The National Innovation Agency (Public Organization), or NIA, in collaboration with the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC), has initiated the “Project for the Development of Innovative Businesses for SMEs/Startups in the Southern Border Provinces” to drive the economy in the southern border area. The project aims to leverage research and innovations from various agencies to create effective and sustainable economic and social outcomes.

        Over the past two years, more than 500 SMEs and startups have shown interest in participating in the activities. In 2019, the focus for the southern border provinces includes developing innovations in culture, health, and agriculture, as well as establishing an innovation district in the southern border provinces or Halal Tourism District to connect tourists from neighboring areas such as Kelantan and Terengganu.

        Mr. Wichian Suksaroi, Deputy Director of Economic and Social Affairs at the National Innovation Agency (Public Organization) stated that for the upcoming year, NIA has allocated a budget of 22.4 million baht for the project “Development of Innovative Businesses for SMEs/Startups in the Southern Border Provinces”. The goal is to expand existing innovations and integrate research from universities to create products that meet market demands and develop into new businesses. Additionally, NIA has collaborated with the Southern Border Provinces Halal Production and Business Support Office (SBP) and the Young Entrepreneurs Group (YES) to hold meetings to integrate plans for driving innovation and technology in 2019, in line with the Thailand 4.0 policy, outlining both existing and new plans.

        The plans include developing projects/businesses by identifying local needs to lead to necessary and contextually relevant innovations, such as disaster management, traffic, and healthcare, which must differ according to each area's context. This approach also aims to attract investments from both public and private sectors looking to expand innovations to local communities effectively.

        Developing an innovation ecosystem or Maker Space within an environment conducive to creating new innovations, including materials, tools, or digital systems, and possibly involving experts from successful businesses (Big Brothers) to provide guidance or solutions.

        Looking at innovation development beyond food, focusing on culture, health, and agriculture, using innovation as a connector of value and change, with technology as a driver. This includes platforms for tourism services specifically linked to halal products (Halal Tourism), developing rubber into health products, palm oil into renewable energy, and financial services, among others.

        Creating networks (Innovation Regional Connect) and providing training, such as using big data to inform trends in innovation markets or consumer behavior, to develop diverse products or services. Network building must proceed alongside parallel agencies, such as the Federation of Thai Industries, the Thai Chamber of Commerce, and Startup Thailand League, to ensure comprehensive development based on each organization's expertise and facilitate rapid scaling.