Bangkok--10 May--Agate Communications
The British Council, together with Office of Higher Education Commission (OHEC) and the Thailand Research Fund (TRF), hosted Cafe Scientifique to share five success stories of research under the Newton Fund. On this occasion, the British Council also announced the call for 'Institutional Links' 2018-19, a grant funding to support research that respond to the government's ten targeted industries.
The British Council is one of the delivery partners of the Newton Fund working with the OHEC and TRF on the Institutional Links programme aiming to support research collaboration between the UK and Thailand. The research facilitated from these grants will support the ten targeted industries through collaboration between the researcher and industries. The call for application is announced for the researchers to submit the proposals to obtain funding valued THB 30 million.
At the event, five Institutional Links awardees shared their research to the public in a very relax atmosphere at a coffeeshop. These five researches will support the goal of the government to use science and research to improve the well-being of and bring benefits to our people and economies. The topics of research included:
Dr. Tirayut Vilaivan - Chulalongkorn University - Papering over the cracks: Paper Devices coupled with Portable Mass Spectrometry for On-site & Rapid Detection of Contaminants in the Food Industry
Dr. Kallaya Sritunyalucksana - National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) - An International Network for shrimp health (INSH) to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research, policy and the farmer
Dr. Wanna Temsiripoj - King Mongkut University of Technology Thonburi - Enhancing Thailand's Ecosystem for Entrepreneurship
Dr. Boonanan Natakul - Thammasat University - Planning for Eco-cities and Climate-resilient Environments: building capacity for inclusive planning in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region (PEACE-BMR)
Dr. Panote Thavarungkul - Prince of Songkla University - Towards Precision Agriculture
Mr. Andrew Glass, Director, British Council said 'This is the second time we host Cafe Scientifique with OHEC, and the first time with TRF. Based on the success we received last year, we intend to create more engagement between researchers, media and public audience again this year and we are now calling for research funding application from Thai researchers, which worth 30 million baht.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pongsakorn Tantilipikorn, Assistant Director of International Research Network and International Affairs, The Thailand Research Fund said 'The collaboration between UK and Thailand under the Newton Fund Institutional Links will promote research and innovation development of the two countries. Furthermore, the Institutional Links will connect Thai and UK researchers and lead to the exchange of knowledge, technology and innovation which will help internationalise our research work.
Mr. Punpermsak Aruni, Director of Human Resources Development Policy, the Office of the Higher Education Commission noted that 'Newton Fund Institutional Links plays important roles in building and increasing capacity of our professors and researchers who will be helping to link research and innovation and the New S-Curve industries and Thailand 4.0 altogether.
Calls for Institutional Links 2018/19 will be funded by either Thailand Research Fund or Office of Higher Education Commission.
Thailand Research Fund
Thai applicants only:
Thai lead applicant must not hold senior / executive position (Dean level or above).
Human Resources cost for Thai applicant must not exceed 15% of Thai grant.
Thai applicants must follow additional guidelines as outlined by TRF
In addition to joint report submission via Researchfish, Thai applicants must also submit narrative and financial report to TRF.
Thematic priority areas:
Big data, Artificial Intelligence and Brain Science
Innovation-oriented education research for capacity building
Demographic change, and rural / urban development
Governance, society and conflict
Innovative and Sustainable Competitiveness in Food & Drink Technology
Health & Life Sciences
Energy
Office of Higher Education Commission
Thai applicants only:
Thai applicant institution must be under administration of OHEC.
In addition to joint report submission via Researchfish, Thai applicants must also submit the financial report to OHEC.
Thematic priority areas: 10 targeted S-Curve Industries
Next-generation Automotive
Smart Electronics
Affluent, Medical and Wellness Tourism
Agriculture and Biotechnology
Food for the Future
Robotics
Aviation and Logistics
Biofuels and Biochemicals
Digital
Medical Hub
About Newton Fund
The Newton Fund builds scientific and innovation partnerships with 16 partner countries to support their economic development and social welfare, and to develop their research and innovation capacity for long-term sustainable growth. It has a total UK Government investment of GBP735 million up until 2021, with matched resources from the partner countries.
The Newton Fund is managed by the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and delivered through 15 UK Delivery Partners, which include the Research Councils, the UK Academies, the British Council, Innovate UK and the Met Office.
For further information visit the Newton Fund website (www.newtonfund.ac.uk) and follow via Twitter: @NewtonFund.
About British Council
British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendship, knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. Using the UK's cultural resources we make a positive contribution to the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust.
We work with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Each year we reach over 20 million people face-to-face and more than 500 million people online, via broadcasts and publications.
Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. The majority of our income is raised delivering a range of projects and contracts in English teaching and examinations, education and development contracts, and from partnerships with public and private organisations. Eighteen per cent of our funding is received from the UK government.