Thailand announces research and innovation direction for 2025
The recent “Research X Innovation 2025” conference examined global trends and announced Thailand’s research and innovation direction for 2025.
The event was organized by the Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI), the Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO) and the World Bank.
Delegates at the “Research X Innovation 2025” conference. Photo courtesy of The Nation.
Xavier Cirera, senior economist at the WB, emphasized that for Thailand, evaluations of science, technology, and innovation (STI) policies will concentrate on three key areas - increasing the impact of innovation policies to accelerate Thailand’s transition to a high-income nation, maximizing the effectiveness of STI policies for both economic and societal benefits and developing STI policies to address the innovation gap and strengthen Thailand’s global competitiveness.
Prof. Siriruek Songsivilai, chairman of the TSRI, discussed the global trends and directions for Thai research and innovation in 2025, noting that significant challenges for Thailand's STI system had been faced in 2024.
According to Siriruek, the country’s strengths in several research fields include health and medical sciences and agriculture and noted that Thailand has made advancements in AI research, with successful developments in AI-assisted ultrasound technology.
In terms of international collaboration, Thailand’s involvement in lunar exploration with China shows promise, with future contributions, he said.
Progress was also made on satellite-based Earth surface exploration, such as the THEOS satellite. This year, the satellite began sending valuable images, particularly for disaster management, such as flood management efforts.
The partnership with the WB will lead to a detailed health check of Thailand’s STI system, helping to track the real status and identify key issues related to development, Siriruek said, adding that this will allow us to assess where we stand, understand our strengths and weaknesses, and pinpoint areas for future growth.
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