Macroeconomics/researches

Chatrudee Theparat

"Team Thailand" researchers join Nasa and World Bank to conduct researches

The National Commission on Science, Research and Innovation Promotion Fund supports a setting up "Team Thailand" to assist with research projects from beginning to commercialization.

Team Thailand also planned to develop human resources for targeted industries, and conducts Joint research projects with NASA and the World Bank.

Emeritus Professor Dr.Soottiporn Chittmittrapap chaired a meeting of National Commission on Science, Research and Innovation Promotion Fund (SRIP) to evaluate the progress of research projects, and to discuss setting up “Team Thailand” to support research projects from start to finish.

This team will help relevant funding agencies to see the overall objectives, such as electrical vehicles (EVs), rail system development. The team will also assess the return on investment, progress and continuity of projects, as well as private sector’s desire to co-invest.

The meeting approved the plan to increase efficiency of the logistics and rail system of Thailand to be modernized, internationally competitive, and connected to other networks to support innovation-driven economy in ASEAN.

A science, research, and innovation development plan (2023 - 2027) focuses on closing the gap in human resources and creating networks, and bringing in technological knowhow from abroad.

Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) will provide in-depth support for creating researchers and scientists as additional human resources are needed in the higher education. The engineering curriculums will need to be revised to better meet to the current needs, such as railway system engineer, physics for rail system, as well as other much needed fields.

The meeting also approved additional funding of 23.5 million baht for advanced technology and innovation for geoinformatics development, and future space industry to support the design and payload for experiments on liquid crystal at the International Space Station. This project is a collaboration between NASA and Kasetsart University.

SRIP requests for additional details, such as conditions of the intellectual property, and industrial application.

After the cabinet approved a 31.1 billion baht in fiscal 2024 budget for science, research, and innovation development, the meeting agreed that the budget for science, research, and innovation should be increased to 2 % to GDP by 2027. Current report showed 80% of the investment is made by private sector, while government accounts for 20%.

Moreover, SRIP acknowledges the collaboration agreement between TSRI and the World Bank on science, research, and innovation. This 5-year collaboration will focus on policy, implementation, as well as application of science, research, and innovation in the private sector, the broader needs, and the policy and measures that need to be taken by other agencies.