Yotsanan leads a Thai team to South Korea, attracting major companies to invest and develop Thailand into Asia's number one "Medical and Wellness Innovation Hub."
On 22 Jul 2026 in Seoul, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Mr. Yotsanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), along with Prof. Dr. Supachai Pathumnakul, Permanent Secretary of MHESI; Mr. Sukit Srichomkhwan, Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister for Political Affairs; Mr. Chatrin Janhom, Secretary to the MHESI Minister; and senior officials from related agencies, attended the "Thailand-Korea Business Forum: Biohealth, Medtech, Wellness, and Future Food" in Seoul to attract investment and build international innovation networks.
During this visit, Mr. Yotsanan delivered a keynote speech titled "Driving Thailand Towards Medical and Wellness Innovation Hub" before senior executives from leading South Korean companies in the Biohealth, MedTech, Wellness, and Future Food sectors, aiming to present perspectives and invite South Korean private sector investment to build the future of medical innovation in Thailand.
Mr. Yotsanan highlighted key strengths addressing investors' critical question, "Why Thailand?" He explained that Thailand and South Korea complement each other perfectly: "Our country is a global healthcare and wellness destination with rich biodiversity and a rapidly growing market, while Korea leads in Digital Health, boasts strong R&D, and maintains world-class production standards. Together, these strengths can drive the development of a leading Medical and Wellness Innovation Hub in Asia," said the Deputy Prime Minister.
To realize this vision, the Deputy Prime Minister and MHESI Minister proposed a cooperation model in four main areas: 1. Establishing a Korea-Thai Joint Incubator/Accelerator with the National Innovation Agency (NIA); 2. Opening opportunities to invest in Thai startups and joint ventures; 3. Conducting collaborative research (Co-research) with BOI incentives; and 4. Using Thailand as a base for technology localization to serve as a springboard into ASEAN markets.
The event was very well received, with many South Korean companies showing serious interest in investing in Thailand. Prof. Dr. Yotsanan took this opportunity to invite executives and investors to visit Thailand later this year for Business Matching activities with Thai entrepreneurs, as well as tours of Thailand's medical infrastructure and facilities, and direct meetings with startups, venture capital groups, and Thai research teams.
"The next step for Thai medical innovation holds tremendous potential. Let's build this ecosystem stronger together," he said. Mr. Yotsanan emphasized this message at the conclusion.