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 Dr. Birasak Varasundharosoth was born in Bangkok on September 15, 1948. Afterreceiving his first degree from University of New South Wales in Australia, he earned his Ph. D. in Electrical Engineering, in 1979, from University of Canterbury, New Zealand.
In 1975, he joined the King Mongkut's Institute of Technology-Ladkrabang (KMITL) where he received his Associate Professorship and worked there until 1990. In addition to teaching basic and advanced electrical engineering subjects, and conducting numerous research projects, he served the university in various administrative positions, such as, Chair of the Electrical Engineering Department, Director and Founder of Engineering Service and Development Center, Associate Dean of Engineering, Acting Dean of Graduate School, and Dean of Engineering School. While at the university, he was the first person in Thailand who pointed out that the shortage of manpower in science and technology has been one of the most critical problems hampering the development of the country.
In 1983, the Royal Research Award was presented to him for his excellent work in composite rocket propellant project. In 1985, his R&D work in automatic voltage regulators won him the Best Research Award from the Industrial Finance Corporation of Thailand for outstanding contribution to the effort to improve the quality of Thai industrial products. Also in 1985, he won an Honorary Invention Prize from the National Research Council of Thailand for his automatic battery charger project. In 1990, he received an Honorary Prize from Toshiba's Thailand 20th anniversary Innovation Program for inventing a magnetic crack detecting unit.
Dr. Birasak established an RD&E (research, development and engineering) company to commercialize on his past R&D success. Founded in 1985, Bira Brothers Company Limited manufactures automatic voltage regulators, battery chargers and other electrical products that have been used in power substation, military and telecommunication sites nationwide. These products have registered a long track record of success in all areas of applications.
Afterwards, Dr. Birasak dedicated himself to the industrial sector by joining the Thai pure Drink Company Limited (TPD), a major Coca-Cola bottler in Thailand in 1990. At the TPD his career progressed rapibly and steadily as an advisor, Rungsit Plant Director, Vice President (Technical), and finally Executive Vice President. In 1997, the Rungsit Mega Plant became the first Coca-Cola plant in the world to be ISO 14001 certified, and won the Prime Minister's Award for being Thailand's best plant in protecting the environment. One year later, it received the Prime Minister's Award for the best productivity improvement.
Dr. Birasak resigned from TPD to run in the first Senatorial election in Thailand in 1999. During the campaign, he was also attached to Mahanakorn University of Technology, a leading private technical university in Thailand, as a Vice President.
Shortly after the election in 2000, Dr. Birasak has been appointed the Governor of Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR), one of the major and oldest research centers in Thailand. Under his direction and leadership, apart from regular R&D activities, he has initiated several projects to promote S&T awareness and knowledge to the public.
Dr. Birasak has served as a consultant or board member for numerous committees, organizations and agencies. Examples of these are the Committee on electrical and electronics vocabulary; Advisor to the Royal Thai Army from 1982-1990; the Guided Missile Committee under the National Research Council of Thailand from 1982-1985; the Electrical Engineering Steering Committee under the Engineering Institute of Thailand from 1986-1989; the Founding Committee for Suranaree Technical University from 1988-1991; President of Thai Australian Technology Center Association from 1993-1995; the Committee for Planning New State Universities in Thailand from 1994-1995; Board of Directors of the Mass Communications of Thailand from 1995-1996; Chairman since 1999, and Vice Chairman from 1997-1999 of Technology Committee, Federation of Thai Industry; Advisor to the Office of National Education Commission in 1999; Honorary advisor to Thailand Textil Institute since 1999; and Advisor to the Minister of University Affairs since early 2001.
Locally, Dr. Birasak has been recognized and interviewed by numerous media on S&T subjects. He is named "Mr. Benchmarking of Thailand" He has organized and edited a large number of S&T articles and books. He has published more than 200 publications on S&T and business subjects, including 4 books.
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