nanotech 2012 opens at Tokyo Big Sight – National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC)

nanotech 2012 got off to a very good start at Tokyo, Big Sight with over 20,000 participants attending the second day of the three day event. The event is coined “the biggest show and tell of nanotechnology” by the global nano related industries. The Thai delegation led by Prof. Pairash Thajchayapong, Chairman of NANOTEC Executive Board, Prof. Sirirurg Songsivilai, NANOTEC Executive Director, and representatives of the Thai Board of Investment (BOI) Tokyo office, and IRPC officially opened the Thailand Pavilion “Nanotechnology for Natural Disaster Mitigation” on Feb 15. This is the second year that Thailand is represented at nanotech Japan. This year, two NANOTEC researchers also join the delegation team, Dr. Nuttaporn Pimpha and Dr. Wiyong Kangwansupamonkon.

The research highlights at Thailand Pavilion are as follow:
1. SOS Clean Water (filtration device for drinking water)
2. Mosquito repellent (nano bednet and lotion)
3. Leptospirosis test kit (medical application)
4. nSack (as replacement for sand bags)
5. nClean (products for use in Big-Cleaning Day activities after flood)
6. iGuard (for air-condition filtration system)
7. e-Nose (smell detection device)
8. Research and Development of ABS Specialty Prototypes (by IRPC)
9. New rice variety with flash flooding tolerance and non-photoperiod sensitivity
10. Magic Pants (use for hygienic purpose during walking in flood water)

The Thai delegation also took this opportunity to meet with representatives of RIKEN, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and technology (AIST), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) at their respective pavilions. The group was introduced to state of the art R&D activities taking place in Japan.

Prof. Sirirurg participated in two press interviews with Japan Chemical Daily and Nanotechnology Web. The interview focused on Thailand use of nanotechnology for natural disaster and the status of Thailand’s nanotechnology research development.

The Thai delegations’ objectives for participating at nanotec 2012 is to build global awareness to Thai nanotechnology development, promote R&D collaboration, and explore market opportunities for NANOTEC related research output.