Bangkok: The National Science and Technology Development Agency has announced the results of the 'Dream Train' contest, highlighting the innovative ideas presented by Thai youth to enhance the national railway industry.
According to Thai News Agency, the Railway Technology Research and Development Institute (RTI) organized the competition to engage young minds and awarded scholarships totaling 420,000 baht to encourage further development in the field.
On January 13, 2024, at S Ratchada Hotel, Dr. Chulatep Khajornchaikul, Director of RTI, declared the contest as a pivotal activity under the 'Think Big, Go to the End of the Track' project. This initiative aims to foster knowledge about the railway system and offer Thai youth an opportunity to contribute to the sector, aligning with RTI's core mission.
The contest, which commenced on October 24, 2024, attracted 433 teams from across the nation. Participants were divided into two age groups: 16-18 and 18-22. The selection committee identified 10 teams for the final round based on creativity, practicality, and communication skills. A 'Song Rang' activity prepared these teams for their final presentations on January 13, 2025, where winners were announced and scholarships distributed.
Dr. Chulatep expressed his satisfaction with the high quality of submissions, emphasizing the potential of Thai youth in rail system innovation. He noted that the participants' enthusiasm is a promising start for developing skilled personnel for the rail industry, aiming to reduce Thailand's dependency on imported trains, thereby saving significant national expenditure.
The winning team in the 16-18 age group was Ben2 from Benchamaracharangsarit 2 School, with their IN-TRAIN ROBOT project. Ruby on Rails from Horwang School secured second place with their ROOTS ON RAILS project. In the 18-22 age group, Team Tak Poon Rang from Srinakharinwirot University won with their Food Truck Food Train project, while Team p:Hep from Kasetsart University and King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang came second with their PHEP PROTOTYPE1 project.
Dr. Chulatep concluded by expressing gratitude to all participants and emphasized the importance of nurturing these innovative ideas to advance Thailand's rail system, hoping it will inspire future contributions to the industry.