A number of different tools need to be employed in order to design policies and strategies warranting successful and desirable outcomes. A complete picture of current problems, the ecosystem surrounding the problems to be addressed, desired situation and required actions from the different viewpoints of every social group, as well as projections of future scenarios need to be examined. NXPO performs extensive studies on strategic foresight and systems research in order to deliver powerful policies and strategies. 

Strategic Foresight 

Foresight is an exercise to project the future – both immediate and distant future – of key agendas at the national, regional or global levels. Examples include the future of aging society, the future of artificial intelligence, the future of industry, the future of education and the future of the job market. Such an exercise provides inputs for a country or a company to design policies and strategies to systematically deal with uncertainties and changes, especially disruptive changes. 

NXPO employs strategic foresight in its work process – including agenda setting and priority setting for higher education strategy and science, research and innovation strategic framework – to design a higher education plan and a science, research and innovation plan.  The following methods are used: 

1. Horizon scanning: gathering and analyzing intelligence concerning mega trends and sub-trends, as well as identifying key drivers, insights and implications of these trends to the country and the world. 
2. Scenario building: developing different scenarios of how the future might develop as affected by uncertainties, which will then lead to scenario planning and policy options for each scenario. This exercise forms a basis for the formulation of higher education, science, research and innovation policy. 

Systems Research 

Systems research involves the study of a system which includes analysis of components, identifies relationships between components and characterizes external factors affecting the system at the current stage and in the future. It aims at understanding the limitation of the current system in coping with problems currently faced and its resilience to future challenges. 

NXPO performs system research in collaboration with Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) and a network of experts with the focus on systems essential to the national development such as a higher education system, an agricultural system and an energy system. Conducted under three guiding principles, namely global context, paradigm shifts and system design, the study will result in a white paper proposing a new development paradigm. 

NXPO is currently leading the following studies: 

1. Higher education, science, research and innovation system: analyzing the structure and capacity of the system, organizations in the system, efficiency of policies, fund allocation and management, as well as evaluation and monitoring system. 
2. Future education system: designing an education system that can produce sufficient workforce with skills and knowledge fitting with the future workplace affected by technological disruptions. 
3. Circular economy: identifying and analyzing factors necessary to transition from a current linear economy into a circular economy aiming at reusing and recycling resources. 
4. Food system: analyzing factors that will move the current food system up the ladder, to a reliable food system, a sustainable food system and eventually an innovative food system.