The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) has partnered with the Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciences (TCELS) for technology transfer and intellectual property management. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by TCELS and AIT on 13 June 2017 by the CEO of TCELS, Dr. Nares Damrongchai, and AIT President, Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai.
From left: Dr. Nares Damrongchai, Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai and Dr. Thammarat Koottatep interacting with the media after signing the MoU.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Nares stated that the partnership with AIT is the beginning of a relationship, and that TCELS hopes to work with AIT on a long-term basis. “We will work with AIT on communication and licensing, and work closely with researchers at AIT, providing them with linkages and ensuring that more innovative projects emerge out of Thailand,” Dr. Nares said. He mentioned that TCELS had worked with AIT in the field of medical robotics, and it was during his visit to the AIT laboratory that he realized the extent of research being conducted at AIT.
Dr. Nares stated that the cooperation between TCELS and AIT will include support in technology transfer, licensing and commercialization. TCELS will help in establishing a technology transfer office, and in training AIT researchers.
Prof. Worsak thanked TCELS for the initiative in providing an interface between the academia and the industry. The AIT President stated that universities and research organizations are often unable to commercialize their research work, since they tend to concentrate on basic research. “It is only recently that we have discovered how our research can be used for the benefit of wider audiences,” the AIT President remarked. Quoting the example of the 2015 Nepal Earthquake, Prof. Worsak mentioned how AIT’s Habitech Technology was being used to build low cost houses for the affected population. He also invited TCELS to organize a workshop for AIT researchers to guide them on intellectual property management.
Ms. Ratana Lengsiriwat, Deputy CEO, TCELS, who had initiated the cooperation with Dr. Thammarat Koottatep of AIT’s School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD) for commercializing the products emerging out of his “Reinventing the Toilet” project, also participated in the event. AIT was represented by Prof. Worsak, Dr. Thammarat, Mr. Shawn Patrick Kelly, Director, Office of External Relations (OEXR), and Ms. Wannapa Pliansri, Coordinator, OEXR.
