On 20 May 2025, Dr. Surachai Sathitkunarat, President of NXPO, delivered a keynote lecture at TNChE Asia 2025, held under the theme “Embracing Uncertainty: Unleashing Value in the Evolving Industrial Landscape.” The event was organized by the Thai Institute of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry in partnership with key organizations.
In his lecture, titled “Global Climate Technology and Technology Transfer Mechanism,” Dr. Surachai emphasized that in today’s world — defined by economic, environmental, and geopolitical uncertainty alongside the accelerating impacts of climate change — climate technology has emerged as a high-potential sector for generating value and driving green growth. He noted that climate change is increasingly shaping global policy and regulatory frameworks, with direct implications for international trade.
The climate technology market is witnessing rapid expansion, projected to grow from USD 59.4 billion during 2013–2019 to USD 220.3 billion by 2035, with the United States and China leading the charge. Amid intensifying trade-related competition, climate technology has evolved beyond an environmental issue to become a matter of economic security. Key sectors and technologies attracting global attention include power generation, agriculture, hydrogen, smart grids, and carbon capture — essential enablers for achieving carbon neutrality and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Thailand, he noted, has been recognized for leveraging a national innovation system to drive its climate technology agenda through collaborations with domestic and international networks. NXPO, as Thailand’s National Designated Entity (NDE), has played a key role in linking international mechanisms to the national system. This includes initiatives such as Technology Needs Assessments (TNA), connecting financial resources like the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Global Environment Facility (GEF), providing policy recommendations, managing the Science, Research and Innovation Fund, and spearheading projects such as the Saraburi Sandbox and Net Zero Campus.
Dr. Surachai concluded by sharing his vision and experience in advancing Thailand’s climate technology initiatives on the global stage. He encouraged participants to explore new opportunities for collaboration, particularly at the intersection of policy, innovation, and higher education, to collectively accelerate the development and deployment of climate technologies.
