Dr. Kitipong Promwong

Director for Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Research

The National Science and Technology Development Agency, Bangkok, Thailand

Knowledge in science and technology and its effective application have long been recognized as important drivers of innovation, competitiveness and economic growth. We live in a world where poverty abounds in the face of growing population; shortages in food and energy supplies have become perennial; social conflicts are rife; environmental degradation is featuring as a major constraint on improvements in quality of life; and climate change is threatening the sustainability of the global eco-system. The way forward would thus call for policy to address the issue of sustainable development in terms of its economic, social, cultural, political, technological and environmental dimensions within an integrated framework. Seen in this light, the formulation of effective science and technology policy would need to take the concept of "sustainability" into account.

As a policy maker in the area related to science, technology and innovation, I find that having multidisciplinary background has greatly helped me to advance my career, thanks to the M.Sc. course in Science and Technology Policy I took at the University of Strathclyde in 1995/96. The course provided not only an in-depth content of related subjects with multidisciplinary mode of learning, but also the skills one would need to approach policy problems with multidimensional perspective. Recently, this course was significantly upgraded to keep abreast with the rapid changes in the global economy, environment and socio-politics.

For those who would like to progress their career in the area related to science, technology and innovation policy or technology management, I strongly recommend the M.Sc. course in Science, Technology and Sustainability at the University of Strathclyde.