Singapore: BIOTEC-NSTDA and Eco Scientific signed a licensing agreement for a portable dissolved oxygen test kit called '3 Minute DO Test Kit'. The deal was signed on NSTDA Investors' Day 2013, by Dr Kanyawim Kirtikara, executive director, BIOTEC, Thailand, and Ms Petcharin Ruamsuk, CEO, Eco Scientific, with Dr Thaweesak Koanantakool, president, NSTDA, Thailand, as a witness.

The kit was developed by Dr Srung Smanmoo, a scientist at Bioresources Technology Unit, BIOTEC. It can give accurate quantitative result of dissolved oxygen concentration in the water with a simple three-min procedure.

Dr Kirtikara said that, "This invention is a result of the collaboration between BIOTEC and Eco Scientific with an aim to develop high-quality portable dissolved oxygen test kit for commercialization in response to customer need."

Ms Ruamsuk added that, "There has not been portable dissolved oxygen test kit produced in Thailand yet. The kit invented by BIOTEC is of high quality, but less expensive as compared to imported ones."

Ms Ruamsuk said that, "Our company is proud to acquire this technology and make it available to Thai consumers. Production will commence next year, starting at 100-to-200 tests per month. Apart from domestic market, Eco Scientific is looking into an export market in the near future."