Delivering the inaugural keynote address, Mr. Martin Hart-Hansen,
Deputy Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP), stated that the word innovation was the most used business
buzzword in international online media in 2015. Collaboration was the
second most used buzzword; and this makes the AIT event very relevant,
he remarked. Informing the participants that he had attended an AIT
training course on project management, monitoring and evaluation 14
years ago, Martin stated that partnerships with academic institutions
like AIT are an opportunity that UNDP would like to explore.
“UNDP in Thailand has integrated innovation into virtually all our
projects, in areas such as sustainable production and consumption,
biodiversity and environmental conservation, and disaster risk
information,” Martin remarked, as he quoted examples of successful
instances of UNDP’s regional innovation ambassador program from the
Asia-Pacific region. These include e-waste disposal program in China,
smartphone application on monitoring reconstruction efforts in Nepal,
GPS-tracked buses in Bangladesh, citizen monitoring tool for corruption
in Papua New Guinea, promoting dialogue between citizens and
governments in the Maldives and Bhutan, and two applications in
Thailand focussing on Disaster Risk Reduction, and Anti-Corruption
efforts.
Ms. Ubonwan Suebyubol, Acting Governor, National Housing Authority,
Thailand (NHA) spoke about the three-year investment plan of NHAI. Key
areas of interest to NHA are energy efficiency and low-cost housing,
design materials for housing construction, implementation of housing
projects and improving the quality of life of people in Thailand.
Welcoming the participants on the inaugural day, Prof. Sivanappan
Kumar, AIT’s Vice President for Academic Affairs, spoke about the
global recognition of AIT’s research outputs. Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto,
AIT’s Vice President for Resource Development highlighted the immense
contribution that AIT has made in promoting innovation and
collaboration. Quoting an example of his invention of the submerged
membrane bioreactor, Prof. Yamamoto remarked that it was because of AIT
that his invention acquired the status of an innovation since the
institute provided him with the platform to collaborate with
specialists and experts from all over.
Prominent speakers on the inaugural day included Ms. Jintana
Khumprakob of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of
Thailand (SME Bank), Ms. Sopitta Chotechauang ,Assistant Vice
President, BETAGRO, and Dr. Jonathan Shaw , Executive Director, AIT
Extension.
The lead organizer of the event, Dr. Naveed Anwar, Executive Director,
AIT Solutions, introduced the concept of the Innovative Idea
Competition. Based on the competition, AIT will develop and
commercialize these ideas along with partners from the private sector,
business and industry, Dr. Naveed added.
Four technical sessions on Affordable Housing, High Impact Talent
Management: Strategy for Innovation, Disaster Risk Reduction and
Mitigation/ Transportation and Road Infrastructure, and Food,
Agriculture and Cities for Sustainable Future were organized on the
first day of the event.
Keynote Address: The keynote address by Mr. Martin
Hart-Hansen can be read at the UNDP website at this link:goo.gl/tJfnOU
Day 2: A story on Day 2 of the Event can
be read at this link: http://goo.gl/MWA5Vs
