What makes a country truly flourish? Some might credit its political leaders, while others may point to the working class – the foundation of every nation’s progress. Yet, it is the collective effort of every citizen, supporting one another in times of need, that sustains a society.
Motivated by personal experience caring for his ageing grandparents, Mr Parama Linpiyawan sought to address common challenges faced by Thailand’s elderly population, particularly those without access to advanced medical or assistive resources. His compassion and curiosity led him to develop a series of innovative, low-cost solutions aimed at improving the quality of life for seniors.
The first of these, NoSore, is a low-cost mattress topper designed to prevent bedsores – also known as pressure ulcers – through a system that monitors pressure applied over time and wirelessly alerts a caregiver when the user is at risk. The invention went on to win the Gold Award at the World Invention Creativity Olympic (WICO) 2025.
His second project, SmartPlast, emerged from an observation of the large volumes of plastic waste discarded from clinics and hospitals without being recycled. Experimenting with non-biohazardous medical plastics, Mr Parama created a recyclable toilet chair for the elderly made from discarded materials collected from local clinics. The initiative later expanded to include chairs, tables, and other products using additional plastic sources such as bottle caps. SmartPlast received recognition from both the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Environment Department and the Department of Older Persons (DOP) for its environmental and social impact.
The third innovation, FallAware, is a belt-style wearable device that detects when an elderly person falls and automatically alerts caregivers via a web application. This project also received recognition from the Department of Older Persons (DOP) for its contribution to elderly care and safety.
With Thailand’s ageing population continuing to grow, Mr Parama hopes to inspire others to contribute – whether through innovative projects or small acts of kindness – to improve the well-being of seniors in their communities.
He credits his achievements to perseverance, experimentation, and a genuine desire to make a difference. His message to young innovators is simple: commit to your ideas, embrace trial and error, and never lose sight of the impact your creativity can have on others.