Thailand Launches RISE Fund to Turn Research Into Jobs

Thailand is betting big on turning its research labs into economic powerhouses with a bold new approach to science funding.

The country's Science, Research, and Innovation Promotion Fund just rebranded as the Thailand RISE Fund, marking a fundamental shift in how the nation invests in discovery. Instead of measuring success by academic publications, Thailand now focuses on whether research creates jobs, launches businesses, and improves lives.

Over the past decade, Thailand's research output has grown nearly three times larger. Scientists are publishing more studies in international journals than ever before. But leaders noticed a critical gap between knowledge creation and practical impact.

Professor Dr Sompong Klaynongsruang, President of Thailand Science Research and Innovation, explained that the country needs systematic coordination from policy through practical application. Universities, private companies, and government agencies must work together to transform research into tangible national development.

The challenge was clear. Thai researchers and businesses rarely collaborated in structured ways. Brilliant discoveries stayed trapped in laboratories while companies struggled to innovate.

The Thailand RISE Fund tackles this problem by becoming what officials call a "systemic intermediary." It actively connects scientists with businesses looking for solutions, matches research projects with real economic needs, and measures success by proof of impact rather than publication counts.

The Ripple Effect

This shift reaches far beyond Bangkok's research centers. The RISE Fund is hosting forums across Thailand's northeastern, northern, central, and eastern regions, bringing funding opportunities directly to local researchers and entrepreneurs.

Regional scientists can now develop projects that address their specific communities' economic contexts. A researcher in northern Thailand might partner with local agricultural businesses, while eastern region innovators could collaborate with manufacturing companies.

Professor Dr Wilert Puriwat of Chulalongkorn University emphasized that national progress depends on transforming knowledge into systematic action. The university aims to develop high-quality talent and link research directly with policy challenges and measurable benefits.

The RISE framework covers four dimensions that spell out its name: Research, Innovation, Science Excellence, and Ecosystem. That final element particularly focuses on building comprehensive collaboration networks among universities, businesses, government agencies, and communities.

Thailand's leaders describe this evolution as moving from "research for journals" to "research for the nation." The goal is launching new businesses, developing breakthrough technologies, and building entire industries on Thai knowledge.

The fund held its third national forum at Chulalongkorn University, creating a platform where stakeholders could share ideas and forge partnerships. These gatherings help break down the traditional barriers between academia and commerce.

Thailand now positions itself to compete not just on research quantity but on turning scientific discoveries into economic engines that create sustainable, long-term development while improving quality of life nationwide.