On 16 February 2022, NXPO participated in the 19th APEC Policy Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation (PPSTI) Meeting. In the online meeting, the APEC Center for Technology Foresight, which is hosted by NXPO, in partnership with the Office of Permanent Secretary of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a seminary on Realizing Bio-Circular-Green Economy: Promoting Circular Economy through Technology, Innovation, and Business Models. The seminar aimed to present Thailand’s Bio-Circular-Green Economy (BCG) concept to APEC member economies and promote the circular economy transformation. Delivering opening remarks was Permanent Secretary Prof. Sirirurg Songsivilai, M.D.
In the seminar, NXPO Vice President Dr. Kanchana Wanichkorn introduced the BCG model as a strategy to achieve carbon neutrality and net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The model is applied to four strategic sectors namely agriculture and food; health and wellness; energy, material and biochemicals; tourism and creative economy.
Thailand as the host of APEC 2022 has set the Bangkok Goals on BCG 2022 as: 1) carbon neutrality and climate change adaptation, 2) zero waste guidelines and sustainable consumption and production, 3) conservation of the environment and biodiversity and sustainable resource management, 4) science, technology and innovation as a driver, and 5) social inclusion and human resource development.
Dr. Kanchana then focused on the circular economy aspect. Thailand’s Circular Economy Innovation Strategy 2030 aims to achieve: 1) resource consumption reduction by ¼, 2) 15 MtCO2 mitigation, and 3) 3% GDP contribution. NXPO is currently working on the following initiatives which can serve as platforms for APEC collaboration: 1) Circular Economy Digital Platform, 2) Best Practice Sharing, 3) Technology Roadmap, 4) Climate Change Adaptation Technology Roadmap and Database. The last initiative was conducted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) of which NXPO serves as the national designated entity (NDE).
Other speakers include Dr. Mushtaq Memon, UNEP Regional Coordinator for Resource Efficiency; Professor Jinhui Li, Professor in School of Environment of Tsinghua University; Mr. Rick Passenier, Circular Economy Consultant, Director of PACE Business Partners and Ambassador of the Holland Circular Hotspot.
The seminar was moderated by Dr. Surachai Sathitkunarat, NXPO Assistant to the President and Executive Director of APEC Center for Technology Foresight. At the seminar conclusion, Dr. Surachai announced the plan of APEC Center for Technology Foresight to develop a circular economy technology roadmap. The first meeting will be held in March this year.
