Thailand's Hope Of Becoming A Self-Developed Technology Creator Is Getting Dim

[bigbamboo]

The last Thai to think out of the box was King Mongut.

And we're not even supposed to talk about him.

[cheshiremusicman]

Why not take some of the 'Army/Airforce/Navy/Forces' budget away and spend it on 'Education with a BIG E'?. Friend of mine reckons that Thailand spends around 20-25%-25% of its GDP on the 'forces'.! Why, who the hell are they going to fight? Wonderful idea eh spending money on 'Thai 'Submarines', again what the hxxl for? They have no sense of where they can get the best return on their expenditure for the good of the country and probably never will !

[trainman34014]

Why not take some of the 'Army/Airforce/Navy/Forces' budget away and spend it on 'Education with a BIG E'?. Friend of mine reckons that Thailand spends around 20-25%-25% of its GDP on the 'forces'.! Why, who the hell are they going to fight? Wonderful idea eh spending money on 'Thai 'Submarines', again what the hxxl for? They have no sense of where they can get the best return on their expenditure for the good of the country and probably never will !

They need a lot of bullets to shoot at 'Men in Black' aka Red Shirt protesters hiding in Temples !

[rbrooks]

Oh well. I really don't think Thailand cares about this issue.

[Thai at Heart]

Why not take some of the 'Army/Airforce/Navy/Forces' budget away and spend it on 'Education with a BIG E'?. Friend of mine reckons that Thailand spends around 20-25%-25% of its GDP on the 'forces'.! Why, who the hell are they going to fight? Wonderful idea eh spending money on 'Thai 'Submarines', again what the hxxl for? They have no sense of where they can get the best return on their expenditure for the good of the country and probably never will !

They need to protect the country from its own people and their meddling ways.

[Thait Spot]

Perhaps history will record that the current government chose to waste money on populist policies rather than invest a relatively small amount into the future of the country.

I rather doubt that the hundreds of billions (or is it trillions over the next five years?) thrown at "flood control" will have the desired effect. Throwing money at a project does not ensure its success. With the sort of leaders such as the Science Minister who thought 1,000 boats pushing water downstream would speed up the removal of the flood waters...it's a sad time for Thailand.

He's done away with the boats this week. Just the engines are required!

[Dap]

OMG this is terrible news. Can they still Keep the Title of Technology HUB?

One of my Thai family members, kid you not, thinks that Sony is Thai.

Many Thais I talk with really believe Thailand invented cars, motorbikes, computers, cellphones etc etc. just because they jumped on the copy bandwagon they think that is classed as invention.

PS what's a bum gun? I live a sheltered life.

It is that hose beside the toilet and when you point it at your ars^ and pull the trigger the water comes out your mouth.

Jeez SG, spit my beer all over the monitor. You must have some hellacious water pressure at your home. Still laughing.

[Dap]

OMG this is terrible news. Can they still Keep the Title of Technology HUB?

One of my Thai family members, kid you not, thinks that Sony is Thai.

Many Thais I talk with really believe Thailand invented cars, motorbikes, computers, cellphones etc etc. just because they jumped on the copy bandwagon they think that is classed as invention.

PS what's a bum gun? I live a sheltered life.

It is that hose beside the toilet and when you point it at your ars^ and pull the trigger the water comes out your mouth.

Still chuckling and cleaning. That's gotta' be one of the funniest posts I've read on TV. I thank ya' kindly squire.

[TommoPhysicist]

Why not take some of the 'Army/Airforce/Navy/Forces' budget away and spend it on 'Education with a BIG E'?. Friend of mine reckons that Thailand spends around 20-25%-25% of its GDP on the 'forces'.! Why, who the hell are they going to fight? Wonderful idea eh spending money on 'Thai 'Submarines', again what the hxxl for? They have no sense of where they can get the best return on their expenditure for the good of the country and probably never will !

Cambodia, or themselves (in a civil war) are two likely enemies.

[chooka]

OMG this is terrible news. Can they still Keep the Title of Technology HUB?

One of my Thai family members, kid you not, thinks that Sony is Thai.

Many Thais I talk with really believe Thailand invented cars, motorbikes, computers, cellphones etc etc. just because they jumped on the copy bandwagon they think that is classed as invention.

PS what's a bum gun? I live a sheltered life.

It is that hose beside the toilet and when you point it at your ars^ and pull the trigger the water comes out your mouth.

classic response

[sysardman]

One of my Thai family members, kid you not, thinks that Sony is Thai.

Many Thais I talk with really believe Thailand invented cars, motorbikes, computers, cellphones etc etc. just because they jumped on the copy bandwagon they think that is classed as invention.

PS what's a bum gun? I live a sheltered life.

It is that hose beside the toilet and when you point it at your ars^ and pull the trigger the water comes out your mouth.

It brushes your teeth simultaneously. Great innovation.

Or it could also be why so many TV posters talk so much sh*t

[hellodolly]

Lost in the discussion is the role of Private companies and individuals. Have a look at the campuses of many universities around the world. Buildings and research facilities have been donated by grateful alumni. In other cases, individuals just give. Lately, it has been some wealthy Hong Kong Chinese that have made a splash in Australia and Canada where they received their university educations.

