It’s been commonly known that one of the major challenges faced by new entrepreneurs in the past has been the lack of readiness in terms of production facilities, as they do not have access to standard-compliant factories. This has resulted in products lacking sufficient quality to enter the commercial market. Moreover, while many entrepreneurs may have ideas and prototype products, they lack the capability or the financial resources to mass-produce these products.
A critical mechanism to fill this gap is the establishment of pilot plants, where entrepreneurs can utilize services to test their production with real machinery without needing to invest on their own. These pilot plants are usually located within academic institutions or research organizations that have faculty members and experts available to provide guidance and advice on all matters related to elevating production to a commercial level.
Recognizing this importance, the Program Management Unit for Competitiveness (PMUC) has provided funding for infrastructure development to create a network of food industry and functional ingredient pilot plants. This support includes the provision of internationally standardized machinery and modern technology to build the foundational infrastructure that will enhance the capacity of universities, enabling them to meet the demands of the private sector and keep pace with changes in the food industry. Each pilot plant is staffed with specialized experts who provide consulting on scaling up production, as well as services for product testing and analysis, quality certification, training, and technology transfer to support the development of high-value food entrepreneurs.
Today, pilot plants have been established across Thailand under the supervision of 9 universities and 1 research organization to provide services to the private sector in all regions of the country, as follows:
Northern Region
- 1 Agro-Biz Business Service Center – Chiang Mai University
- 2 Integrated Herbal Innovation Center – Mae Fah Luang University
- 3 Pilot Plant for Extracts and Herbal Products – Naresuan University
Northeastern Region
- 4 Agriculture and Food Pilot Plant – Khon Kaen University
- 5 Bio-refinery Pilot Plant – Suranaree University of Technology
Central Region
- 6 Pilot Plant Development and Training Institute (PPDTI), King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi.
- 7 Natural Flavor and Fragrance Extraction Pilot Plant, Kasetsart University.
- 8 Food Innovation Expansion Zone, Kasetsart University.
- 9 Research and Development Center for High Value Alternative Animal Feed Raw Materials, Kasetsart University (Kamphaeng Saen Campus).
- 10 Food Science Park @SU, Silpakorn University.
- 11 BIOTECH Bioprocessing Facility: BFF, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA).
Southern Region
- 12 Institute of Food Research and Innovation, Prince of Songkla University.
And on July 3rd, PMUC held a progress update presentation meeting on infrastructure development, focusing on pilot plants. The meeting brought together executives responsible for overseeing the operations of nine pilot plants to participate in a discussion and share information about the progress and activities of each pilot plant.
During the meeting, each pilot plant’s unique strengths and the services they offer were highlighted. They discussed how, over time, these facilities have successfully supported Thai businesses in achieving growth and shared their future plans for each plant. On this occasion, we had the opportunity to talk to representatives from four of the nine pilot plants to gain insights into their operations and perspectives on the work done over the past period.
Associate Professor Apichat Boontawan, Ph.D., lecturer in the Biotechnology Program, School of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, representing the Biorefinery Pilot Plant at Suranaree University of Technology.
Starting with Associate Professor Apichat Boontaowan, Ph.D., who shared the origins and readiness of the Bio-refinery Pilot Plant at Suranaree University of Technology:
“The Bio-refinery Pilot Plant at Suranaree University of Technology is recognized as the first Bio-refinery Pilot Plant in the Northeastern region, aimed at supporting and expanding the growth of SMEs and Startups by promoting research and development in the bio-industry sector using cassava, sugarcane, and other economic crops. This initiative drives Thailand’s advancement toward becoming a hub for the bio-industry in the fields of bio-energy, bio-chemical products, and bio-plastics, thus fostering the development of the Bio-economy in the Northeast.”
“The pilot plant has been designed as an R&D Pilot Plant and offers consultation, design, and pilot-scale testing services for bioprocess production to provide insights into product characteristics and production processes at the pilot scale. Our team consists of over 10 researchers and research assistants who are ready to provide support and services.”
