Thailand embarks on life sciences push

Thailand has a lot going for it. The appropriately nicknamed Land of Smiles is a country of lush greenery, white-sand beaches, aromatic tropical fruit, and deep Buddhist spirituality. And to the many foreign visitors who are there on extended stays far from home, Thailand also offers the reassuring presence of a network of world-class hospitals. What Thailand is not known for is innovative products. The hundreds of foreign companies that operate plants in the country overwhelmingly produce items—be they cars, electronic components, or chemicals—based on technology developed elsewhere. In the life sciences in particular, precious few Thai or foreign firms conduct any innovative R&D in the country. This dearth of innovation is something the government wants to change. Under a new policy named Thailand 4.0, Thailand wants to transform itself into an innovation-driven country where life sciences and industrial biotechnology play important roles. To help promote the new policy outside