NRCT Partners with APN to Host the 27th IGM/SPG Meeting, Driving Regional Research Cooperation to Tackle Global Change
10 July 2026
July 9, 2026 — The National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), led by Dr. Wiparat De-ong, Executive Director of NRCT, along with Ms. Sirinporn Deotrakul, Deputy Director of NRCT, executives, and staff, attended the opening ceremony of the 27th Joint Intergovernmental Meeting and Scientific Planning Group Meeting (IGM/SPG Meeting) of the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN).
The meeting was co-hosted by NRCT at the Jubilee Prestige Hotel Ratchadapisek, Bangkok. Government representatives, scientists, policymakers and experts from more than 16 APN member countries participated in the meeting to exchange views and shape the direction of regional research cooperation.
On this occasion, Dr. Wiparat De-ong delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing the vital role of regional scientific and research collaboration in addressing increasingly complex and interconnected global challenges. These include climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, food and water security, and disaster risks. Addressing these issues requires scientific knowledge, research, and innovation as key mechanisms to support policy decisions and forge pathways for sustainable development. Over the past 30 years, APN has played a crucial role in connecting governments, scientific communities, researchers, and policymakers across the Asia-Pacific region by promoting joint research, developing scientific capacity, and sharing knowledge. This enables member countries to effectively utilize scientific data and evidence for policy formulation and coping with global changes.
Dr. Toshiyuki Yamasaki, Director of the APN Secretariat, stated that the 30th anniversary of APN marks a significant milestone for elevating cooperation among member countries amidst intensifying environmental and global change challenges. The active participation of Asia-Pacific nations will be a major driving force in building resilience and readiness to tackle shared challenges. This aligns with the direction of the draft Sixth Strategic Plan (2026–2030), which aims to strengthen APN's role in supporting global change research, advancing the region's scientific and research capabilities, and expanding concrete international cooperation among member states.
The Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) is an intergovernmental network of countries in the Asia-Pacific region, established in 1996 to support global change research and promote the integration of scientific knowledge into policymaking for sustainable development.
The 27th IGM/SPG Meeting is being held from July 9–10, 2026, under the theme “Empowering the Asia-Pacific for a Sustainable Future.” The meeting aims to shape the direction of research collaboration, capacity building, and the mobilization of scientific knowledge to support sustainable development, as well as to address the impacts of climate change in the region.
As a member organization and co-host of this meeting, NRCT places great importance on utilizing science, technology, and innovation as key drivers for national advancement and international cooperation. Particular emphasis is placed on developing research to support climate change adaptation, sustainable agriculture, water resource management, and disaster risk reduction. NRCT is committed to translating research-based knowledge into policy implementation to build a sustainable future for Thailand and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