“Over the past period, we have been providing services and consultations to the private sector on a wide range of topics, such as sugar production processes from various types of biomass, fermentation processes, membrane filtration of solutions, adsorption, thin-film evaporation, continuous fractional distillation, reactive distillation, crystallization, short-path distillation, spray drying, tray drying, pressure swing adsorption systems for separating carbon dioxide from biogas, nitrogen separation from air to produce oxygen, or water separation from ethanol for ethanol fuel production, and more.”
“In addition, the pilot plant has been actively advancing its mission to enhance the value of Thai agricultural products by utilizing technology to reduce imports and support exports, while simultaneously applying research findings in practice to increase the competitiveness of businesses. This led to our pilot plant receiving funding support from PMUC in 2022, serving as a foundation for various research projects to take root.”
“For instance, one research project aims to produce bio-chemicals such as xylitol from bagasse, in collaboration with private sector partners. Bagasse, a waste byproduct from the industrial sector, is mostly burned to generate electricity. However, the private sector posed the question: can bagasse actually be further valorized for bioenergy or biofuel production? At present, this research project is at TRL6, or Technology Readiness Level 6.”
“And to this day, entrepreneurs at all levels continue to seek consultations and services at the pilot plant, with most inquiries focusing on how to add value to materials left over from manufacturing processes and products. This aligns well with the Circular Economy trend.”
Dr. Kobkul Laotheng, Acting Deputy Director of the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA).
The BIOTEC Bioprocessing Facility (BBF), under the NSTDA.
Dr. Kobkul Laotheng, Acting Deputy Director of the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), spoke about the objectives of the BIOTEC Bioprocessing Facility, saying:
“The BIOTEC Bioprocessing Facility (BBF) is a crucial infrastructure for conducting semi-industrial research on microbial utilization, meeting international standards such as Codex GHPs and HACCP. It supports collaborative research with the private sector and service provision to address the needs of the industry and expedite the commercialization of research outcomes, thereby driving the country’s economy toward sustainable development goals in line with the BCG economic model.”
“BBF is located at the BIOTEC Pilot Plant Building, Thailand Science Park. It conducts research and development with a multidisciplinary research team possessing expertise and integrated experience, combining fundamental knowledge of microorganisms with bioprocess engineering and synthetic biology technologies to design and develop innovative production processes for microbial cells, microbial bio-based products, and functional ingredients at the scale-up level.”
“In the past, we have had a bio-reactor capable of supporting production through Submerged Fermentation at a 300-liter capacity and Solid-state Fermentation at a 500-kilogram capacity, as well as downstream processing equipment and testing and analysis tools that support product registration. Soon, BEF will receive funding support for infrastructure from PMUC, which will enable the Biotech Bioprocess Pilot Plant to expand its production capacity to 33,000 liters per year. This will be highly beneficial for Thai entrepreneurs and all sectors that wish to utilize this pilot plant.”
“Additionally, BBF also supports entrepreneurs in producing food additives, nutritional substances, alternative proteins derived from microorganisms, and probiotic dietary supplements to meet the needs of manufacturers in product registration, market testing, or clinical testing. This support extends to technology transfer in production processes to facilitate real-world applications in the food industry, functional ingredient industry, and synthetic biology industry.”
“Today, we have a significant success case that has resulted from the establishment of this pilot plant, which is the project supporting the development of a Thai probiotic strain as an innovation for improving women’s quality of life, through ‘the development of a probiotic production process for women’s health products.’ Biotech has integrated its expertise in science and technology with business planning and management, leading to successful outcomes.”
“Moreover, this project has established a sustainable approach for developing high-value production process innovations for the country’s new food industry. The project has developed a Thai probiotic dietary supplement using L. paracasei MSMC 39-1, resulting in a semi-industrial-scale prototype production process for powdered probiotic cells. This has led to the development of a dietary supplement product in collaboration with Winona Feminine Co., Ltd., under the brand ‘Winona Probio.’ This collaboration further developed into the project ‘Commercial Production and Efficacy Testing of Thai Probiotic Products Combined with Plant Extracts to Study Their Effects on Microbial Environment, Reproductive and Urinary Health Syndromes, Blood Sugar Levels, and Overall Health Quality of Thai Postmenopausal Women,’ aimed at studying clinical efficacy and registering the product with the FDA.”
