AIT President Said Irandoust along with Vice Presidents for External Relations and Research, Professors Vilas Wuwongse and S. K. Rakshit, recently met with Mr. Supachai Lorlowhakarn, Director of the National Innovation Agency (NIA) Thailand (www.nia.or.th) and colleagues along with Dr. Singha Chiamsiri, former AIT faculty who is now affiliated with the NIA as a Senior Consultant to the Director of NIA.
The NIA operates under the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Thai Government. It undertakes a broad-based and systematic approaches to building up the national innovation system by fostering strategic innovation which enhances national productivity, encourages economic restructuring and social development, as well as promoting national competitiveness. At the meeting on January 28th officials discussed ways in which AIT could partner NIA within the areas of service innovation, especially under the “Services Science Collaboration Program.” This is a consortium headed by the Government of Thailand and IBM (of which AIT is part) aimed at further developing and strengthening the service science discipline and manpower situation in
Thailand.Another initiative discussed was to introduce a "Venture Cup or Tournament" for business ideas, wherein students are coached by universities and risk capitalists with the aim of helping link business models developed by students to market and industry. AIT and NIA could also jointly work in helping promote innovation systems in the region such as in
Laos and Cambodia. Professor Vilas and Professor Rakshit will follow up on this initiative. Dr. Singha helped with this important linkage and also coordinated the meeting.