Adjunct Professor Dr. Anek Laothamatas, MHESI Minister at the policy discussion with KKU and 6 Isan network universities, aiming at upgrading sub-district socio-economic status by means of university research

Saturday October 10, 2020, 10:30 a.m. – 14:30 p.m. at Board Room, 3rd Floor, Science Park, Khon Kaen University – Adjunct Professor Dr. Anek Laothamatas, Minister of Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation presided over the meeting, which discussed university policy. Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University made a welcoming address to the delegation that also included Dr. Somsak Jungtrakun, Khon Kaen Governor and administrators of the 6 network universities: Kalasin University, Northeast Raja Mangaka University of Technology, Udonthani Rajabhat University, Loei Rajabhat University, and College of Asian Scholars.

The meeting split into the morning and the afternoon sessions. In the morning session running from 10:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., the Minister of Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation visited the booths that presented Khon Kaen University research and innovations. In the afternoon, the participants met and discussed the policy before paying a visit at the Northeast Science Park, Khon Kaen University and at the Prototype Lithium-ion Battery Factory.

Dr. Somsak Jungtrakun, Khon Kaen Governor explained that Khon Kaen sees the importance of research and innovation, for the outcomes of which can be utilized in the national development. Khon Kaen Province has continuously collaborated with Khon Kaen University and the network by applying the technologies and innovations in Khon Kaen, with an aim towards a Smart City or a pleasant city to live.

Dr. Somsak Jungtrakun, Khon Kaen Governor
Dr. Somsak Jungtrakun, Khon Kaen Governor

Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University said that Khon Kaen University is aware of the importance in development of academic, research and innovations for the strength and sustainability of all levels of the social, business, industrial and enterprise sectors as well as for promotion of new science and technologies that will bring the country towards the 4.0 Industrial Era. Khon Kaen University thus exhibited 15 research and innovation works on this occasion, including: medical innovations (medical diagnosis set, Thalassemia test set); agricultural and food innovations (KKU chicken, A2 milk, fertilizers and products from earth worms, and health foods); Smart City; Smart Learning (Advanced Mathematics Project); medical and public health project (marijuana in medicine); prevention and mitigation project for chronic renal disease, liver fluke disease and cholangiocarcinoma prevention project; BCG (hydrogen, methane and bio-plastic batteries); operation and service of KKU Science Park; full-cycle knowledge integration model zones of Khon Kaen University such as Smart Farm, poverty mitigation project, cricket farm and Ban Ton Model. Besides these, there are many other useful research studies that have been aimed to solve problems in the region for sustainability and competitive competence at an international level.

Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University

Adjunct Professor Dr. Anek Laothamatas added about the integrated sub-district socio-economic upgrading project (One-Tambon One-University Project), “Many departments in many ministries want us to collect information in certain aspects. Many of them see the capacities and potentials of our project in collecting information besides development work. They also believe we can perform the big data system and analyses. We have been encouraged to add 4,900 more sub-districts, making a total of 7,900 sub-districts, which cover all. What is important is that from this project over 120,000 people will be employed.”

Adjunct Professor Dr. Anek Laothamatas
Adjunct Professor Dr. Anek Laothamatas

“Now we have the science parks scattered all over the region. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation has chosen the university that is ready to be a node and is where a science park is located. In addition, the Ministry has invited universities, the business, the private and the local sectors in the adjacent area to work together so that the science, research, and innovation can be connected to implementation. The past operation has yielded good results. Seeing the exhibitions today makes me feel happy. Many research works can be sold, which is a good sign. Khon Kaen University is outstanding in many aspects. What are very impressive are the agriculture and medical innovations, and the use of telecommunication technology in IOT map. Nevertheless, MHESI does not state which university has to research in any particular field since each place will demonstrate what the expertise is. In general, Thai people’s intelligence and expertise of research institutes and universities cover the aspects of BCG, economy, economics, bio-medical sciences, foods, public health, medical sciences, cosmetics, including how to make people’s lives better. Therefore, I think now science and technologies of Thailand are catching up with other countries that used to be ahead of us. We are getting closer to them. We are stepping further towards the practical part. The Government also provides more support in science and technologies,” the Minister of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation said.

Prof. Dr. Supachai Pathumnakul, Vice Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Higher Education
Prof. Dr. Supachai Pathumnakul, Vice Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Higher Education

Prof. Dr. Supachai Pathumnakul, Vice Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation revealed that after the cabinet’s approval of the One-Tambon One-University Project, the Ministry has allocated the zones and assigned each university to take responsibility over the respective sub-district. The goal is to promote socio-economic status of the sub-district.

“The project will employ 20 people per one sub-district for one year. The aim is to develop the sub-district towards sustainability. We asked universities all over the country to discuss and select the sub-district. In some province, there are many universities joining together as a working team called the frontline MHESI. The principle mission is to apply the knowledge, technology and innovation of the Ministry, universities and research institutions, to help develop the province.”

[ Thai ]

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