SEA-EU-NET Logo

R&D Country Profile Thailand

The Thai government has included S&T in its five-year Economic and Social Development plans since the beginning of the 1980s. Thailand wishes to strengthen its S&T base and believes in the economic value of doing so. The government has given collaboration between public and private institutes and industries high priority. Thailand’s policy measures include support of the interaction between scientific institutions and the private sector, the establishment of intermediary institutions such as incubators, the provision of better S&T networks and services, and the transfer and diffusion of technology.

Thailand’s current R&D budget is 25 billion THB, which is equal to 0.25% of the GDP (the government contributes 60% and the private sector accounts for 40%) which is quite low compared to neighbouring countries i.e. Singapore and Malaysia. Thailand has, however, managed to double its gross expenditure on R&D as a percentage of its GDP from 1996 to 2007. In March 2010, Science Minister Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich said that she would like to see Thailand’s annual spending on R&D reach 100 billion THB, equal to 1% of the GDP target by the end of the 11th National Economic and Social Development plan in 2016. To achieve this target, the Ministry will continue to encourage the private sector to focus more on R&D investment as a way to develop Thai products and reduce operating costs arising from the need to import technology and innovative products from abroad.
 
ii) National Science Strategies
 
The ten-year Science and Technology Action Plan (2004-2013)focuses on the development of a national innovation system and industrial clusters. The main objective of the plan is to enhance Thailand’s capabilities in response to rapid changes in the age of globalisation and to strengthen the country’s long-term competitiveness under the vision that “the Thai economy will be strong, the Thai knowledge-based society will be able to compete internationally, the Thai nation will be secure, and Thai people will have a good quality of life.”
 
In driving toward the goals of the vision, five strategies for S&T development are emphasised: 
 
1.The strength of human resources in science, technology and innovation.
 
2.The awareness raising on science, technology and innovation among youth and public and the development of a science knowledge society in Thailand. 
 
3.The research and development of new innovations to enhance S&T competitiveness and the strength of national innovation system.
 
4.The technology transfer and knowledge sharing to increase productivity commercially and for social services.
 
5.The capacity building of basic infrastructure in science, research funding system as well as the development of science policies and S&T management to be effective and up-to-date.
 
A broad range of new incentives were introduced by the plan, such as the development of centres of excellence with international standards, the founding of science parks, and income tax deductions for R&D expenditures. The plan will also help Thailand cope with increased competition– especially from China.
 
iii) Leading research organisations
 
Thailand's National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) was established in 1991 and officially commenced operations in 1992. The creation of the Agency brought together three national technology centres: the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), the National Metal and Materials Technology Centre (MTEC) and the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (NECTEC). Since its establishment, NSTDA has been expanding and new centres have been established: the National Nanotechnology Centre (NANOTEC) in 2003 and the Technology Management Centre (TMC) in 2005.
NSTDA’s budget has doubled over the last 7 years from £30 million in 2003 to £62 million today (3.4 billion Baht). NSTDA currently employs 2,557 staff, of which over 68% are researchers (May 2009). NSTDA’s main mission is research and development to strengthen Thailand’s sustainable competitiveness, complemented with the technology transfer and development of human resources and infrastructure in science and technology with the outcomes that have impacts on the society and economy.
 
There are currently 24 public universities and institutions and 40 private universities and Institutions in Thailand. The top four ranked universities in Thailand are all state universities, namely Chulalongkorn, Thammasat, Mahidol, and Kasetsart in that order.
 
The Higher Education Commission (HEC), Ministry of Education launched the National Research Universities Project in 2009 to build capacity of universities in Thailand to be world-class universities, develop Thailand as a regional education hub and strengthen human resources in research and innovation to increase Thailand’s competitiveness at the international level.
 
The selected nine universities are:
  1. Chulalongkorn University (www.sc.chula.ac.th) 
  2. Thammasart University (www.tu.ac.th)
  3. Khon Kaen University (www.champa.kku.ac.th/sc/)
  4. Suranaree University of Technology (www.sut.ac.th) 
  5. Mahidol University (www.sc.mahidol.ac.th)
  6. Chiang Mai University (www.science.cmu.ac.th)
  7. King Mongkut Institute of Technology Thonburi (www.kmutt.ac.th)
  8. Prince of Songkla University (www.sc.psu.ac.th)
  9. Kasetsart University (www.sci.ku.ac.th)
 
The government is allocating the funding of 100-500 million THB to each university per year for three years to support this project. 

Please also refer to: seaeunet.pri-ristek.info/page.php