Background and Rationale
Government-funded research and innovation has rarely been applied, and while the laws dictate that the government own research and innovation, they lack the expertise and the responsibility to utilise them. For these reasons, ownership of research and innovation was proposed to be transferred to the fund recipients or the researchers for ‘motivation’. Comparable to the Bayh-Dole Act in the U.S., the Act was announced in the government gazette on 8 February 2021 and became effective on 7 May 2022.
Thailand Research and Innovation Utilisation Promotion Act or TRIUP Act
Thailand Research and Innovation Utilisation Promotion Act or TRIUP Act, 2021
Announced in the Government Gazette, 8 November 2021, effective on 7 May 2022.
It should be noted that for research and innovation of which fund contracts took place before the Act,
Ownership and benefit sharing remain as specified in the contracts.
Fund contracts which take place after the Act,
Ownership and benefit sharing of research and innovation from research funds under the Act are to be as determined by the law.
Subordinate legislations and related proclamations (14 volumes) and
Advancement of Legislation Related to the Promotion of Research and Innovation Utilisation
How Each Section Benefit From the TRIUP Act
Private Sector
- Private organisations that conduct their own research can request ownership of the research funded by the public sector.
- Startup/spinoff companies can raise funds more easily since they are the owners of research and innovation.
- Streamline the negotiation process for research and innovation permits with the research owner (since no funders are involved).
Research Institutions, Universities and Researchers
- Research institutions, universities, and researchers can be the owners of research and innovation.
- Research institutions, universities, and researchers are able to benefit from the applications of research and innovation.
- Streamline the negotiation process with the private sector and increase the rate of research application.
The Public, Farmers, and Small and Micro Community Enterprises (SMCEs)
- The public, farmers, and small and micro community enterprises are able to access appropriate technology to improve production processes and services and increase income (due to the availability of budgets and supporting mechanisms).
The country
- Transform into an innovation-based economy to escape the middle-income trap
- Access innovations more readily and utilise them to advance the country
How each section must prepare for the TRIUP Act
Agencies who are research owners
- Must have an understanding of intellectual property concepts and the promotion of research utilisation
- Must have an understanding of the rights and responsibilities associated with ownership submission processes as well as research utilisation reports
If the research outcomes are not utilised within a 2-year period, the ownership rights will be reverted to the funding agencies
Agencies who want to utilise the research outcomes
- Must have an understanding of the principles and processes involved in negotiation to exercise the rights and understand intellectual property concepts
- Monitor the government’s support measures
Agencies who provide funds and allocate research budget
- Prepare personnel and intellectual property management system, and monitor the research utilisation
- Implement processes or mechanisms for promoting/supporting and monitoring fund recipient agencies to ensure their capacity to drive research utilisation with maximum efficiency