Thailand has launched the Thailand RISE Fund, a rebranded national research funding initiative designed to accelerate the transition from academic research to real-world economic and social impact. The initiative was highlighted at the Thailand RISE Fund Forum: RISE UP THAILAND, hosted in collaboration with Chulalongkorn University, bringing together policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and innovation stakeholders to explore how Thailand can strengthen its position in the global innovation economy.
Professor Dr Wilert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University, emphasized the importance of translating knowledge into national progress. He stated that a country advances not simply because it produces knowledge, but because it can transform knowledge into a coordinated system that connects policy, research, innovation, and industry. He added that universities must play a strategic role in national development, moving research beyond the laboratory and into real-world applications that deliver measurable economic and social benefits while strengthening Thailand's long-term competitiveness.
National research leaders stressed that Thailand's science and innovation system must operate with clearer direction and stronger coordination. Professor Dr Sompong Klaynongsruang, President of Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI), said collaboration across sectors is essential. She noted that cooperation among universities, government agencies, and the private sector will be key to achieving long-term impact, creating meaningful national transformation rather than just generating knowledge.
The transition to the Thailand RISE Fund represents a strategic shift in how Thailand supports research and innovation. Asst Professor Dr Ake Pattaratanakun, Chairman of Thailand RISE Fund Strategic Communications Subcommittee, explained that the key challenge today is not research quantity but how research creates economic and social value. The Thailand RISE Fund is designed to bridge the gap between research and industry, serving as a systemic intermediary linking research to real economic needs and focusing on proof of impact rather than publication numbers.
The Thailand RISE Fund operates under a strategic framework built on four pillars: Research, Innovation, Science Excellence, and Ecosystem. The ecosystem pillar emphasizes partnerships among universities, businesses, government agencies, and communities to support a comprehensive innovation economy. The initiative is also expanding engagement across Thailand through regional forums and outreach activities designed to help researchers and entrepreneurs develop collaborative projects aligned with local economic strengths, reflecting a shift from centralized funding toward a more inclusive and distributed innovation ecosystem.
Dr. Ake stated that the vision is to move Thai research from 'research for journals' to 'research for the nation.' By focusing on measurable impact and long-term value creation, the initiative seeks to strengthen Thailand's competitiveness while supporting sustainable economic and social development. Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI), founded to ensure effective application of strategic policies and plans for science, research, and innovation, provides more information at https://tsri.or.th/.
