Startup Nation: A global tech hub in Thailand

In case you hadn’t noticed, Thailand has been going through a tech revolution. And this movement even has a name.

Thailand 4.0 is the economic model aimed at helping the country avoid the traps of middle income and inequality and transform it into a dynamic, high-income nation with a value-based economy.

The key to fulfilling this mission is to develop support for tech startups, which provide much of the innovation that drives Thailand 4.0.

This is where Startup Thailand comes in.

Photo credit: Startup Thailand

Going into its fourth iteration, the annual event showcases the future of technology and innovation in the country. Startup Thailand 2019: Startup Nation is set to take place from July 23 to 27 across nine venues along the Bangkok Innovation Corridor: the National Innovation Agency, The Knowledge Exchange, Hangar by DTAC Accelerate, AIS Design Centre, Siam Innovation District, Thailand Creative Design Center (TCDC), True Digital Park, Glowfish, and Naplab.

With over 400 startups from 25 countries as well as 300 tech experts and speakers, the event aims to help turn Thailand into a global tech hub. Amid conferences for tech spheres such as healthtech and agricultural tech, this year’s Startup Thailand will train the spotlight on deep tech as well as music, arts, and recreation tech.

Deep tech and how it can change the way we live

Consisting of areas such as AI, robotics, and medtech, deep tech is defined as cutting-edge technology founded on scientific or engineering breakthroughs. Characterized as a catalyst for change, it has a lot of potential to solve real-world issues.

In-depth talks and panel discussions on deep tech will take place at The Knowledge Exchange on July 24. Experts will cover topics such as energy storage, the role of big data in shaping the future of restaurants, and the commercialization of technology, giving participants the opportunity to learn about how tomorrow’s everyday life will look like.

Among the experts who will be speaking are Stanley Ng, program manager at New Energy Nexus, Chanikarn Wongviriyawong, founder of EatLab, and Ted Thirapatana, partner at Creative Ventures.

Photo credit: Startup Thailand

Tech to entertain and inspire

Startup Thailand 2019 isn’t just about the life-changing outer limits of tech. It’s also about music, arts, and recreation tech, which includes music streaming, esports, and virtual reality.

This field, which uses tech to enhance modern entertainment and lifestyle options, “is the cooperation between art and science that can respond better to the modern generation,” Pun-Arj Chairatana, executive director of the National Innovation Agency of Thailand, mentioned in Startup Thailand magazine. “It also can create content with higher value.”

Take Roovr, for example. This VR tech stores all manner of art and museum exhibitions, allowing users to enjoy them wherever and whenever they are. It also has other applications in marketing, news broadcasting, and education.

This burgeoning recreation tech industry is valued at over US$15 trillion in Thailand and is expected to grow by 6.5% over the next five years.

A conference highlighting these topics will be held on July 26 and 27 at TCDC, featuring speakers from the esports, animation, and VR industries.

Jirayod Theppipit, chief executive and founder of Infofed, and Chalermphol Wattanawongtrakool, animator at the Moving Picture Company are among the invited experts.

Startup Thailand 2019 will take place from July 23 to 27 at nine venues along the Bangkok Innovation Corridor: the National Innovation Agency, The Knowledge Exchange, Hangar by DTAC Accelerate, AIS Design Centre, Siam Innovation District, Thailand Creative Design Center (TCDC), True Digital Park, Glowfish, and Naplab.

Find out more and register to attend on their website.