Ready-to-Use Technology for Sustainable Thai Communities

8 Mar 2024

Reporters: Naruemon Saengduangkhae, Asst.Prof.Dr.Arrisa Sopajarn, Piriya Soikaew, Asst.Prof.Supitchaya Boonkuer,

Evidence Date: March 7–8, 2024

Related SDGs:

Related Indicators: 16.3.3

Details: Supporting details and pictures

The Appropriate Technology Matching Day 2024 under the theme “Ready-to-Use Technology for Sustainable Thai Communities” was organized by Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya (RMUTSV) on March 7–8, 2024, at the Vithansanti Auditorium, Songkhla Campus.

The event was presided over by Asst. Prof. Dr. Apirak Songrak, Vice President of RMUTSV, who highlighted the importance of appropriate technology transfer to empower local communities and strengthen the grassroots economy.

This initiative received support from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council (NSHEP), the National Science, Research and Innovation Promotion Agency (TSOR), and the Program Management Unit for Area Based Development (PMU-A). It was implemented in collaboration with 38 Rajabhat Universities and 9 Rajamangala Universities of Technology.

The southern event served as the first regional platform, before expanding to the Northeastern, Northern, and Central regions, to facilitate technology transfer, innovation matching, and community learning. It targeted low-income groups, smallholder farmers, occupational groups, and local entrepreneurs, aiming to link innovations with real-world problems and needs, promote social mobility, and enhance sustainable development capacity.

Supported by PMU-A’s Community Innovation for Sustainable Development Program (FY 2020–2023), the network has developed 954 innovation-driven subdistricts in 43 provinces, increasing local product and grassroots economic value by 10–20 percent. The RMUT network has continuously collaborated with PMU-A to create and disseminate appropriate, ready-to-use technologies across Thailand.

In 2023, PMU-A and the RMUT network initiated the research framework “Appropriate Technology for Social Mobility”, integrating Demand-Supply Matching Models under the “19 Social Mobility Models” approach to enhance livelihoods and alleviate poverty through innovation.