On 31 August 2018, Dr. Thitapha Smitinont, NSTDA Executive Vice President, represented NSTDA at the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with partner organizations to provide support in research, innovations and green technology to Thai SMEs. The project aims to enhance the competitiveness of Thai SMEs in the
world market. Partner organizations in this project include NSTDA, Office of Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion, National Food Institute, National Innovation Agency, National Research Council of Thailand, Thailand Research Fund, The Federation of Thai Industries, Kasikorn Bank, Bangchak Initiative and Innovation Center and Bangchak Retail.
Dr. Thitapha revealed that NSTDA’s Innovation Technology Assistance Program (ITAP) annually assists over 250 SMEs in food sector developing new product, and this collaboration will provide more opportunity for ITAP to expand its work to drive innovations to market for Thai SMEs.
The consortium also launched “SPAR Awards: Taste of Thailand”, a competition of innovative products manufactured by SMEs and startups. As part of the competition judging criteria, applicants will have an opportunity to market their products in food retail shops operated by Bangchak Retail for a fixed period to collect the sales number. Other judging criteria include innovation, differentiation and quality standard. For more information on SPAR Awards, please visit www.sparthailand.com.