From: sl2k+@andrew.cmu.edu (Schitt Laowattana)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Part[2]:Promoting R&D in Materials Technology-based Industries
Date: 12 Oct 92 11:55:32 GMT
Article-I.D.: andrew.weqRUou00iV0E4HVho
Organization: Doctoral student, Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

2. Public R&D Expenditure

    The size of public expenditure on R&D reflects the degree of
commitment by the government to such undertaking.  In the sixth National
Economics and Social Development Plan, the Thai government intends to
increase the overall R&D budget to 0.5% of GNP from the averaged of
about 0.16% in the Fifth plan. This is rather low considering the fact
the existing R&D activities in general are very limited and that the
creation of R&D facilities requires a rather large initial investment. 
This is particularly true in the field of material science and
technology where previous R&D work is extremely limited.  R&D work in
materials needs a range of enpensive sophisticated equipment such as
electron microscops, melting furnaces, spectrometers etc. each of which
costing millions.  Even the lowly set 0.5% would, nonetheless, be fairly
useful if actually realized and spent wisely in high priority areas.  In
view of the fact that Thailand is industrializing, the increasingly
important roles of industrial sector in the Thai economy and the fact
that there is virtually no R&D activity in the private sector, the
figure should really be elevated to around 0.75%.  The average R7D
expenditure of industrialized countries including USA, japan and western
Europe in the 1980s are about 2.6-2.7% of their respective GNPs.  Korea
has increased her R&D expenditure from 0.95% of the GNP in 1982 to 1.7%
in 1987 and expected to reach 1.8% in 1988.  Bearing in mind the huge
GNPs of these countries, it is seen that their R&D spendings, in real
terms, are very high indeed.

    Prior to the establishments of the Sciences and Technology
Boards(STDB) in 1986 and the Metals and Materials Technology National
Center(MTEC) in 1987, there was no huge budget specifically allocated
for R&D in materials technology.  The overall budget for the MTEC of
about 15 and 25 million baht(spent mostly on funding projects) in 1987
and 1988, respectively, was hardly sufficient in view of the wide range
and expensive nature of R&D activities in the field.  The STDB, like the
MTEC, also funds the R&D projects in materials technology with the
budget of up to 6 million bath per project.  The STDB funding is very
selective, however.  By the end of 1987 the STDB has supported 6 R&D
projects on materials technology but there is none on metal processing. 
This is rather surprising in view of the importance of metals in
technology and industrial developments.  More money must therefore be
allocated for R&D in materials, particularly at the initial stage in
order that the infrastructure and R&D facilities be established. 

                                                        End of Part[2]
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Posted by


Schitt(DJ)  Laowattana

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