On 10 August 2023, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn paid a visit to Thailand Science Park to officiate the opening ceremony of the 16th International Convention on Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology (i-CREATe 2023). Present to welcome the royal arrival were Prof. Dr. Anek Laothamatas, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation; Prof. Dr. Sukit Limpijumnong, President of NSTDA; Prof. Dr. Pairash Thajchayapong, Chairman of i-CREATe 2023 Organizing Committee; Mr. Simon Wong, President of The Coalition on Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology, Asia (CREATe Asia); Clinical Prof. Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck, Chairman of The National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC); Dr. Thaweesak Koanantakool, Deputy Secretary-General of The Information Technology Foundation under the initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
In his statement, Prof. Dr. Anek Laothamatas reported that i-CREATe 2023 marks the return of i-CREATe to a fully in-person event post the pandemic. Organized by the Coalition on Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology of Asia (CREATe Asia), i-CREATe 2023 is held under the theme “Towards sustainable society for all”. The conference aims to promote assistive and rehabilitation technologies through four main activities: 1) scientific seminars, 2) workshops, 3) the Global Student Innovation Challenge, and 4) an exhibition.
The event features lectures by eight world-renowned experts from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, the Netherlands and Thailand; four concurrent sessions consisting of fourteen presentations; a poster session and six workshops. The student innovation contest has 33 projects from 5 economies competing for top prizes, whereas the exhibition showcases 47 displays.
In addition, NSTDA and NBTC, i-CREATe 2023 local hosts, jointly present an exhibition and a session on “Digital Inclusion: Digital ID and Who Benefits from Digital Assistive Technology?”. i-CREATe 2023 has attracted over 300 registered participants from ten economies, including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, the UK, Australia and Thailand.
Mr. Simon Wong presented the brief report of i-CREATe 2022 held in August 2022 in Hong Kong. Despite its hybrid format, i-CREATe 2022 garnered active participation from both local and international audience via an online platform. It also featured the Global Student Innovation Challenge, showcasing creativity and innovative skill of students in this region.
Prof. Dr. Pairash Thajchayapong provided an overview of the Global Student Innovation Challenge 2023 and invited the winners to receive their awards from Princess Sirindhorn.
Following the royal opening remarks, Clinical Prof. Niwes Nantachit, Secretary General of the Prostheses Foundation of H.R.H. The Princess Mother delivered a keynote address titled “The Prostheses Foundation of H.R.H. The Princess Mother: innovations from the past, present, and future”.
Highlights of i-CREATe 2023 exhibition include:
- NBTC ventures in assistive technology. Thailand's Telecommunication Relay Services (TTRS) empowers individuals with hearing or speech impairments to access telecommunication services and engage with society. The closed caption system facilitates news, information, and event access for seniors and those with hearing difficulties.
- Markerless Motion Capture System. The system utilizes motion detection technology to create 3D human motion models without the need for markers or body-worn devices. The technology expedites the process, reduces processing time, and has potential applications in the medical field.
- Space Walker. Space Walker is a gait training device that has garnered numerous awards including Gold Award at i-CREATe 2017 held in Japan. A company, Medicubed, has been established to manufacture and commercialize Space Walker. The equipment is registered on the Thai Innovation List, making it eligible to the government procurement program.
- Podogram Analyzer. Podogram Analyzer is a barefoot pressure measurement and analysis software. The innovation won an award at i-CREATe 2014 held in Singapore.