Chief scientists, policy makers, and key stakeholders in science and technology development agree that biotechnology has the potential to transform every aspect of Thailand’s economic and social life for the better. But the promise of biotechnology cannot be realized, they argue, unless it is guided by a clear vision, a strong sense of purpose, and broad public appeal.
Most critical is the paltry level of government investment. Thailand’s public expenditures on research and development rank fifty-first among 53 countries surveyed by the World Competitive Yearbook in 2008. Total Thai expenditures on R&D are 0.24 percent of GDP, about a third of Malaysia’s levels and a tenth of Singapore’s.
“Thailand has been investing in biotechnology research as if we were a small-time player,” says Pongthep Akratanakul of the Center for Agricultural Biotechnology. “We’re one of the world’s agricultural powerhouses. There must be something seriously wrong about our self-perception or self-esteem.”
“It’s ...
