EduAsiaNews, Bangkok — Thailand has entered a new phase in its research and innovation strategy. The government has officially launched the Thailand RISE Fund, a national research funding initiative designed to accelerate the transformation of academic research into tangible impacts for the economy and society. The launch forum was held at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok.
The initiative was highlighted in a forum titled “RISE UP THAILAND,” organized in collaboration with Chulalongkorn University. The national forum brought together policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and innovation stakeholders to examine how Thailand can strengthen its position in the global innovation economy.
The Thailand RISE Fund operates under a strategic framework built on four pillars: research, innovation, scientific excellence, and ecosystem. The ecosystem pillar emphasizes partnerships among universities, businesses, government agencies, and communities to support a more comprehensive national innovation economy.
Professor Dr. Wilert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University, stressed that a nation’s progress cannot rely solely on the production of knowledge. “An advanced country is not only one that produces knowledge, but one that can transform that knowledge into a coordinated system connecting policy, research, innovation, and industry,” he said.
Professor Dr. Sompong Klaynongsruang, President of Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI), emphasized that cross-sector collaboration is key to creating long-term national impact. “When all sectors move forward together, research will not only generate knowledge but also drive meaningful national transformation,” he stated.
The overarching vision of the fund is clearly defined: to shift Thailand’s research orientation from “research for journals” to “research for the nation.” (**)
(Source: Chulalongkorn University, Chiang Mai University, Thammasat University)
