NIA signs deal with Israeli counterpart to boost innovation
The National Innovation Agency (NIA) has joined forces with the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) to co-fund projects in smart farming, automotive and cybersecurity.
The agreement between the NIA and Israel through a recent memorandum of understanding will strengthen Thailand’s innovation capability, said NIA director Pun-Arj Chairatana.
The bilateral agreement will set up a joint committee and call for proposals from private organisations at any level, from startups to SET-listed firms.
“If there is business matching of private companies of the two countries, the NIA will fund the Thai party while IIA will do so for Israelis,” Mr Pun-Arj said, adding that the collaboration will lead to more technology transfer, broaden business opportunities and encourage innovation adoption.
Ami Appelbaum, the IIA’s chief scientist and chairman, said Israel can bring technologies and innovation to Thailand in many areas to strengthen core sectors such as smart farming and cybersecurity.
Mr Appelbaum said Israel’s success stems from a strong belief that nothing is impossible. The Israelis were challenged by war and desert conditions, resulting in Israel’s strong defence technology and advanced farming techniques.
“Our country has attracted global multinational firms to set up research laboratories so our citizens can work and learn from those companies then start their own businesses,” Mr Appelbaum said.
To become an innovative country, he said, Thailand needs a quality education system, from kindergarten to the tertiary levels, for creating quality people, particularly with engineering and technical skills.
Mr Pun-Arj said Israel has an interesting model of startup development that Thailand can learn from, such as access to capital, resource management and collaboration under single-vision directives among the public, private and education sectors.
There are some 8,000 startup firms in Israel, with a success rate of 9.1%.
Thais can learn best practices from Israel in critical parts of science capability in R&D, cyber-industry development process and regulations, technology that can be deployed in commerce, and building cyber-expert skills.
Israel ranks 11th in the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Global Innovation Index and No.1 in many areas, such as cross-cultural corporate innovation.