“Additionally, we have been able to develop the production process for ferment filtrate, or postbiotics, from by-products of probiotic cell cultures, which possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These are being used as functional ingredients in feminine care products for intimate cleansing under the brand ‘Winona Postbio Feminine Wash.'”
“Hence, funding support from PMUC is another crucial mechanism that fills the gap left by previous research grants, which typically fund projects up to the point of discovery and completion in the lab but lack continued support for adapting research findings for real-world business applications. This is because our private sector is accustomed to purchasing fully developed technologies. Therefore, what Thailand lacks is a ‘Technology Development Process,’ a sector that, to be frank, ‘hardly receives any funding at all.’ With the presence of an agency like PMUC, this gap has been filled immediately.”
“Moreover, providing funding to support the establishment of a pilot plant is a highly worthwhile investment that yields tangible benefits, as the management of the pilot plant focuses on creating real value for entrepreneurs. Manufacturers do not need to invest in large-scale equipment themselves, as they can utilize the pilot plant to conduct trial production runs until they are confident that they can produce the desired products and goods.”
Asst. Prof. Kitipong Rattanaporn, Ph.D., Vice Dean for Innovation and Food Business Affairs, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Kasetsart University.
Food Innovation Extension Town at Kasetsart University.
Assistant Professor Kitipong Rattanaporn, Ph.D., Deputy Dean of Food Innovation Town Affairs, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Kasetsart University, discussed the origins of the establishment of Kasetsart University’s Food Innovation Extension Town, or Foodinnopolis@Kasetsart (FI@KU), saying:
“FI@KU is a project resulting from a collaboration between the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and Kasetsart University under a memorandum of understanding signed on October 1, 2019. The project integrates cooperation between five key food-related entities within Kasetsart University.”
“These include the Faculty of Agro-Industry, the Faculty of Fisheries, the Faculty of Science, the Institute of Food Research and Product Development (IFRPD), and the Institute of Agricultural and Food Product Development (KAPI). The project aims to support and develop entrepreneurs in the agro-industry and food industry through a One-Stop Service center, leveraging the expertise of researchers from various departments within Kasetsart University. This comprehensive service provision enhances the potential and competitive capability of Thailand’s food industry. Additionally, it connects seamlessly with the Kasetsart University Food Innovation Research and Science Technology Center (KU-FIRST), the Kasetsart University Food Science Park, and other partner organizations to form a holistic support system.”
“After the signing of the MOU, FI@KU received funding from the Program Management Unit for Competitiveness (PMUC) to acquire food processing equipment and tools for a pilot plant, and to modify the facilities to be conducive for use as a prototype factory for the food industry. To date, FI@KU’s services range from providing consultation to contract manufacturing in the pilot plant, as well as marketing support to propel products into commercial sales.”
“For example, the service model available to entrepreneurs in Thailand’s food industry includes designing infrastructure for production spaces, ranging from a Food Maker Space and a Future Food Lab to a research and development innovation pilot plant (RDI Pilot Plant) and a small scale manufacturing process to cater to the needs of SMEs and startups.”
“FI@KU, therefore, serves as a platform that connects external entrepreneurs to the university’s consultancy units and acts as a System Integrator (SI) within the university. It coordinates the use of university resources, whether personnel, equipment, or facilities, to further develop Thailand’s food industry.”
“The services offered encompass six areas: consultation, research and development, production, analytical testing, training and seminars, and equipment and facility rental. For consultation, the inquiries often involve extending product shelf life, maintaining the nutritional value of products for longer periods, developing novel products to attract consumers, designing packaging, assessing consumer response, and marketing strategies.”
“Over the past year, we have provided consultancy services to Thai entrepreneurs more than 10,000 times. An individual entrepreneur often requests assistance in more than one area, translating to no fewer than 1,000 entrepreneurs receiving consultancy services annually. For startups, we provide technology consulting and equipment rental services to create prototypes of their products. Startups need to develop technology to test the market and consumers, and use this data to raise funds with investors, demonstrating the feasibility of moving the project into commercial production.”
