ส.อ.ท. หนุนความร่วมมือ “เครือข่ายนวัตกรรมยางพารา” เดินหน้าเชื่อมงานวิจัยสู่ภาคอุตสาหกรรมFTI Supports Collaboration on the “Rubber Innovation Network” to Connect Research with the Industry

On May 23, 2025, Mr. Nawapong Sarochooti, Chairman of the Rubber Industry Group, Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), along with Mr. Boonhan Uaudomying, Executive Board Member, FTI, and Mr. Ekachai Limpichotipong, Vice Chairman of the Rubber Industry Group, FTI, participated in a meeting of the “Rubber Innovation Network” with key agencies from the public sector, academia, and private sector, including the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT), the Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), Prince of Songkla University (PSU), and the Rubber Industry Group, FTI, to discuss ways to promote rubber research outcomes for practical application in the Thai industry at Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla Province.

In the context of the rubber industry facing rapid changes due to market volatility and raw material demands, FTI affirmed the role of the private sector as actual users, emphasizing that research and development should align with market needs and yield commercial results, not merely academic work.

One of the key points of emphasis by FTI is the promotion of research outcomes into the industrial sector by proposing the establishment of a “Research Aggregation Platform” that allows the private sector easy access, akin to a “shopping experience for research works” from various agencies such as MTEC, RAOT, and PSU. Furthermore, FTI advocates the creation of promotional media such as videos or slides to communicate widely with industry operators.

Additionally, FTI also presented development strategies for two prototype projects, which include:
1. An automatic rubber tapping machine to address labor shortages and reduce production costs.
2. Increasing the proportion of natural rubber in tires to enhance performance and reduce reliance on synthetic rubber, especially in electric vehicles.

During this meeting, discussions also addressed personnel development strategies through the Industrial Heir Scholarship Program and Mobility Education, which FTI agrees to expand the program to cover various PSU campuses and supports the approach to developing “human quality” with knowledge paired with ethics, aligning with the current private sector's needs.

Moreover, FTI sees the “Rubber Innovation Network” as a critical link to help transform the Thai rubber industry in terms of technology, products, and personnel, affirming its commitment to support tangible collaboration to sustainably elevate the capabilities of the Thai industrial sector.