"Prof. Chen" leads a coalition of six ministries to transform NSTDA's role into the "National Research Engine," accelerating innovations in medicine, agriculture, and energy, while showcasing "Traffy Fondue," a research achievement from NECTEC successfully implemented in Bangkok.
On 15 May 2026 GMT+7, Prof. Yossanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), led the Cabinet and representatives from six ministries and key agencies to visit research works and technology platforms of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA). This event aimed to encourage government agencies to "shop for research" by selecting innovations that meet their missions, promoting a work model of "Synergistic Government" or an integrated government working seamlessly together driven by science as the foundation.
Prof. Yossanan presented his vision under the theme "Uniting Science and Technology through Integrated Research to Support National Strategy Towards Sustainability" He emphasized the key goal to transform NSTDA into the "National Research Engine," serving as the main mechanism to solve real problems from the government and industry sectors, replacing isolated research efforts. The focus is on three target industries (New Economic Engines) of Thailand, namely
Medicine – establishing a Medical AI Center and applying reverse engineering to produce high-value medical devices domestically, reducing imports and enhancing healthcare security.
Agriculture – accelerating research on drought-resistant plant varieties and smart greenhouses to address climate crisis and increase farmers' income.
Green Energy – developing efficient comprehensive battery technologies and solar panel recycling systems for environmental sustainability.
Research support tailored for each ministry
To implement policy into practice, Prof. Dr. Yossanan stated that researchers will be directly assigned to support each ministry to fully understand real issues and challenges. This will begin with pilot projects (Sandbox) before nationwide expansion using government budget. This mechanism aims to help Thai innovations create new economic value, reduce public spending burdens, and lessen social inequality through equitable technology access.
Promoting "Traffy Fondue"
Prof. Yossanan also highlighted the success of the "Traffy Fondue" platform, developed by researchers at the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC) under NSTDA. He described it as a prototype for successfully applying research nationally, starting from highly effective urban management collaboration with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), enabling swift and transparent resolution of citizens’ issues.
Currently, the platform "Traffy Fondue" has expanded widely within government agencies. Recently, the Ministry of Education adopted it as the main channel for reporting and managing issues across schools nationwide, aiming to create safe environments and reduce bullying in educational institutions. This demonstrates that when science gains cooperation through a Synergistic Government administrative mechanism, it can generate positive impact and directly solve societal problems.
Research visit and expansion in six main areas
During the research tour, the Cabinet delved into innovations in "Integrated Research to Support Ministry Missions" ready to scale in six key fields, such as
Agriculture – showcasing the potential of “Suvarnabhumi 1 (Hom Siam 2)” rice, ChelaPlant-Nano chelated fertilizer innovation, and biocontrol pest management technologies to reduce chemical usage.
Education – presenting the LEAD Education platform for personalized learning and KidBright to foster digital and AI literacy among youth.
Labor and Energy – preparing skilled labor through EV charging and solar rooftop curricula, alongside comprehensive Battery Value Chain research.
Society and Elderly Care – innovations for quality of life such as Rachel body-supporting suits and the MIKE-The Guardian AI system for fall monitoring.
Public Health: Registered innovations including dental implants, M-Bone bone substitute materials, and the AL-Strip health screening kit.