On 12 December 2025, Mr. Surasak Phancharoenworakul, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), unveiled the MHESI New Year Gifts 2026 at a press conference. He was joined by Dr. Phechdau Tohmeena, MHESI Vice Minister; Ms. Pimporn Chewananth, Secretary to the MHESI Minister; Prof. Dr. Supachai Pathumnakul, MHESI Permanent Secretary; Ms. Varaporn Rungtrakarn, MHESI Deputy Permanent Secretary; and senior executives from agencies under MHESI. Also attending were Dr. Siriporn Pittayasophon, NXPO Vice President, along with directors of PMU-A, PMU-B and PMU-C.
The MHESI New Year Gifts 2026 comprise seven packages:
Package 1: Scholarships for Equal Opportunity and Future Workforce
MHESI will provide over 10,000 scholarships to expand educational opportunities, reduce inequality among children and youth, and ease the financial burden on families. These include scholarships for students with disabilities, youth in remote areas, and students in the three southern border provinces—totaling over 7,900 scholarships—as well as 2,800 scholarships for high-achieving students and specialized human capital development from undergraduate to doctoral levels. Additional scholarships will support urgently needed fields such as semiconductors and advanced electronics, artificial intelligence (AI), electric vehicles (EVs), and soft power sectors including food, tourism, and sports.
Package 2: MHESI Care for Communit Revitalization
Community Service Centers will be established in flood-affected areas across 55 provinces, covering 2,522 sub-districts and municipalities. Local universities will deliver upskill–reskill training, along with “Fix It” services for repairing homes, vehicles, agricultural machinery, electrical appliances, and electrical systems. Additional services will include mental and physical health rehabilitation. The initiative is expected to benefit more than 26,000 people.
Package 3: Upskill–Reskill for Career Development
Community colleges nationwide will offer academic services and upskill–reskill training programs. In addition, the MHESI Permanent Secretary’s Office, in collaboration with universities across the country, will provide training for the unemployed, workers, students, and the general public through more than 50 future-skills courses. NXPO, together with the Board of Investment (BOI), will develop STEM skills programs aligned with labor market demands and target industries. The Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP) will conduct training on nuclear and radiation safety; the Department of Science Service (DSS) will provide training on the use and maintenance of scientific equipment; and the National Institute of Metrology (Thailand) (NIMT) will offer training in industrial measurement and calibration management.
Package 4: Scientific Services for Entrepreneurs
The National Innovation Agency (NIA) will implement the “AI Co-Payment” program, subsidizing 50% of AI service fees developed by Thai innovators for up to one year. The Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT) will offer New Year promotions under the “Clean Herbs” campaign, with 50–70% discounts on irradiation services. DSS will waive the 1,000-THB laboratory accreditation application fee, while OAP will provide free calibration services for portable radiation measuring instruments for industry and the public. The National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) will also offer a free online Industry 4.0 Readiness Assessment.
Package 5: Science for All
The National Science Museum (NSM) will offer free admission to Futurium, along with a 50% discount on registration fees for Innovation World and Job World, from 31 December 2025 to 4 January 2026. The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) will provide free access to astronomy exhibitions at the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden in Chiang Mai, as well as observatories in Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, and Chachoengsao, from 31 December 2025 to 4 January 2026. Khon Kaen University will offer free admission to the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum on 3–4 January 2026. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) will distribute THEOS-2 satellite information postcards online and provide the THEOS-2 Earth Gallery book in digital format.
Package 6: Research & Development for Communities
The National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) will provide biochar kilns to 20 communities in Northern Thailand to help reduce PM2.5 pollution. The Program Management Unit for Competitiveness (PMU-C), in collaboration with partner networks, will install 5-kilowatt solar power systems free of charge in 50 communities. The Program Management Unit on Area-Based Development (PMU-A), together with 24 universities, will deliver 100 technologies and 85 pilot projects to 45 communities across 34 provinces.
Package 7: Public Service Points for the New year
Phitsanulok University will open public service points along Phitsanulok Road in Wang Thong District. Kanchanaburi Rajabhat University will establish service points along the Kanchanaburi–Lat Ya–Si Sawat tourism route. The Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR) will operate a public service point at the Lamtakhong Research Station. Chandrakasem Rajabhat University will provide free acupuncture services at its Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic and offer mental health counseling services for students and the general public, both online and on-site.