And now let's look at Thailand. Not much is there?

The onus is on the wealthy in a society and a university's alumni to contribute, and they do not do this as generously in Thailand as elsewhere.

Well what you say is true but the people with that kind of money graduated at foreign colleges.

I am having a hard time seeing how a academic could say Thailand is losing hope of being a self developing nation.

Perhaps that is my fault and I expect to much out of a academic. But I will bet that none of the hill tribes looked on Thailand as a self developing Nation.

[hellodolly]

It would be nice to see Thailand becoming a self developing Nation. The article said they wanted to work in certain fields.

"The project has six targeted clusters, including health, food and agriculture, industry (materials, science), energy, environment, and social science."

My question is if they choose to go for it will the Scientists. Technicians, and Engineers plus other experts required to do it still need to get a work visa and check in regularly?

[kimamey]

OMG this is terrible news. Can they still Keep the Title of Technology HUB?

One of my Thai family members, kid you not, thinks that Sony is Thai.

Many Thais I talk with really believe Thailand invented cars, motorbikes, computers, cellphones etc etc. just because they jumped on the copy bandwagon they think that is classed as invention.

PS what's a bum gun? I live a sheltered life.

It is that hose beside the toilet and when you point it at your ars^ and pull the trigger the water comes out your mouth.

Slightly off topic but I flew back to the UK via Doha in early August. When I tried the bum gun in the airport it seemed to be connected to the hot water supply. I'll not be able to relax while using one now in case it suddenly gets hot.

BTW a brilliant idea whoever thought of it.

[Thait Spot]

Perhaps history will record that the current government chose to waste money on populist policies rather than invest a relatively small amount into the future of the country.

I rather doubt that the hundreds of billions (or is it trillions over the next five years?) thrown at "flood control" will have the desired effect. Throwing money at a project does not ensure its success. With the sort of leaders such as the Science Minister who thought 1,000 boats pushing water downstream would speed up the removal of the flood waters...it's a sad time for Thailand.

He's done away with the boats this week. Just the engines are required!

They are today being referred to as "water pushing devices".

[IMA_FARANG]

I absolutely agree that the Thai education system "actively discourages" any creative or original thinking...thinking pouysode pf the box.

But don't blame the Thai students for that, blame the education system.

Their ARE Thais who do creative and innovative research on many areas...but oftenOUTSIDE of Thailand....dimply because neither the Thai education system or for that matter business cluture (i.e. financial system) encourages innovation in Thailand.

But there are a few Thais who have managed to rise above the restrictive innovation discouraging system in Thailand.

I subscribe to a daily science newletter and digest ,About two weeks ago one of the subjects was new innovative projects in the applications of Nanotechnology....you do know what Nanotechnology is, right?

The projedt was being done at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in Cambridge, Mass. by a team of post graduate students.

The head of this project, a post graduate student also, was named. She was just given an award for that project.

HER last name was a Thai name....and she was born in Thailand.

[jerrysteve]

Why develop Technoogy and Intellectual Property when you can Steal it and Pirate it.!!!!

Oh Well there goes their chance to become a Technological HUB!

Such a Pity for a Pitiful Country.

Huba Huba

[barefoot1988]

OMG this is terrible news. Can they still Keep the Title of Technology HUB?

One of my Thai family members, kid you not, thinks that Sony is Thai.

kind of sad isnt it. of all brands, sony.

[Thai at Heart]

I absolutely agree that the Thai education system "actively discourages" any creative or original thinking...thinking pouysode pf the box.

But don't blame the Thai students for that, blame the education system.

Their ARE Thais who do creative and innovative research on many areas...but oftenOUTSIDE of Thailand....dimply because neither the Thai education system or for that matter business cluture (i.e. financial system) encourages innovation in Thailand.

But there are a few Thais who have managed to rise above the restrictive innovation discouraging system in Thailand.

I subscribe to a daily science newletter and digest ,About two weeks ago one of the subjects was new innovative projects in the applications of Nanotechnology....you do know what Nanotechnology is, right?

The projedt was being done at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in Cambridge, Mass. by a team of post graduate students.

The head of this project, a post graduate student also, was named. She was just given an award for that project.

HER last name was a Thai name....and she was born in Thailand.

And who in Thailand will she work for?

Somchais nanotechnology company?

[noahvail]

I absolutely agree that the Thai education system "actively discourages" any creative or original thinking...thinking pouysode pf the box.

But don't blame the Thai students for that, blame the education system.

Their ARE Thais who do creative and innovative research on many areas...but oftenOUTSIDE of Thailand....dimply because neither the Thai education system or for that matter business cluture (i.e. financial system) encourages innovation in Thailand.

But there are a few Thais who have managed to rise above the restrictive innovation discouraging system in Thailand.

I subscribe to a daily science newletter and digest ,About two weeks ago one of the subjects was new innovative projects in the applications of Nanotechnology....you do know what Nanotechnology is, right?

The projedt was being done at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in Cambridge, Mass. by a team of post graduate students.

The head of this project, a post graduate student also, was named. She was just given an award for that project.

