The NXPO delegation, comprising Dr. Kommate Jitvanichphaibool, Assistant to the President of NXPO and Deputy Director of the APEC Center for Technology Foresight (APEC CTF), Dr. Natthamon Suwannaprom, and Ms. Jirapan Christian Linares, Policy Developers at NXPO, participated in the APEC Third Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM3) and Related Meetings 2026, held from 17–28 August 2026 in Dalian, China.
On 19–20 August, the delegation participated in meetings and activities under the APEC Policy Partnership for Science, Technology and Innovation (PPSTI), sharing perspectives and contributing to discussions on the future direction of science, technology, and innovation (STI) cooperation among APEC member economies.
APEC SOM3 serves as an important platform for member economies to discuss strategic priorities and advance regional cooperation. Under the PPSTI framework, discussions covered operational procedures for upcoming initiatives, including the submission of concept notes and the development of project proposals designed to address shared regional challenges and advance common goals.
A key focus was the implementation of Mission-Oriented Innovation Policy (MOIP) through the development of a “Mission Map,” which seeks to align STI cooperation with APEC’s core objectives. The work is organized into three sub-groups:
• Sub-group A: Strengthen Science Capacity
• Sub-group B: Promote an Enabling Environment for STI
• Sub-group C: Enhance Regional S&T Connectivity
All three sub-groups play an important role in developing guidelines and projects aligned with MOIP objectives and PPSTI priorities.
During the discussions, Dr. Kommate shared his perspectives on the future direction of PPSTI, emphasizing the importance of establishing clear targets and monitoring outcomes for sub-missions under the MOIP framework. He highlighted the need to ensure that mission-level objectives are translated into measurable outcomes and tangible results.
The meeting also proposed further discussions among member economies through the MOIP working group to finalize conclusions and recommendations for consideration by PPSTI.
Dr. Natthamon and Ms. Jirapan participated in Sub-group A, contributing to discussions on APEC projects related to STI capacity building, including Tech for Good, InnoFuture of Smart Mobility, and the Open Innovation Workshop. These initiatives demonstrate how STI can be mobilized to advance regional missions and goals.
The discussions on MOIP underscored the importance of aligning STI with clearly defined, ambitious policy goals and fostering collaboration among multiple stakeholders. Such an approach can help the development of concrete projects that will generate tangible regional impact.
Ms. Jirapan also shared Thailand’s experience in using open innovation mechanisms to bridge the commercialization gap and address geographical disparities in access to innovation, highlighting the role of partnerships, funding mechanisms, and innovation intermediaries such as science parks.
Participation in APEC SOM3 and PPSTI meetings provided Thailand with an important opportunity to contribute to the development of APEC’s STI cooperation agenda while exchanging policy experiences with member economies. These engagements also support Thailand’s efforts to strengthen its innovation ecosystem.
In particular, the application of MOIP and open innovation offers important approaches for strengthening regional STI cooperation.
As an APEC mechanism supporting technology foresight and futures studies in STI, APEC CTF remains committed to facilitating the exchange of knowledge, experience, and policy perspectives among member economies. Through these efforts, APEC CTF contributes to the development of forward-looking strategies to help the region anticipate and respond to future challenges.
