Over Bt130 bn eyed for new ‘innovation ministry’

[webfact]

Over Bt130 bn eyed for new ‘innovation ministry’

By The Nation

 

File photo

 

THE GOVERNMENT is expected to allocate at least Bt130 billion per year for the new ministry of higher education, research and innovation.

 

The draft law for the establishment of this ministry, which will combine the Ministry of Science and Technology with several other agencies, including the Office of Higher Education Commission (Ohec), has already sailed through the National Legislative Assembly (NLA). 

 

The bill should be royally endorsed by June 25, or within 90 days of the NLA giving it the green light. 

 

“We are in the process of discussing the funds for this new ministry with the Budget Bureau,” Deputy Education Minister Udom Kachintorn said yesterday. 

 

According to him, the new ministry should get no less than Bt130 billion a year for normal operations plus additional funds for research and development. 

 

Udom said the current annual budgets for the Ministry of Science and Technology and Ohec amount to Bt130 billion, but since the new ministry will also include the National Research Council and the Thailand Research Fund more funds will be required. 

 

“This ministry needs a budget for R&D too,” Udom said, adding that preparations for the ministry’s establishment are 70 per cent complete. 

 

At present, he said, only about 0.4 or 0.5 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product is spent on R&D. 

 

However, he added, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has announced that he wants 1.5 per cent of the country’s GDP to be spent on R&D by 2021. 

 

The Cabinet hopes the establishment of the new ministry will be announced in the Royal Gazette after the new government is formed. In that scenario, the minister for the new ministry can be named as part of the new Cabinet line-up.

 

“But if the royal endorsement is granted during this government’s term, a caretaker minister will be named for the new ministry,” Udom said. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30368311

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-04-25

[ChrisY1]

Expanding the trough.....

[Oziex1]

Gentlemen and Generals, open your offshore accounts now.

[Lupatria]

How much is the entrance fee to join the club?

[Srikcir]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

the current annual budgets for the Ministry of Science and Technology and Ohec amount to Bt130 billion, but since the new ministry will also include the National Research Council and the Thailand Research Fund more funds will be required. 

 

“This ministry needs a budget for R&D too,”

The new ministry doesn't need NEW funds.

Just transfer all future funding for the NRC, TRF and R&D from Ministry of Science and Technology to the new ministry. 

As an aside I find it disturbing that the Prayut government is discussing creation of a new ministry when the government is essentially out of business due to the recent election.

Is Prayut going to rush the new ministry into his 20-year National Strategy Program so that the new government is forced to accept the new ministry and its "new" budget?

[PatOngo]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Over Bt130 bn eyed for new ‘innovation ministry’

I have a feeling the only innovation will be the in ways they can syphon off the Bt130 bn!

[Justgrazing]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

THE GOVERNMENT is expected to allocate at least Bt130 billion per year for the new ministry of higher education, research and innovation

Is that not a goodly amount of money for a ministry within a country not exactly known for its innovation like say Japan or S Korea .. Whatever could they use that amount of dosh for .. 

[lannarebirth]

Thank goodness the "good people" are looking after things.

 

 

 

[justin case]

is this from the : start with a big fortune to make a fortune afterwards ?

 

invest 130 billion for ?????

[madmitch]

2 hours ago, Justgrazing said:

Is that not a goodly amount of money for a ministry within a country not exactly known for its innovation like say Japan or S Korea .. Whatever could they use that amount of dosh for .. 

They need some innovative ideas regarding money-laundering!

[seajae]

shouldnt this be the job of the new govt, not the current one, this looks like a late attempt to feather the nest before departing, we have had the election, current govt should not be doing this

[Fex Bluse]

14 hours ago, webfact said:

“We are in the process of discussing the funds for this new ministry with the Budget Bureau,” Deputy Education Minister Udom Kachintorn said yesterday. 

First they relentlessly beat out of the children any ability to think. 

 

Then they ask these ill-equipped people to innovate. 

 

Good luck krub