“As the Minister of Science and Technology, it is my responsibility to ensure that the government pays close attention to promote the development of science and technology for the benefit of our people, in both the industrials and agricultural sectors” said H.E. Mr. Woravat Auapinyakul, Minister of Science and Technology during his keynote speech at the 2nd METALEX NANO Forum in Bangkok. “S&T must benefit the well-being of our grass-root society. The Government has realized the importance of science, technology and innovation in bringing the wealth of our country and the equality of the people”.
The Thai Government has recently provided the mandate to the Ministry of Science and Technology to be responsible for the target of S&T expenditure of 1% of the GDP in the next few years. This is equivalent to 120 billion Baht (USD 4 billion). It is expected that nanotechnology will contribute up to 10 percent of those budget. The National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC) has been mandated to produce a budget plan that will illustrate the social and economic benefit of such an investment.
Also speaking at this forum was Dr. Mihail Roco, Senior Advisor for Nanotechnology of the National Science Foundation and the key architect of the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative who gave a plenary talk on ‘Trends and Applications of Nano Manufacturing”. Dr. Roco informed that there are three challenges facing nanomanufacturing: specific nanoscale design, realizing nano-specific efficiency, and sustainable development.
Dr. Roco also used this opportunity to inform about the role of NNI’s Nanotechnology Signature Initiative on Sustainable Nanomanufacturing focusing on nanoscale processing and metrology methods for carbon and cellulose nanomaterials-based technologies.
METALEX NANO Forum is a two day forum on applications of nanotechnology by industrial sector. It is co-hosted by NANOTEC and the organizers of the annual MELALEX which is ASEAN’s largest machinery and metalworking expo.