Page 19 - ELITE PLUS MAGAZINE VOL7

The challenge for Thailand is how to combine the experience of business with the knowledge of researchers and scientistshe said. “The challenge for Thailand is how to combine the experience of business with the knowledge of researchers and scientists.”The distance between the business and research communities has an effect not only on R&D but also on the trade deficit. Although the country has been industrialized for three decades, Thailand has been a major importer of technology. According to STI data, local companies usually use the R&D of foreign companies and suppliers before seeking the help of academic researchers.In 2011, Thai companies spent 236 billion baht paying licence fees or consultancy fees to foreign companies. But the country earned 74 billion baht from selling intellectual property to other countries, mostly in ASEAN.Siam Cement Group (SCG) was indicative of such importing of tech- nology until 2006, when the companydecided to change from being a buyer of technology to an innovator.“During the first 90 of 110 years of SCG, we were just factory operators,” said Kan Trakulhoon, president and CEO of SCG. “We bought technologies, machines. But it is not sustainable if a company needs to keep buying technology licences from suppliers. After all, these companies selling technology will not teach or tell us anything, in order to save more information to sell us in a later project.”When he became CEO in 2006, Mr Kan decided to shift direction, with a new vision of SCG as ASEAN’s leading company in sustainability. Last year SCG acquired a stake in European R&D companies to give its chemical department an edge. The group cooperated with Japan-based Mitsui to produce high-density polyethylene for large manufacturers.Kan Trakulhoon, president and CEO of SCG.Elite+ 17