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SPECIAL I
SPECIAL INTERVIEWNTERVIEW

Food Innopolis’ Strategic implementation of

“Science, Technology and Innovation”

to Push Economic Development

The agricultural and food sector earns Thailand enormous
revenues. More than 80 percent of the country’s natural
resources are used in the food industry. There are currently
more than 10,000 food processing factories countrywide,
which contribute to the recruitment of over 600,000
workers. Thailand is the only country in Asia with food
export exceeding import.
Assistant Professor Dr.Akkharawit Kanjana-Opas
Deputy Secretary of National Science Technology
and Innovation Policy Office (STI)
CEO of Food Innopolis
How much longer will the country’s leading position in the world’s Innovation Cluster 2: INC2, with an approximate space of 120,000
agricultural and food industry be maintained? “Science, Technology square meters within Thailand Science Park, Pathum Thani. The
and Innovation (STI)” is undeniably a vital mechanism that will help upcoming second phase, included in the master plan, will further
Thailand secure its apex position in a sustainable manner. expand Food Innopolis into regional universities and science parks
The National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office in, for example, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, and Songkhla in an attempt
(STI), Ministry of Science and Technology, is another government to fully cater to the needs of agricultural and food entrepreneurs.”,
entity with a role in economic acceleration through the established stated Assistant Professor Dr.Akkharawit.
vision that expands over the next 20 years by implementing Science,
Technology and Innovation in the agricultural and food industry. Advancing Toward Success
“Over fifty percent of Thai industrial sector is dedicated to food “Looking back 5-6 years ago, Thailand’s investment in research
and agriculture, involving more than 39.8 million people overall, which and development took up only 0.2 percent of the GDP. In the past
is equal to half of the entire population. However, the agricultural and 2-3 years, however, government policies and measures have been
food industry surprisingly makes up only 10 percent of the GDP, which increasingly implemented to stimulate the nation’s R&D activity,
is truly a small percentage.”, said Assistant Professor Dr.Akkharawit thus elevating the aforementioned percentage to 0.7, with the food
Kanjana-Opas, Deputy Secretary of National Science Technology and agricultural industry being the biggest contributor to this R&D
and Innovation Policy Office (STI) and CEO of Food Innopolis at the investment portion. We strive to eventually reach the targeted
beginning of the interview with Food Focus Thailand. He added that 1 percent of the GDP.”
the Thai agricultural and food sector is also challenged by a huge “ASEAN economy is on the rise. If the private sector decides to
gap of difference. Bigger and well-established businesses wield allocate its investments to ASEAN, research and development such
greater potential while SMEs, which are the country’s main artery as recipe or flavor adjustments need to be carried out in order to
making up for more than 90 percent of the whole sector, are lacking better cater to the behaviors of ASEAN consumers. Thailand is readily
in terms of potentiality and opportunities when it comes to research qualified in terms of infrastructure, human resources, and location,
and development (R&D). STI, therefore, has created a special area which enable us to potentially and easily become the ASEAN food
of innovation for this particular industry in hope of bringing Science, innovation hub.”
Technology and Innovation in to narrow down the gap. “The government wishes to provide support, create advantages,
and reduce risks for any enterprises that are ready to engage in the
Food Innopolis…Together We Survive implementation of Science, Technology and Innovation along with
The special innovation area for food and agricultural industry or R&D. The goals of Food Innopolis are to encourage the corporate
Food Innopolis is an innovation hub that offers qualified personnel sector to allocate more funds to R&D, to increase entrepreneurs’
with specialized knowledge in Science, Technology and Innovation. competitiveness, and to attract foreign investment to Thailand.”,
In addition to functioning as a laboratory center fully equipped with affirmed Assistant Professor Dr.Akkharawit. The measurable
modern tools for scientific activities, analyses, and tests, it also successes of Food Innopolis that need to be achieved by the end
serves as a food product research and development center of the of 2021 are operationalized as follows:
National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), • THB 27 billion of target investment value in R&D by private
which is located at the same premise. Businesses can use rental sector
spaces specially designed under modular laboratory concept to • THB 250 billion of generated economic value
establish research companies or units within Food Innopolis. The • 100 enterprises establishing R&D centers in Thailand
3 types of available services include 1) ready-to-move-in labs, 2) • 100 startups receiving support
empty rooms, and 3) empty spaces for construction by private sector. At present, 34 companies of the corporate sector have invested
“At present, the first phase of Food Innopolis is located at in the establishment of specialized food research centers, and over

48 FOOD FOCUS THAILAND JUL 2018