Agilent Technologies, a global laboratory technology provider, is driving growth in the Thai market where research investment is burgeoning through the support of new advanced technologies and collaboration with local partners.
“Thailand is one of Agilent’s first development locations in Asia and a key growth market for the company,” said Yuwapha Karapanon, the first female country general manager of Agilent Technologies (Thailand).
“We see the ability to grow business here following growing investment in laboratories equipment to enhance research facilities among the public, private and academic sectors.”
The company has engaged in the Thai market since 1999, with around 100 skilled engineers and employees providing scientific research needs for Thailand.
Agilent offers a range of innovations and solutions with successful outcomes to improve the quality of air, food, water and soil. The company plays a part in increasing the precision of diagnoses and targeted treatments for patients.
Yuwapha said the company enables customers to improve food safety and quality control in food and industrial products, determine ingredients in protein-based food and pursue medicine discoveries.
“Thailand is one of the important markets in Asia-Pacific region,” said Yuwapha. The company has a laboratory equipment centre for customers here, which also serves as a training facility.
“We consider making Thailand a ‘manufacturing’ base for equipment assembly.”
The firm now has 28 manufacturing, operations and logistics sites across the globe, serving 275,000 laboratories across 110 countries.
STRONG PARTNERSHIP
Agilent’s Bangkok hub, which hosts a centre of services and support in analytical development, has been collaborating with Mahidol University to set up a centre for early molecule research and translation into target compounds.
This three-year partnership was founded to accelerate research in synthetic biology for therapeutic use through science and technology.
The company also works with Thammasat University on its International Joint Research Center on food security in Bangkok.
Additionally, the firm signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) agreement with the Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC) on a broad coverage of synthetic biology and high throughput screening.
These partnerships highlight the firm’s long-term commitment to the country where it has helped shape a sustainable innovation ecosystem.
“We will produce more local science talents in Thailand,” said Yuwapha. Over the past five years, the company has worked with various higher learning institutions in Thailand to support science faculties to develop the next generation of scientists.
Agilent has partnered with Silpakorn University and Mahidol University to educate and prepare undergraduates for the taskforce by sharing industrial experience and prospects as well as providing job interview training.
IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY
According to Yuwapha, new technology and scientific advancement are vital to enhancing the quality of life.
Today, innovative diagnostic instruments give patients early access to targeted immunotherapy, resulting in improved patient outcomes, facilitating greater choice and accelerating patient care, she said.
A successful pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical research discovery can develop new medicines and therapeutics to prevent and treat various diseases.
Yuwapha said scientific research is now an important area of concern for governments and research success increasingly depends on advanced technology and sustainable innovations.
In Thailand, Agilent supplies mechanical elements to support the research and development of Baiya Phytopharm, a local biopharmaceutical company focused on strengthening health security of people through plant-based therapeutics and vaccines.
The firm has also contributed to food safety testing and research over the past two decades, helping to elevate food safety in Thailand.
FUTURE LAB
In terms of analytics solutions, Agilent works with laboratories to help address global trends that impact human health and the environment and anticipate future scientific needs.
“Optimising laboratory efficiencies with digitalisation is at the forefront of a sustainable future lab,” said Yuwapha.
The industrial internet of things (IIoT) is becoming more important to enable remote handling and diagnosis from anywhere in the world as the internet facilitates communication between machines.
With the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, labs will work smarter and more flexibly and with more agility to overcome disruptions, she said.
The emerging trend of labs is centralising, standardising and automating their entire workflow within with advanced digitalisation and cross platform solutions, she said.
“Supported by predictive maintenance systems and smart alerts, guture labs will enhance productivity, efficiency, regulatory compliance and operations,” Yuwapha concluded.
