Business plan contest aims to boost social innovation

The National Innovation Agency (NIA) intends to support young business developers in creating a global pathway to “social innovation” through the first-ever business plan competition that aims to raise public awareness on innovation for society.

Pan-arj Chairatana, director of the National Innovation Agency, yesterday said the agency has already helped over 100 innovative business developers to reach their profit-making goals.

He added that to be in line with global trends and achieve social benefits, development of technology and innovation is necessary, including innovation for a green society, innovation for clean food and for good health.

The NIA has set up a “social innovation” strategy which follows the United Nations’ sustainable development goals by focusing on nine areas.

They include environmental conservation, a connection between food, water and energy, education, financing labour and social welfare, sustainable farming, health, urbanisation, tourism and culture, and disaster management.

He said in order to achieve the target, the business sector needs to create platforms for social innovation, such as the Social Innovation Business Plan Contest 2017 that his agency is organising in partnership with Srinakharinwirot University.

Kunawut Boonyanopakun, NIA’s project’s manager, said the agency will help candidates develop social innovation business plans, and would support the winner of the contest to turn their plan into a reality.

He added that innovation is the key to improving quality of life.

“We are certain that entrepreneurship is more sustainable compared with [the model of ] charity that needs financial support all the time. Customers get benefits from the products and the firm can survive by selling the products. It is a win-win solution,” he said.

He added that an example of social innovation can be a mobile phone application that helps blind people travel with ease, or other technology to assist disabled people.

He said such projects would also help reduce the income gap and other disadvantages in society.

Supada Sirikudta of Srinakharinwirot University said the contest is a significant event as it would allow young business developers to present their ideas on social innovation and also create a sense of social responsibility in the young generation.

Anyone interested can download the application form at https://goo.gl/PFv29W from now until June 15.