As part of my secondment programme, a visit was conducted to the laboratories of the Chiang Mai University Faculty of Engineering, and the Regional Science Park. The primary focus was on exploring activities supporting Start-ups and SMEs, particularly in the areas of innovation development, and optimization of sustainable production and processing of products.
The visit provided insight into various technological and methodological approaches applied in assisting small and medium-sized enterprises in their transition toward more resilient and sustainable business models.
In addition, discussions were carried out on the requirements and barriers related to the emerging concept of SME 5.0, which builds on human-centric, resilient, and sustainable values. Particular attention was paid to strategies for the inclusion of workers with different abilities within SMEs, addressing both technical and organizational challenges, and identifying potential solutions for greater workplace accessibility and adaptability. This secondment contributed to identifying areas for future collaboration and the development of inclusive innovation strategies within the framework of SME 5.0.
