On 2 September 2026, Ms. Pennapa Kanchana, Inspector General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), welcomed members of the State Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), together with representatives of the Royal Thai Embassy in Berlin, the German Embassy in Thailand, and German organizations, for a courtesy visit and discussion at the Office of the Permanent Secretary, MHESI.
The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange information and perspectives on Thailand’s higher education, science, research and innovation policy, as well as the country’s artificial intelligence (AI) landscape. It also served as a platform for both sides to share experiences and explore potential areas for future cooperation. Representatives from NXPO, the Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI), and the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC) participated in the meeting to provide information and present Thailand’s ongoing initiatives.
NXPO was represented by Assoc. Prof. Wongkot Wongsapai, Vice President; Dr. Chalothorn Boonlua, Senior Director of the Creative Economy and Industry Policy Division; Dr. Pranpreya Sriwannawit Lundberg, Senior Director of the International Policy Partnership Division; and Mr. Phira Chaochaloemphong, Policy Specialist. The delegation presented an overview of Thailand’s higher education, science, research and innovation ecosystem and NXPO’s role as a policy agency and mechanism for connecting and driving collaboration across higher education, research, workforce development, technology, innovation, and industry to generate economic and social impact.
A key issue highlighted by NXPO was the development of a highly skilled workforce to support Thailand’s target industries and technological transformation, particularly in response to the growing demand for digital and AI talent. Thailand needs to accelerate the development of advanced capabilities in areas such as AI and machine learning, data science and data engineering, AI engineering and MLOps, as well as the application of AI in industry, to meet emerging workforce needs.
NXPO also presented STEMPlus, a national platform that connects industry workforce needs with skills and workforce development systems. The platform supports job matching, upskilling and reskilling, industry-academia co-creation, and training and experiential learning in industrial settings. These efforts aim to build a future-ready workforce equipped with the skills required to respond effectively to economic and technological transformation.
In addition, NXPO highlighted directions and opportunities for expanding Thailand–Germany cooperation in strategic areas, including AI and robotics, semiconductors and photonics, green technologies, and quantum technologies. Such cooperation could be complemented by joint research, infrastructure development, personnel and researcher exchanges, advanced workforce development, and the establishment of collaborative networks linking research institutions, universities, and industries in both countries.
On the German side, Ms. Franziska Müller-Rech, a member of the State Parliament of NRW from the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and Chair of the State Parliament’s Committee on “Artificial Intelligence – For a Smart State in a Digitalized Society,” presented NRW’s approach to developing an AI ecosystem. The approach emphasizes building an interconnected system that brings together the strengths of universities, research institutions, computing infrastructure, technology transfer, and industry, rather than focusing solely on the development of a single AI center. Universities and key institutions, supported by collaborative networks, serve as important drivers of this ecosystem.
The German delegation also shared its experience in establishing transfer networks that connect knowledge and technologies from universities and research institutions with users and businesses through regional hubs. Each hub plays a distinct role based on the strengths of its respective region, covering areas such as smart industry, cybersecurity, digital health, GreenTech, EnergyTech, and the connection of startups with businesses and investors.
The discussions highlighted the complementary strengths of Thailand and Germany in advancing technological development. Thailand is strengthening its higher education, science, research and innovation system, developing a highly skilled workforce, and promoting the application of advanced technologies to support future industries. Germany, particularly NRW, brings extensive experience in connecting universities, research institutions, AI infrastructure, and industry through integrated innovation ecosystems. The exchange marked another important step toward strengthening mutual understanding and identifying opportunities to move from policy dialogue toward more concrete forms of cooperation. Potential areas include AI research and technology development, workforce development and researcher exchanges, stronger university-industry linkages, and mechanisms for translating knowledge and technologies into economic and social impact.
