National Research Council of Thailand and Research Council of Finland Discuss Approaches to Strengthen Thailand–Finland Research and Innovation Collaboration
6 October 2025
On 6 October 2025, the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, assigned Ms. Sirinporn Deawtrakool, Deputy Executive Director of NRCT, together with Ms. Kwansiri Chonyuth, Director of the Group of International Affairs, academic advisory committee, and NRCT officials, to meet and hold discussions with Professor Paula Eerola, President of the Research Council of Finland (RCF), and Ms. Ulla Ellmén, Science Adviser. The meeting took place at the Kyoto International Conference Center, Kyoto, Japan, during the STS forum 2025 – The 22nd Annual Meeting, held from 5–7 October 2025.
Ms. Sirinporn Deawtrakool, Deputy Executive Director of the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), shared that as Thailand’s main research and innovation funding agency under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, NRCT is committed to supporting research that delivers tangible benefits to society and the environment in a sustainable way.
In terms of international collaboration, NRCT actively promotes and supports Thai researchers through both bilateral and multilateral joint research programs with partners in Europe and Asia, including Germany, China, Japan, Korea, and India. Ongoing initiatives include programs such as IRN, e-Asia JRP, and JFS. Cooperation generally focuses on three main areas:
- Joint research funding
- Researcher exchange
- Academic seminars and capacity-building activities
Priority fields of collaboration are determined jointly by the partner countries.
Professor Paula Eerola, President of the Research Council of Finland (RCF), explained that RCF is Finland’s national research funding agency, supporting research across three main domains:
- Health and Environment
- Natural Sciences and Engineering
- Social Sciences and Humanities
RCF also invests in large-scale research infrastructure and interdisciplinary centers of excellence, particularly in climate and environmental research. In addition, the Council places strong emphasis on large research programs that integrate the development of early-career researchers as part of their core activities.
The discussion between NRCT and the Research Council of Finland marked another important step in laying the foundation for research and innovation collaboration between Thailand and Finland. The partnership aims to promote knowledge exchange, strengthen researcher development at all career stages, and advance research that supports sustainable development in both countries in the future.