HER last name was a Thai name....and she was born in Thailand.

I'll take you at your word. Perhaps she will become the first Thai ever to receive a Nobel Prize. Let's go one step further - perhaps she'll be the first citizen of an ASEAN country to receive a Nobel Prize for anything other than Peace (2 offered, 1 refused).

[Buchholz]

Why not take some of the 'Army/Airforce/Navy/Forces' budget away and spend it on 'Education with a BIG E'?. Friend of mine reckons that Thailand spends around 20-25%-25% of its GDP on the 'forces'.! Why, who the hell are they going to fight? Wonderful idea eh spending money on 'Thai 'Submarines', again what the hxxl for? They have no sense of where they can get the best return on their expenditure for the good of the country and probably never will !

Feel to borrow this so that you can impress your friend with your knowledge when you educate him/her on just how wildly way off he/she is....

Thailand's military expenditures are below the average for ASEAN

2010 ASEAN countries military expenditure as a percent of GDP

?.? (unreported) Myanmar

4.1 Singapore

3.9 Brunei

2.4 Vietnam

2.0 Malaysia

1.5 Thailand

1.1 Cambodia

1.0 Indonesia

0.8 Philippines

0.4 Laos

ASEAN average (not counting unreported Myanmar) = 1.9

On a world scale of military expenditure as a percent of GDP, Thailand ranks # 89.

Actually when putting in the updated figures for 2011, Thailand has dropped several places in comparison to their neighbors and is now even further below the average expenditures than they were before:

2011 ASEAN countries military expenditure as a percent of GDP

4.9 Singapore

4.5 Brunei

3.0 Cambodia

3.0 Indonesia

2.5 Vietnam

2.1 Burma

2.0 Malaysia

1.8 Thailand

0.9 Philippines

0.5 Laos

ASEAN average = 2.5

On a world scale of military expenditure as a percent of GDP, Thailand ranks # 85.

http://en.wikipedia....ry_expenditures

[simple1]

Lost in the discussion is the role of Private companies and individuals. Have a look at the campuses of many universities around the world. Buildings and research facilities have been donated by grateful alumni. In other cases, individuals just give. Lately, it has been some wealthy Hong Kong Chinese that have made a splash in Australia and Canada where they received their university educations.

And now let's look at Thailand. Not much is there?

The onus is on the wealthy in a society and a university's alumni to contribute, and they do not do this as generously in Thailand as elsewhere.

It's true a fair amount of research is carried out by Australian universities. However the unfortunately fact is that funding (with some rare exceptions) for commercialisation of research I.P, associated manufacturing and so on is funded and located outside of Australia with the outcome that Australia does not enjoy the employment & economic benefit of local research successes. If Thailand ever gets it's act together let's hope the same scenario doesn't unfold.

[bbradsby]

Oh well. I really don't think Thailand cares about this issue.

Spot On. more specifically, the elites have a sweeeet spot right now with their feudal society; respect for elders & higher position on up to the top... w/o question, you get the idea. True Education would overturn the whole happy arrangement.

[kaorop]

Lost in the discussion is the role of Private companies and individuals. Have a look at the campuses of many universities around the world. Buildings and research facilities have been donated by grateful alumni. In other cases, individuals just give. Lately, it has been some wealthy Hong Kong Chinese that have made a splash in Australia and Canada where they received their university educations.

And now let's look at Thailand. Not much is there?

The onus is on the wealthy in a society and a university's alumni to contribute, and they do not do this as generously in Thailand as elsewhere.

Yep right on the money, the tech school i worked at,

had zero obvious contributions from companies that would come and cherry pick the best,

but tit so someone got something.

[cup-O-coffee]

Thai research...

Self-developed...

Oh gawd! I do not know where to begin. This is just too overwhelming. My sympathies only go so far.

[atyclb]

At last weeks "Thailand International Medical Hub" gov sponsored show at Impact, the attendance was dismal, and virtually no international attendees were present.

One can only wonder why a show that used the an Challenger area (2,3) was not marketed to international attendees? That's an expensive venue.

[Thai at Heart]

I have a Thai friend who has a brother working for Chevrolet in the US in their engine design facility for about 10 years.

He had a head hunter contact him on behalf of Toyota Thailand as to whether he would consider coming back to Thailand because apparently Toyota are looking to move their regional R+D for Asia for engines partly to Thailand. Then they enquired about his pay package in the US. Safe to say, the 100k per month baht didn't quite cut it for a highly skilled and qualified engineer in the industry in the US. In fact the comment was that his total package would probably exceed what they may be paying the Japanese manager of the new facility. Call it what you like, but qualified people cost money.

The entire business model of Thailand has become labour intensive bodies at the bottom of the pile barely making a living, with one or two kingpin managers on top earning a decent living. So where do these highly paid "scientific" research and development people get a decent paying job, because in Thailand, it isn't there yet.

[vijer]

They can't build a road properly, a sewer properly, a sanitation system properly, plumbing, electrical, etc. All of which could be copied from advanced countries, they aren't even smart enough to copy the right things let alone innovate.

China, hardly an innovator, copies everything. Thailand only copies software, music and movies.