Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Date: Sun,  4 Oct 1992 11:01:34 -0400 
From: Schitt Laowattana <sl2k+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Part[3]:Future Biotechnology-Based Industries


    Part[3]: Future Technology
    [The last part]

    Besides improving current technology in order to bridge the existing
capability gaps, Thailand will also have to master "new" biotechnology,
and must carry out enough basic R&D to lead technology in some chosen
areas.  This can only be achieved by active R&D activities both by the
private sector and the public sector.  Table 1(below) shows the
technologies which surveyed firms selected as their likely future
technologies.  Enzyme and pachkaging technologies stand out as being the
most popular.  For the biotechnology based industries the "new"
technologies which need ne masterd while improving currently utilized
technolgies are:

        Genetic engineering
        Cell/Tissue culture
        Hybridoma (Cell Fusion)
        Immobilization/Enzyme Engineering
        Cell culture scale up
        Downstream processing (Biospecific separation)
        Biosensors
        DNA/RNA probes

    There are of course many technolgies which are currently being used
by firms which do not have the capability to improve upon them in order
to closed=ly follow world leaders.  The consequence is that new improved
technology must continuously be brought into renovate old equipment or
to start up new factories.

    The development of the above "new" technologies is a must if
Thailand is to bridge the gap between its present technological state to
that of the developing countries.  Ralph Landou (Scientific American
June 88) pointed out clearly the importance of technologies development
to economic growth.  For Thailand however, participation in these "new"
technologies alone will not effective enough, the conventional
technologies which are required for effective utilization of the "new"
technologies will have to be greatly beefed up.

                                Table 1.
                                ^^^^^^^

    TECHNOLOGY CHOSEN AS THE LIKELY FUTURE TECHNOLOGY BY THE SURVEYED FIRMS

                                                                Frequency

    Animal breeding technology                                      1
    Chemical engineering technology                                 2
    Chemical and biochemical technology                             2
    Chemical and biochemical analysis                               2
    Control and measurement technology                              3
    Computer-aided production technology                            1
    Consumer testing                                                2
    Dehydration (Drying) technology                                 2
    Enzyme technology                                               7
    Fermentation and reactor technology                             1
    Genetic engineering technology                                  2
    Industrial engineering technology                               1
    Plant tissue culture cell fusion technology                     4
    Plant breeding technology                                       3
    Packaging technology                                            6
    Preservation technology (including refrigeration)               2
    Pollution control technology                                    1
    Separation and purification technology                          2
    Sterilization and pasteurization technology                     2
    Water purification technology                                   2

==========================================================================

Source for all three parts:

Final Report
The Development of Thailand's Technological Capability in Industry
Volume 3
Capability Development for Biotechnology-Based Industries

Science and Technology Development Program
Thailand Development Research Institute(TDRI)


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Posted by

Schitt(DJ)  Laowattana

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Department of Mechanical Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University
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e-mail: sl2k@andrew.cmu.edu


Permanent Address in Thailand:

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