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 announcement was made at the Thailand RISE Fund Forum: RISE UP THAILAND, hosted in collaboration with Chulalongkorn University, bringing together policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to discuss strengthening Thailand's position in the global innovation economy.
Professor Dr. Wilert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University, emphasized that national advancement requires transforming knowledge into coordinated systems. "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 said. The goal is to move research beyond laboratories into applications delivering measurable economic and social benefits while strengthening Thailand's long-term competitiveness.
National research leaders stressed that Thailand's science and innovation system requires clearer direction and stronger coordination. Professor Dr. Sompong Klaynongsruang, President of Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI), stated that systematic development from strategic policy to practical application is essential. "When all sectors move forward together, research will not only generate knowledge but also create meaningful national transformation," she noted, highlighting cooperation among universities, government agencies, and the private sector as key to long-term impact.
Asst Professor Dr. Ake Pattaratanakun, Chairman of the Thailand RISE Fund Strategic Communications Subcommittee, explained that the initiative represents a strategic shift in national priorities. "Thailand has significantly increased its research output over the past decade, but the key challenge today is not quantity. It is how research creates economic and social value," he said. The fund is designed to bridge the gap between research and industry, serving as a systemic intermediary 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 expanding engagement nationwide through regional forums and outreach activities to ensure broader participation in the innovation system, shifting from centralized funding toward a more inclusive and distributed ecosystem.
Dr. Ake articulated the fund's vision as moving 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. The fund represents Thailand's commitment to transforming research into a driver of national progress, with implications for regional economic development and global innovation positioning. For more information about the coordinating agency, visit https://tsri.or.th/.
