On June 17th 2024, the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) had the honor of hosting a delegation from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), led by Mrs. Kathrin Meyer, Head of Division for Cooperation with Asia and Oceania, alongside tw o representatives from the German Embassy in Thailand.
During the meeting, topics included using genetic engineering and microbes to utilize agricultural waste, machine learning for strain engineering, biodiversity's role in combating crop diseases, and optics and photonics for agricultural quality estimation and hormone monitoring. The delegation discussed collaboration opportunities between Thailand and Germany in technology transfer, sensor applications, and energy storage, identifying the EU-ASEAN joint funding scheme as a key avenue.
Future collaboration plans include working on active pharmaceutical ingredients, structural biology projects, and improved agricultural water management. Additionally, there is interest in optic-based measurement systems, matchmaking events for researchers, and a bilateral call on bioeconomy, with details on funding sources and requirements.
The delegation had the opportunity to tour several NSTDA facilities, including the National Omics Center (Omics), Thailand Bioresources Research Center (TBRC), National Biobank of Thailand (NBT), NSTDA Supercomputer Center (ThaiSC), and NECTEC laboratories. Demonstrations included AI and remote sensing for forest detection, imaging systems for agricultural product estimation, temperature screening systems for COVID-19, and quantum simulation for novel sensing materials.
This visit underscored the ongoing efforts to strengthen international cooperation in science and technology, paving the way for innovative research and shared knowledge between Thailand and Germany.