One of the key limitations of past efforts to promote science, research and innovation has been that many research and innovation outputs have not been translated into economic and societal value to the extent they could have been.
In the past, efforts to promote science, research and innovation were constrained by several structural challenges. The system lacked coherence, with responsibilities dispersed across multiple government bodies at ministerial, departmental and agency levels, resulting in fragmentation, duplication and weak alignment of policies and implementation. At the same time, research and innovation policies and funding were insufficiently connected to the needs of the manufacturing, commercial and service sectors, as well as other end users of research and innovation. As a result, many research and innovation outputs were not translated into the economic and societal value they had the potential to deliver.
The reform of Thailand’s science, research and innovation (SRI) system was therefore undertaken with a clear objective: to ensure that science, research and innovation are effectively translated into tangible benefits for national development, enabling the country’s development to be driven by knowledge generated through research and innovation.
This reform is underpinned by the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council Act B.E. 2562 (2019) and the Science, Research and Innovation Promotion Act B.E. 2562 (2019), which together provide the principal legislative framework for Thailand’s SRI system. The framework supports the application of science, research and innovation to strengthen the economy and society, enhance the nation’s competitiveness, and improve people’s quality of life across all dimensions through the practical application of knowledge and innovation.
Mechanism for Driving Thailand’s Science, Research and Innovation (SRI) System
Thailand’s science, research and innovation (SRI) system serves as a key mechanism for advancing national development through knowledge, research, technology and innovation. It operates under the Science, Research and Innovation Promotion Act B.E. 2562 (2019), which provides the framework for ensuring that investment in science, research and innovation is strategically directed, aligned with national priorities, and translated into outcomes that strengthen the economy, society, the environment and the quality of life of the Thai people.
The SRI system brings together organisations with complementary roles across the entire research and innovation ecosystem from policy formulation and strategic planning to budgeting, research funding, research implementation, and the translation of research outcomes into practical applications. This integrated governance mechanism helps ensure that public investment in research and innovation is well coordinated, minimises duplication, and delivers outcomes that support Thailand’s long-term development.
Roles and Responsibilities of TSRI
Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) serves as the central coordinating agency for Thailand’s science, research and innovation (SRI) system. It links policy, strategic planning, budgeting and performance across the SRI ecosystem to ensure that public investment in science, research and innovation is allocated efficiently, transparently and in alignment with the country’s development priorities.
TSRI’s key responsibilities include:
Develop the national science, research and innovation plan.
Administer the Thailand RISE Fund and allocate public funding for science, research and innovation.
Support and oversee the performance of organisations across the SRI system.
Evaluate the outcomes and impact of public investment in science, research and innovation.
Facilitate collaboration across the SRI ecosystem to promote the utilisation of research and innovation.
Governance Structure of Thailand’s Science, Research and Innovation (SRI) System
Thailand’s science, research and innovation (SRI) system is built on an integrated governance structure that connects policy, planning, funding, implementation and evaluation. By bringing together organisations with distinct but complementary responsibilities, the system ensures that investment in science, research and innovation is aligned with national priorities and translated into tangible economic, social and environmental benefits.