NRCT Meets with France’s ANR to Exchange Research Funding Approaches and Explore Future Thailand–France Research Cooperation
19 October 2026
The National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), represented by Dr. Sirinporn Deawtrakool, Deputy Executive Director of NRCT, together with Prof. Dr. Sanong Ekgasit, NRCT Academic ADvisory Committee; Ms. Kwansiri Chonyuth, Director of International Affairs; and the NRCT delegation, held a bilateral meeting with Dr. Claire Giry, President and CEO, and Dr. Thibault Cantat, Vice CEO for Science, of the French National Research Agency (ANR), France’s main research funding agency. The meeting took place during the STS forum 2026, held from 4 to 6 October 2026 in Kyoto, Japan, and provided an opportunity to exchange experiences on research funding systems and mechanisms while exploring potential research cooperation between Thailand and France.
During the meeting, Dr. Sirinporn presented NRCT’s role in managing research and innovation funding in Thailand, including mechanisms for promoting international research collaboration. Prof. Dr. Sanong and Ms. Kwansiri also exchanged views on the current landscape and potential areas for Thailand–France research cooperation, as well as possible approaches to collaboration between NRCT and ANR.
Dr. Claire Giry and Dr. Thibault Cantat outlined ANR’s funding mechanisms for supporting France’s research and innovation system. These mechanisms cover basic research, strategic and targeted research, early-career researcher development, and collaboration between research institutions and industry. Priority areas include energy and clean technology, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, and health sciences. ANR also shared its experience in developing research funding partnerships in Asia, including with Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan.
Both sides discussed aligning research priorities to identify areas with strong potential for collaboration and connecting researchers and research institutions in the two countries. Particular attention was given to experienced researchers with established international networks as a starting point for building partnerships and developing joint activities in research, researcher capacity development, knowledge exchange, and training.
The two sides also explored ways to strengthen links between academia and the private sector through joint research, shared laboratories, and research projects aligned with industry needs. These approaches could help translate research findings and knowledge into practical applications and generate broader impact.
The meeting marked an important step toward establishing connections between NRCT and ANR at the research funding agency level. Both sides recognized opportunities to move beyond exchanging information and experiences towards identifying shared research priorities, connecting research networks, and considering cooperation models suited to the funding mechanisms of both countries. This provides a basis for developing practical and sustained Thailand–France research cooperation.
