09/01/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/01/2024 09:08
Royal Thai Embassy and Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council Host Seminar on "Labs, Farms, and Bottles: Turning Waste to Treasures" Showcasing Thai Innovation for Sustainable Development
On 28 August 2024, the Royal Thai Embassy in Qatar, in partnership with the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council, hosted a seminar and mini exhibition titled "Labs, Farms, and Bottles: Turning Waste to Treasures" at the QRDI Council Auditorium. The event provided a platform to showcase Thailand's innovative approaches to upcycling waste materials into valuable products, underscoring the shared commitment of Thailand and Qatar to sustainable development.
The seminar opened with welcoming remarks from Dr. Hisham Saber, Executive Director of the QNRF Programs office at QRDI Council, who emphasized the importance of research, development, and innovation (RDI) collaborations between Qatar and Thailand to address both nations' priority areas and goals. H.E. Mr. Sira Swangsilpa, Ambassador of Thailand to Qatar, delivered a keynote address that highlighted the event's pivotal role in enhancing collaboration between Thailand and Qatar. He emphasized the importance of working together on research, technology, and sustainability, with particular focus on sustainable development, innovative upcycling, food security, biotechnology, sustainable textiles, and local entrepreneurship. He also noted that this collaboration with QRDI Council aligns seamlessly with the RDI 2030 and Qatar National Vision 2030, both of which prioritize environmental sustainability as a core pillar of development.
Key Sessions and Presentations:
The seminar featured three key sessions led by distinguished experts from Thailand's top universities.
Applications
Complementing the seminar, a mini exhibition displayed a range of innovative products developed by Thai researchers, including:
Attendance: The seminar was attended by over 50 participants, including representatives from various sectors of Qatar such as the Ministry of Municipality, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Qatar Foundation, Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Qatar University, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, members of the diplomatic corps, and local news outlets.
Delegation Visits: From 26 to 29 August 2024, H.E. Ambassador Swangsilpa led a distinguished delegation from Thai academic institutions in discussions with several Qatari institutes, including Qatar University (QU), Qatar's Center for Advanced Materials and Center for Sustainable Development under QU, Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council, and the Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) under Hamad Bin Khalifa University. These discussions aimed to enhance academic collaboration in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) for sustainable development, with a specific focus on agricultural research, upcycling and value addition of waste materials, and the integration of Islamic principles into biotechnology research.
This initiative underscores the Royal Thai Embassy's steadfast commitment to promoting Thailand's research and innovation efforts and strengthening academic cooperation between educational institutions in Thailand and Qatar. Such collaboration serves as a fundamental foundation for the bilateral relationship across various dimensions, including political, socioeconomic development, and people-to-people connections.