Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has launched 'MICE Winnovation', in order to enhance support for MICE entrepreneurs in Thai and carry out innovation in every aspect of event management. This program aims on continuing the business activity and strengthening Thailand's MICE industry. It also continues TCEB's previous MICE innovation incubation program 'Thailand's MICE Startup' from 2018.

On MICE Winovation's launching event, 29 tech firms featured their products and services including software for monitoring visitor traffic, face recognition cameras, robots, on-demand workforce, and live-streaming service. 126 trade visitors from convention venues, hotels, event organizers, travel agents, trade associations and education institutions observed these showcases. 101 business meetings proceeded onsite, while other 51 meetings underwent online.

TCEB extended funding in the form of Inno-Vouchers, used by exhibition/event organizers in Thailand and out of Thailand, to offset their investment in new digital solutions. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, the president of TCEB, said the MICE Winnovation project will help Thai entrepreneurs to take concrete steps to embrace digital innovation in the face of a fast-shifting business landscape. He continued that implementing innovation is one of the four pillars of TCEB's Operational Plan for 2021 to maintain Thailand's competitiveness. These four pillars are following:

• MICE Innovation Catalog – an online innovation and technology databank listing products and services for pre-event, onsite, and post-event management
• Technomart – a business-matching platform for MICE entrepreneurs and startups throughout Thailand
• Inno-Voucher – a funding scheme to promote innovation implementation
• Digital Literacy for MICE – an initiative to encourage MICE entrepreneurs to attend online or offline workshops where they can exchange ideas with experts to advance their digitalisation strategy. TCEB is set to launch a quarterly podcast in 2021 to help MICE professionals stay abreast of relevant technology and trends.

He then hoped that 'MICE Winnovation' will unlock the resources built up under its 'Thailand's MICE Startup' programme since 2018, and will continue to support our MICE entrepreneurs to future-proof their businesses through innovation, while creating trade opportunities for startups and tech firms.