Kunming: Two Thai teams have secured first prizes at the prestigious 1st Lancang-Mekong Science and Technology Innovation Competition held in Yunnan Province, China. The competition, which took place in Kunming, saw a team of students from a Thai university clinch the top spot, showcasing the vibrant innovation landscape of Thailand.
According to Thai News Agency, the event's final round featured 60 student teams from six countries involved in the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation. Participants presented innovative technology projects across various sectors such as biopharmaceuticals, modern agriculture, information technology, and sustainable green development. Thai universities made a strong showing, with seven teams representing institutions like Thammasat University, Srinakharinwirot University, and Siam Technology College. These teams, along with others from the private sector, focused on projects aimed at addressing crucial needs and advancing technology in Southeast Asia. Notable projects included bionic robotic arm drones for firefighting, sunscreen developed from coffee grounds extract, and an AI-powered smart governance center for the Mekong River Basin.
The competition recognized the "AThenaAi" project, a digital infrastructure for precision preventive medicine, with an outstanding award in the entrepreneurial company category. Meanwhile, the GreenLink Thailand project, which focuses on creating sustainable biomaterials for the Thai market in collaboration with China, was awarded first prize.
The GreenLink Thailand initiative capitalizes on Yunnan Province's rich aquatic biological resources and Thailand's efficient bio-production system. This collaboration fosters a model integrating Yunnan's raw materials with Thai processing for the ASEAN market, thereby supporting the development of green industries in the region.
The Yunnan Provincial Department of Science and Technology and the Foreign Affairs Office of the Yunnan Provincial People's Government organized the competition. They received support from the Yunnan Provincial Institute of Information Science and Technology Research, the Innovation and Cooperation Office (Bangkok) affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and other organizations. The event drew applications from over 300 universities, research institutes, and businesses across the six countries in the Lancang-Mekong River Basin.