Thailand Talent Summit 2026 provided a platform connecting over 2,500 researchers with policymakers, funding bodies, and the private sector to advance research from laboratories into practical application, aiming to boost competitiveness, develop advanced technology industries, and drive a high-value economy.
On 23 September 2026, Professor Dr. Yoschanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, presided over the opening of the 3rd annual Thailand Talent Summit 2026 at the PEACH International Convention Center in Pattaya, Chonburi Province, with more than 2,500 science, research, and innovation professionals from across the country attending.
The event was organized by the Thailand RISE Fund and the Office of the Science, Research and Innovation Promotion Commission (OSRIPC) in collaboration with nationwide networks to connect researchers, experts, policymakers, fund management units, the private sector, and partners in order to bring knowledge and research out of the laboratory into real-world economic, social, and quality-of-life benefits.
The forum also offered opportunities for young researchers to exchange knowledge and experiences with senior researchers, as well as to connect with funding sources and the private sector to foster cross-disciplinary and cross-agency collaborations before advancing research outputs into innovations that address national needs.
Professor Dr. Yoschanan delivered a keynote titled “Developing People, National Power: Elevating Thailand through Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation,” stating that this year’s theme, “Fostering Thailand Future; Advancing Innovation and National Impact,” aligns with the ministry’s direction to ensure higher education, science, research, and innovation produce tangible national development results.
The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) has developed the MHESI Action Plan 2026–2030 under the concept BACKBONE, designating science, technology, and innovation as the backbone of national development across economic, social, environmental, security, and public administration sectors. The key goal is to build a high-value economy through science and technology, laying the foundation for Thailand to overcome the middle-income trap and become a high-income country.
The plan emphasizes attracting high-potential personnel worldwide, upgrading and reskilling Thai people, and promoting “AI for All” to expand access to artificial intelligence technology, alongside creating systems that connect academia, private sector, and other sectors to apply knowledge for national development.
Professor Emeritus Dr. Siriruk Songsivilai, Chair of the Science, Research and Innovation Promotion Commission (SRIPC), speaking on “Driving the Power of Thai Researchers as the Nation’s Strategic Advantage,” said the 2028–2032 science, research, and innovation plan aims to elevate the SRI system into a national development mechanism with clear strategic goals and priorities.
Investments under the plan will link strengthening foundational capacity, strategic research, and the application of research and innovation results to generate economic, social, environmental, and security benefits.
At the core of the plan are researchers, the foundation of Thailand’s SRI capability, requiring increases in both quantity and quality. It aims to open pathways for young researchers, support continuous career growth, and connect researcher expertise with national strategic challenges. Investing in researchers is thus an investment in long-term capacity and transforming Thai research talent into a national advantage.
Professor Dr. Sompong KlaiNongsuang, Director of OSRIPC, said Thailand Talent Summit 2026 aims beyond academic meetings to serve as a platform connecting human resources, funding, and knowledge within the SRI system nationwide to enhance competitiveness, develop advanced technology industries, support the creative economy, and cultivate high-quality personnel for economic, social, and quality-of-life development.
The conference featured four main forums: policy communication and collaboration from policymakers to researchers; presentations to inspire ideas; opportunities for young researchers to grow through support from fund management units (PMU); and knowledge sharing to broaden the benefits of SRI work to society.
Activities also included a Strategic Forum to address key national issues, Masterclasses to develop practical knowledge and skills, and a Quantum Future Forum to help define Thailand’s Quantum Technology White Paper, alongside research presentations in lectures and posters, SRI management networking events, creative activities, and exhibitions of research funded by SRI funds with partners nationwide.
The OSRIPC director noted that gathering over 2,500 researchers, academics, policymakers, private sector representatives, and SRI networks offers potential personnel a chance to connect, collaborate, and innovate together—from young and senior researchers to policymakers and private investors—to translate research into practical benefits and transformative impacts on people’s lives.
“Thailand does not lack talented people. What matters is providing them with opportunities, networks, resources, and space to grow, transforming Thai talent into the power of the system and the system’s power into the power of the country,” said Professor Dr. Sompong.
The Thailand Talent Summit is a national platform connecting personnel in science, research, and innovation—including researchers, experts, policymakers, fund management units, government, private sector, and partner networks—to exchange knowledge, develop capabilities, and foster cooperation to bring research into practical use.
The 3rd summit was held from 23–25 September 2026 at the PEACH International Convention Center in Pattaya, Chonburi Province, under collaboration among OSRIPC, the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the MHESI, the National Research Council of Thailand, fund management units, and partner networks within the SRI system to develop human resources and build a robust research and innovation ecosystem for Thailand.