EGAT – NIA Join Hands with 3 Startups to Gear up Innovation Technology Development, driving the Thailand 4.0 Economy

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and the National Innovation Agency (NIA) has joined force with three startups to develop innovation technologies that can enhance state agencies’ service efficiency and enable Thai startups to access to government’s jobs. It is believed this will lead to innovation technology development that help drive the country’s economy according to Thailand 4.0 policy

Mr. Vichian Suksoi, NIA’s Deputy Director for Economy and Social Affairs, said NIA has signed Memorandum of Cooperation with EGAT to jointly develop technologies for government agencies and develop government project with startups. They have also joined force with three startups which are specialized in technology design and development to develop contract manuals with mobile engineering service provider, companies that support social activities and providers of tourism innovations.

This cooperation is considered as one important project that will help unlock the limitations of Thai startups In accessing government jobs and leading to innovations technology development to drive the country’s economy according to Thailand 4.0 policy.

“NIA will support the budget for startups to test the market and system of the participating government agencies. We will also do the evaluation together. In addition, we will appoint an accounting and procurement committee for the government agencies and improve the special Term of Reference so that the government agencies can implement the procurement for start-ups according to the TOR as specified by the committee,” said Vichien.

For the three startup companies that have signed four agreement contracts consist of Mr. Weerawet Orathanalai from Intellectual Design Group Co Ltd, Mr. Sittikorn Nuanrod from System Stone Co Ltd, and Mr. Somsak Boonkham from Local Alike Co Ltd. The contract signing ceremony was held at Kasem Chatikavanij Auditorium, EGAT’s headquarters, Bang Kruai, Nonthaburi.

Dr. Jiraporn Sirikham, EGAT’s Deputy Governor of Innovation and Business Development, said the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation is considered an important step in piloting between government agencies and startups to jointly raise the level of innovation capability of the country, develop public services which will lead to the development of the government’s technology industry, driving the country’s economy according to Thailand 4.0 policy.

The first cooperation is the contract signing with Intellectual Design Group or IDG, which is specializing in design and development for brand and product protection. It will collaborate with the Research and Innovation Department of EGAT in the development of manuals for the use of contracts to serve the needs of EGAT in commercializing innovation. The second contract is achieved with System Stone Co Ltd,  the service provider maintenance services for mobile phones engineering. It will join with Wangnoi Power Plant to develop maintenance management system using mobile application as to increase efficiency and reduce operating costs.

As for the third and fourth contracts, it has signed with Local Alike – a social enterprise in tourism. It will join hands with Bangpakong Power Plant to develop tourism routes by Khlong Tamru Community in Chonburi province as well as cooperate with Srinakarin Dam to develop tourism routes that strengthen the identity and culture of the local community. The projects are to create a social innovation service in tourism and NIA will be the financial supporter of all of these projects.