to work effectively, they must create a significant economic impact, with the PMUC, which has a mission focused on enhancing the country’s economic competitiveness, promoting the key points of successful accelerators, which is the ability to bring products and services to the market, aligning with global trends, and maintaining standardized processes from research and development to the final commercialization.
Dr. Wilaiporn emphasized three important factors for accelerators:
Project screening with a large addressable market, ensuring that technology reaches a substantial market capable of generating significant economic impacts.- Proficiency in assessing Market Tech Financial Feasibility (MTFF) to provide an overview of the market and product feasibility, increasing the chances of success.
- Foster global collaborations for investment and market expansion, not only targeting the Thai market but collaborating with global industrial partners to expand product offerings.
Over the past three years, PMUC has provided over 190 million Baht in funding to support the Deep Science and Technology Accelerators project. This has led to the creation of 11 accelerators specializing in various fields, such as AI for medical, robotics, smart cities, herbs, and health.
Capacity building for Deep Science & Technology Accelerators has been established to enhance knowledge in different areas, share information among various organizations locally and internationally, and provide start-ups resulting from accelerators support with the opportunity to pitch and sell their products. Additionally, educational programs on brand creation for products were conducted through events like “TRIUP FAIR 2023” and “PMUC-Tech Venture Investment Pitching.”
These are just a few examples of the projects organized to date, and more are expected to follow in the future. The funds invested in this project have resulted in a return of more than five times the initial investment from the private sector. Moreover, this initiative has created jobs and numerous benefits in various sectors.
The speaker expressed gratitude to PMUC and all 11 universities for their dedication to driving the development of Deep Technology in Thailand. They have successfully transformed these technologies into products and services for commercialization, attracting both local and international investments, as well as increasing employment opportunities. Furthermore, they are ready to welcome other universities to join them in advancing Deep Technology into the commercial realm.