“For SMEs, we are now focusing on becoming an Innovation Smart Driven Enterprise, or Smart SME. Our strategy is to use innovation as a tool to assist SMEs in business planning and to develop new business models. We also provide short-term training to equip them with necessary skills. Furthermore, if an SME aims to move into the export market, we offer consultancy to help them craft the right strategy for penetrating their target market. Today, with FI@KU operating under a Business Unit model, the operations of FI@KU are becoming more agile and efficient.”
Assistant Professor Boonyapat Supanich, Ph.D., Director of the Institute of Prototype Factory Development and Training (IPDT),
King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), and Thanong Chayawatana, Head of the Engineering and Systems Unit of the IPDT.
Assistant Professor Boonyapat Supanich, Ph.D., Director of the Institute of Prototype Factory Development and Training (IPDT), King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), and Thanong Chayawatana, Head of the Engineering and Systems Unit of the IPDT, shared additional insights on the operations of the IPDT as another prototype factory unit supported by PMUC.
“IPDT was established in 1990 as a model unit for the development of research and management approaches. It promotes collaboration between experts from different departments within the university, as well as with external partner agencies, and IPDT staff, to conduct research and develop domestic technology, which is then transferred to the industrial and commercial sectors.”
“One of the key reasons for establishing IPDT was that we identified a weakness in the process of developing research. To commercialize research, it must go through the stage of a pilot plant. If there is no one responsible for the pilot plant, transitioning technology from the lab to the final production stage would face obstacles. IPDT was specifically set up to address this gap by developing research in the pilot plant stage, which is crucial for progressing towards production for commercial and industrial purposes. Moreover, another important mission of IPDT is training, aimed at developing essential skills for personnel in the industrial sector.”
“One of our success stories involves a business that sought consultation and utilized our pilot plant services—the Mae Took brand, known for its diverse range of products. One of its standout products is freeze-dried Som Tum (papaya salad). The problem Mae Took faced was that, despite having its own freeze-drying equipment, the product could not meet the set standards. Therefore, IPDT used its larger freeze-dryer, funded by the PMUC, to test and determine the optimal conditions for freeze-drying Som Tum. After successful testing, the findings were shared with Mae Took, allowing them to adjust their production process for greater efficiency. Furthermore, we arranged for our experts to train Mae Took’s staff on the effective use of all machinery. Today, Mae Took’s products have reached the quality standards required for exporting and are being sold at King Power”
“The training programs we offer to entrepreneurs, business personnel, or those interested in attending align with the machinery and expertise we possess. For example, our drying technology course covers various types of drying equipment. We design our courses based on each relevant technology that entrepreneurs should be aware of, such as spray drying and freeze-drying technology.”
“The support funding from the PMUC enabled us to procure equipment that fit seamlessly into our existing infrastructure. For example, the freeze-dryer we previously had could process 200 kilograms of ice. Naturally, testing the right conditions would require a full 200 kilograms to operate. With the PMUC funding, we were able to obtain smaller-sized equipment, meeting the needs of medium and small enterprises, as well as startups. Smaller machines also mean lower maintenance costs and reduced expenses for testing and research, thereby decreasing the overall research cost.”
“A prototype factory, or pilot plant, plays a crucial role in driving both research and Thai businesses forward into commercialization. Even if the research involves designing an entirely new system that has never existed before and has been thoroughly tested in a lab, scaling from a lab-scale production of 1 liter to an industrial production scale of 10,000 liters involves risks. We can never be certain whether the conditions in the lab will be the same as in real industrial production.”
“Thus, having a pilot plant that allows testing at an intermediate volume—scaling from 1 liter to 10 liters, then to 100 liters—enables us to observe whether any additional factors arise that could impact the operation of the factory system. We can then make necessary adjustments to ensure a smooth transition to practical application.”
“The PMUC funding is critical for both researchers and entrepreneurs or the industrial sector. If we want to develop technology for our own use, we need to refine the processes and methods, as mentioned earlier. The pilot plant is essential for scaling up research from the lab to a level where it can be adapted for use and mass-produced for commercial purposes. It serves as the missing piece that connects lab-scale production to industrial-scale manufacturing, helping to reduce the risks and costs for entrepreneurs starting new businesses or launching new products efficiently.”
