In many emerging economies, researchers, inventors
and entrepreneurs face many barriers to successfully
commercializing innovations. Limited exposure to the
commercial sector, less developed technological
capability, and a general focus on academic publishing
instead of intellectual property (IP) means that in many
cases it is easier and less risky for companies to
purchase technology from abroad instead of developing
it locally. Many of these economies are also based on
agricultural commodities, and slim profit margins make it
difficult for players in the agricultural industry to take a
risk on a locally developed technology that has yet to be
proven.
Although a number of developing countries have
successfully allowed market forces to drive domestic
innovation, in many of them technology transfer
organizations (TLOs) have taken a leading role. The
Kingdom of Thailand (Thailand) is no exception, and a
number of agencies and programs in the country are
encouraging the development and commercial
dissemination of technology domestically. One such leading organization in Thailand is the Industrial Technology Assistance
Program (ITAP), a division of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA). In 2006 and with the assistance
of ITAP, researchers at NSTDA developed a process to reclaim rubber from the waste of rubber factories, which has the potential to
drastically improve the industry in Thailand.