During 25-28 January 2016, Business France, a French agency affiliated to the French Embassies network for international business development, organised an International Partnership Mission on Bio-economy. A kick off meeting was held on 25 January at the French Embassy gathering a group of representatives from selected French companies with business interests in bio-based products and biorefinery. These included representatives from AFYREN, Axens, Boccard, Eurodia, IPSB, Leaf, Maguin-Interis, Technip, Tereos and Ynsect. This meeting aimed at providing representatives from those companies with an understanding of the situation regarding bio-based related research, innovation and industrial activities in Thailand.
At the occasion of this meeting, Dr Sebastien Bonnet (member of LCSAL at JGSEE) was invited to deliver a presentation on “Perspectives on Biomass Resources in Thailand and Potentials for Franco-Thai Collaboration in the Industrial Sector”.
This presentation followed an initial Talk by Dr Stephane Roy, Attaché for Scientific and Higher Education Cooperation of the French Embassy in Thailand, on “Overview of Research and Innovation in Thailand and Applications to Green Chemistry”. Discussions were also held regarding existing financial mechanisms to support Franco-Thai collaboration. The discussions were very fruitful and since this first visit some of the French companies represented in this delegation have already identified partners and engaged discussions with local partners to consider developing/expanding their biobased related businesses in Thailand.