Thailand's Research and Development Index

The Survey and Analysis Report on Thailand’s Research and Experimental Development Expenditure and Personnel 2024 - 2025 

The National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) continuously conducts an annual national survey of Research and Experimental Development (R&D) expenditure and personnel by following international standard Frascati Manguidelines of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In addition, the NRCT has been entrusted with an important mission complying the Administration Act of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation B.E. 2562 (2019) (SRI dicators formulation)

The Survey and Analysis Report on Research and Experimental Development (R&D) Expenditure and on Personnel is divided into 2 groups consist of:

The 1st group of the report (Data analysis) is divided into 4 parts :

(1) Survey Results on Thailand’s R&D Expenditure and Personnel, 2023

(2) Trends in Thailand’s R&D Expenditure and Personnel, 2015-2025

(3) Comparative Study of R&D Expenditure and Personnel in Thailand and Foreign Countries under the Framework of IMD World Competitiveness Ranking

(4) Article (Tom Yum Kung Crisis (1997)/Covid-19 Crisis (2020) affected R&D Expenditure).

The 2nd group of the report (Statistical report from survey results) includes 

(1) Background and Objectives of the Survey on R&D Expenditure and Personnel 

(2) Scope of the Survey 

(3) Data Collection Methodology 

(4) Population and Sample 

(5) Data from Survey Results Report 

(6) IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 

(7) Definitions of Terms.

For data analysis of the report can be summarized as following:

1. The Survey Results on Thailand’s R&D Expenditure and Personnel, 2023

According to the 2023 survey results, it is founded that Thailand’s total R&D expenditure amounted to 168,106 million Baht, representing a 16.5% decrease from 2022. The ratio of Gross Domestic Expenditure on R&D to Gross Domestic Product (GERD/GDP) stood at 0.94%. The primary cause of the decrease was the reduction of R&D expenditure in business enterprise, which was the largest spender, accounting for 67% of the total R&D expenditure.

Whereas the decrease of R&D expenditure in business enterprise primarily resulted from a reduction of expenditure in the manufacturing industry and the wholesale-retail industry.    The manufacturing industry held the largest proportion of expenditure. The key reason stemmed from the economic affectation by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially export industry. Many companies had to adjust for cutting costs, including shifting the policy for R&D operations to their parent companies. Additionally, some firms had already finalized their R&D investments in the previous year. Conversely, the expenditure in service industry increased, driven by research operations in software systems to improve and develop services, and collaboration with affiliated companies.

Referring to the analysis, the increase of R&D expenditure in other sectors was driven by key supporting factors, namely R&D personnel and Gross Domestic Product (GDP), both are influential variables for R&D investment levels. The number of R&D personnel in other sectors decrease slightly, attributed to researchers over 80 years old retiring, GDP continued to expand leading to an increase in the total R&D expenditure. Furthermore, there was a trend in R&D operations aligning more closely with the national development direction.

Regarding R&D personnel, the total number of Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) R&D personnel in 2023 was 150,081 person-year, showing a 9.11% decrease. The ratio of FTE R&D personnel per 10,000 population was 23 person-year. The overall impact of this reduction in R&D personnel was not much, possibly due to a continuous replacement of retiring researchers by new researchers.

2. Trends in Thailand’s R&D Expenditure and Personnel, 2015-2025

In 2015-2020, Thailand’s R&D expenditure showed a continuous upward trend. During 2020-2023, the expenditure trended downwards, particularly in 2023. This decline was primarily driven by a reduction of R&D expenditure in business enterprise, while the expenditure in government sector slightly increased, causing the decrease of overall R&D expenditure. the major cause came from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted the economy and triggered a decline of R&D spending in business expenditure. However, R&D Expenditure was to grow at 199,059million bath 18.41%increase in 2024. According to the prediction 2025, R&D expenditure was expected to grow at 205,264 million Baht, 3.12% increase in 2025. The significant supporting factors, which impacted an increase, were the growth of R&D personnel and GDP.

The number of R&D personnel in 2015-2020 showed continuous growth but decrease in 2020-2023. During 2023-2024, R&D personnel (headcount) grew at 2.98% According to predictionof 2025, the numberof R&D personnel (headcount) decrease 2.29 % (222,001 persons). The in-depth analysis revealed that approximately 87% of researchers were aged between 25 and 54, while 11% were aged 55 and above. Therefore, the decrease of less than 1% in 2025 was attributed to the retirement of researchers aged 80 and above.

3. Comparative Study of R&D Expenditure and Personnel in Thailand and Foreign Countries under the Framework of IMD World Competitiveness Ranking

It happened that in 2023, Thailand recorded the highest R&D expenditure in the ASEAN region at the same stage of economic development. However, when compared R&D per GDP and R&D per capita, Thailand’s was still lower than Malaysia’s but significantly higher than other countries. When compared to countries at the higher stage of economic development, Thailand’s expenditure was several times lower. For instance, it was 24 times lower than Japan’s, and R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP was approximately 5 times lower than South Korea’s.

Also, the number of FTE R&D personnel in Thailand was higher than ASEAN countries when considering the stage of economic development. However, when compared with countries at the higher stage of economic development, R&D personnel in Thailand was several times lower, for instance, FTE personnel was approximately 6 times lower than in Japan, and the personnel per capita ratio was about 6 times lower than Taiwan.

4. Tom Yum Kung Crisis ( 1997) / Covid-1 9 Crisis ( 2020) affected R&D Expenditure article

This study focuses on analyzing R&D expenditure as an input indicator for innovation, an important key for increasing manufacturing productivity and enhancing national competitiveness. Research and innovation expenditure in business enterprise experienced exponential growth, from 7% of total R&D expenditure in 1999 to 35% in 2001. This growth occurred because the country adopted the framework of OECD's FRASCATI MANUAL 2002 as a guideline for data collection and analysis.

In 1999-2020, R&D expenditure in business enterprise grew rapidly, particularly in 2015-2019, its ratio outpaced the government sector approximately 68%–80%. A downward trend emerged in 2020-2023. the major cause was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, considering backward in 1997, Thailand encountered Tom Yum Kung crisis, overall research and innovation expenditure actually increased, especially in the business enterprise, while the majority of spending ratio was still in the government sector.

Furthermore, the study indicated that the scale of activities and total revenue influenced R&D investment in business enterprise. Government measures were not impact on R&D investment. This point required further in-depth study.

Summary : Thailand’s R&D Expenditure and Personnel, 2023

Note: Secondary data for R&D indicators calculation came from

1. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 2023: 17,954,667 million Baht; Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC).

2. Total Population of Thailand, 2023: 66,052,615 persons (as of December 2023); Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior.