On 22 December 2025, NXPO convened a meeting on business incubator and the University Holding Company (UHC) mechanisms. The meeting provided a platform for exchanging perspectives on strategies to enhance university incubators and strengthen their linkages with, and support for, UHC operations.

The meeting was organized under the project “Development of Measures and Mechanisms to Increase the Number of New Early-Stage Innovation-Driven Enterprises through Incubator and UHC Programs.” Its objectives were to present findings on the current status and gaps of university incubators, gather insights from university administrators and practitioners, and collaboratively design policy recommendations that can be applied across universities with diverse missions and contexts.

Dr. Karantarat Nakwa, Assistant to the President of NXPO, outlined the national policy direction on Thailand’s University Holding Company initiative. She emphasized that UHCs serve as a key mechanism for enabling universities to contribute to an innovation-based economy through the systematic commercialization of research outputs, knowledge, and technologies. She further stressed that the development of UHCs must proceed in parallel with the strengthening of university incubators, in order to build a robust pipeline of high-quality startups and spin-offs with strong growth potential.

The consulting team from the Thammasat University Research and Consultancy Institute, led by Dr. Atichat Preittigun, presented the results of a study on the current situation and challenges of incubation systems in Thai universities. The findings highlighted major constraints, including regulatory inflexibility, gaps in intellectual property management, shortages of personnel with business and commercialization expertise, and limited coordination between internal university units and University Holding Companies. The team also proposed a framework for enhancing incubator capabilities in alignment with the strategic goals and unique identities of individual universities.

During the discussion session, executives from several universities shared practical experiences in operating incubators and UHCs. Participants agreed that the success of university-based venture development depends not only on access to funding, but also on mindset shifts, clear role differentiation between researchers and commercial managers, and the design of support mechanisms that are aligned with the nature of innovation-driven enterprises.

In the concluding session, participants prioritized key policy issues to inform the development of future measures and support mechanisms. Based on these outcomes, NXPO will synthesize the discussions into policy recommendations aimed at strengthening university incubators and enhancing the role of University Holding Companies in driving Thailand’s innovation-based economy.