From: sl2k+@andrew.cmu.edu (Schitt Laowattana)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Part(1):Enhancing S&T capability in Metals/Materials industry
Date: 30 Aug 92 09:43:24 GMT
Article-I.D.: andrew.IecEWw200iUz81ukc_
Organization: Doctoral student, Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA



            Part(1): Laws for Promotion of Science and Technology
       
    Although most of material technology-based industries are well
established and not so dynamis industries, using known technologies,
these industries in Thailand are quite weak compared with those in
Taiwan and Korea.  Rapid advances in material technology based
industries in Korea resulted from well planned and implemented
infrastructure. However, several key promotion of S&T Laws were cradits
as being critical for the success of Korea's industrial development.

    Dr. Hyung Sup Choi, the first Minister of Science and Technology of
Korea and one of the main architects of Korea's industrial development
served on several occasions as a consultant to the Thai Government. On
one such occasion, he worked with Dr.Yongyuth Yuthavong in drafting
three such Laws.  These three draft laws were never submitted to
Parliament, although some positive action, derived from the content of
the laws, was subsequently taken. The following are brief descriptions
of the laws.

    a) Law for Establishment of a Science and Technology Council. The
council was to comprise the Prime Minister as chairman, the Minister of
Science, Technology and Energy as the deputy chairman, Ministers of
Agriculture, Industry, Education, and University Affairs, as members,
private sector representatives as members and the MOSTE permanent
secretary as secretary.  This draft laws aimed to achieve a more
effective policy and planning mechanism, ensuring that implementation
would be carried out from coordination between MOSTE and other
ministries and agencies concerned. This draft law was accepted in
principle by the cabinet, but was then referred to a high-level
committee which eventually made a negative recommendation.  In light of
the outstanding issues, however, the Sixth Plan specified the formation
of a 'high-level mechanism' for formulation and coordination of science
and technology policy.

    b) Law for Promotion of Development of Science and Technology.  This
law called for the establishment of a Sciencs and Technology Fund to
provide R&D grants to public and private agencies, and the base
incentive backed Technology Development Fund(TDF) to be financed by
private companies for their own R&D.  However, subsequent developments
resulted in the establishment of the National Center for Metal and
Material Technology (NCMM), the Nation Center for Genentic Engineering
and Biotechnology (NCGEB) and the National Center for Electronic and
Computer Technology(NEC-TEC) and the Science and Technology Development
Board(STDB) which provide R&D funding to public and private agencies,
and R&D loan schemes for industries operated by MOSTE and STDB.

    c) Law for National Technical Qualification. This called for the
establishment of a high-level inter-ministerial committee with minister
of MOSTE as the chairman.  The purpose was to develop scheme for
recognition of technical qualifications in various fields of science and
technology.  Also included were provisions for upgrading and testing of
skills and knowledge, and for increasing incentives for technical
personnel both in the public and private sectors.

    These laws are examples of legal measures to promote technological
capability in industry.  Various countries at a similar stage of
development, and even a few more industrially development countries,
have adopted similar measures.  In the light of recent developments,
suitable revisions should be made so as to produce optimal results.  For
example, the establishment of a Science and Technology Fund as
stipulated in b) should take into consideration the fact that these new
funding agencies have been fromed.  The Technology Fund incentive
packages may need to be provided by the Ministry of Finance rather than
MOSTE, since it involves tax measures normally under the jurisdiction of
the former.

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Hang on for Part(2):Patenting System and Intellectual Properties
Rights..........in this net soon.


:-Schitt     
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai