10 August 2023:  Thailand Science Park Conference Center Building, Pathum Thani: Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the opening ceremony of the International Conference on Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology No.16 (i-CREATe 2023) which was held between 8-11 August 2023 at the Thailand Science Park Convention Center, Pathum Thani.  Professor (Special) Dr. Anek Laothamatas, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), Professor Dr. Chukit Limpichamnong, President of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Professor Dr. Pairash Thajchayapong, Chairman of the i-CREATe 2023 Organizing Committee, Mr. Simon Wong, Chairman of the Asian Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Coalition Clinical Professor Sarana Boonbaichaiyaphruek Chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, Dr. Thaweesak Koanantakool, Deputy Secretary-General of the Information Technology Foundation under the Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and NSTDA executive team welcome Her Royal Highness.

     Professor (Special) Dr. Anek Laothamatas the Minister of MHESI has informed that i-CREATe 2023 will be a fully on-site conference for the first time since the outbreak of COVID-19. The event was organized by the Coalition on Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology,  Asia or CREATe Asia under the concept of “Aiming for a Sustainable Society for All”. It places importance on the development of rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology, both present and future, through four main activities: (1) academic presentations (2) workshops and training (3) international student innovation contest, “Global Student Innovation Challenge (gSIC)”, and (4) an exhibition of rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology for people with disabilities and the elderly.  The aim is to enhance awareness of rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology in society, and to stimulate and support research and development of such technologies in the Asia-Pacific region.

     In addition, the i-CREATe 2023 received great honor and support from 8 industry experts who came to be speakers from 6 economies, namely: China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Netherlands and Thailand. The conference included 4 group presentation sessions, 14 individual presentations, 7 poster presentations, 6 workshops and training, and 33 student projects from 5 economies.  The event includes 47 exhibition booths. In addition, the Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), as the co-organizer together with NSTDA, organized the exhibition to publicize its mission of creating awareness of the broadcasting and telecommunications business, developing innovations and providing services that promote accessibility through the use of assistive technology.  There will also be lectures and discussions on the topics of Digital Inclusion: Digital ID and Who Benefits from Digital Assistive Technology? This event was attended by 300 people from 10 economies; China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, United Kingdom, Australia and Thailand.

     On this occasion, Mr. Simon Wong, Chairman of CREATeAsia, presented the summary of i-CREATe 2022 which was held in Hong Kong. in August 2022.  Even though it is a hybrid event due to the COVID-19 outbreak but both foreign and local representatives came to present their work online. There was also an international student innovation competition, “Global Student Innovation Challenge,” which showcased the cutting-edge ideas of students.  In addition, there was a new generation of researchers who have come to present their research in person.

     Professor Dr. Pairash Thajchayapong, Chairman of the i-CREATe 2023 Organizing Committee, presented the winners of the gSIC 2023.  There were three awards each for the Design and Technology field, altogether six (6) awards.

     Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously delivered an opening remarks and listened to the keynote presentation by a clinical professor, Dr. Niwet Nanthajit, Director and Secretary-General of the Prosthetics Foundation In Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra Boromarajonani, on the topic of “Prosthetic Innovations of the Prostheses Foundation of H.R.H. The Princess Mother: innovations from the past, present, and future”.

credit : https://www.nstda.or.th/home/news_post/pr-nstda-i-create-2023/