KYOTO, Japan – The Thai government is exploring the potential use of advanced porous materials to address PM2.5 air pollution following discussions with two Nobel Prize laureates in chemistry. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Prof. Dr. Yodchanan Wongsawat met Susumu Kitagawa of Kyoto University and Koichi Tanaka of Shimadzu Corporation in Kyoto on October 5 to discuss scientific research and potential applications in Thailand.
Yodchanan and Kitagawa discussed porous materials that can capture and store gases and their potential application to Thailand’s PM2.5 problem. Thailand plans to study the feasibility of a pilot project using the technology. Kitagawa, a 2025 Nobel laureate for work on metal-organic frameworks, already has a postdoctoral research team at the Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology, with plans to expand the research network across the country through a symposium.
Kitagawa also encouraged Thailand to provide sustained investment in fundamental science, potentially extending for up to 20 years, while developing a new generation of researchers. Their discussions included Atomis, a startup applying his research to developing new materials from the air.
Tanaka, a 2002 Nobel laureate, welcomed Thailand’s direction toward the wellness industry and its potential to develop specialized expertise in the sector. He encouraged Thai researchers to work across traditional scientific disciplines, allowing expertise from different fields to contribute more effectively to future research and innovation. (NNT)
