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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nDr. Surachai outlined the major challenges currently confronting Thailand, particularly in term of global competitiveness. Thailand\u2019s economy has experienced sluggish growth, with GDP expanding by less than 2% during 2024\u20132025. The World Bank projects growth of only 1.6% in 2026. At the same time, labor productivity has declined. According to the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, Thailand is ranked 26th globally, trailing Singapore and Malaysia. Thailand\u2019s infrastructure competitiveness\u2014particularly technological infrastructure\u2014has fallen by seven positions.<\/p>\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHe also highlighted growing geopolitical fragmentation as a significant challenge to Thailand\u2019s economy. Thailand\u2019s exports remain heavily dependent on the United States and China, which together account for approximately 33% of total exports. Consequently, international conflicts and trade tensions have direct impacts on export markets, raw material supplies, energy security, transportation routes, and access to technology. Increasing trade barriers have further intensified these pressures. Domestically, Thailand is also facing demographic shifts, environmental challenges, and widening inequalities between urban and rural areas. These interconnected and complex issues require coordinated action across multiple sectors, underscoring the importance of adopting a Mission-Oriented Innovation Policy (MOIP).<\/p>\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nDr. Surachai explained that the core principle of MOIP is to translate broad national challenges into clear, actionable missions. This begins with identifying key national issues and transforming them into concrete missions that can be addressed through higher education, science, research, and innovation. Each mission should have ambitious yet achievable goals, measurable outcomes, and clearly defined timelines. Once missions are established, a portfolio of innovations can be developed to drive implementation, supported by a comprehensive policy mix that combines multiple policy instruments.<\/p>\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHe further noted that effective missions should capture public interest, provide a clear strategic direction, establish measurable targets within ambitious but realistic timeframes, stimulate interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration, and encourage diverse bottom-up solutions. As an example of a successful mission-oriented approach, Dr. Surachai cited the Apollo Program, which mobilized expertise across numerous industries to achieve a common objective. The program generated innovations ranging from heat-resistant spacesuits and navigation systems to food preservation technologies and space nutrition. He also highlighted examples from the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Chile, and Taiwan, which have adopted MOIP principles at either the national or program level. Although their policy approaches differ according to national priorities and contexts, they share common features, including cross-agency collaboration, the use of diverse policy instruments, and portfolio-based management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Surachai then discussed the application of MOIP within Thailand\u2019s Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Framework for 2028\u20132032, which represents a shift from broad strategic objectives toward concrete, mission-driven goals. The new framework emphasizes leveraging higher education, science, research, and innovation to address national challenges while creating new opportunities for economic and social development. It features clearly defined targets, flexible implementation approaches, portfolio-based mission management that enables adaptive resource allocation, mission-focused outcomes, fixed implementation timelines, and integrated collaboration among agencies pursuing shared objectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The draft Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Mission Framework (2028\u20132032) consists of five strategic mission areas: (1) transforming Thai industries toward a green economy; (2) strengthening technological security and reducing external dependence; (3) expanding economic opportunities and empowering local communities through innovation; (4) enhancing quality of life and creating value from the longevity economy; and (5) designing livable, resilient, and inclusive cities and regions. These missions will be supported by four key enabling technologies: artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, semiconductors, biotechnology and synthetic biology, and advanced materials. Cross-cutting mechanisms will further strengthen all missions through investments in human capital development and knowledge infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Surachai outlined the key policy design principles underlying MOIP. The process begins with stakeholders jointly defining missions with clear directions, objectives, targets, and timelines, while maintaining sufficient flexibility to adapt to uncertainty and changing circumstances. Missions should be measurable, ambitious, and achievable. Successful implementation requires integrated efforts across ministries, academic disciplines, sectors, and organizations at all levels. Effective governance structures and strong leadership are equally essential, supported by an appropriate mix of policy instruments, regulatory measures, and funding mechanisms. Continuous portfolio management, together with regular monitoring, evaluation, and learning, will enable policies to be refined and adapted for effective real-world implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On 6 August 2026, Dr. Surachai Sathitkunarat, President […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":48970,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[30],"tags":[2949],"class_list":["post-48969","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-en","tag-moip-en"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/NXPO-promotes-Mission-Oriented-Innovation-Policy-MOIP-to-transform-national-challenges-into-concrete-missions.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/author\/adminsti\/"},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/NXPO-promotes-Mission-Oriented-Innovation-Policy-MOIP-to-transform-national-challenges-into-concrete-missions.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48969","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48969"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48969\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48982,"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48969\/revisions\/48982"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48970"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48969"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48969"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48969"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/NXPO-promotes-Mission-Oriented-Innovation-Policy-MOIP-to-transform-national-challenges-into-concrete-missions_03-1024x683.jpg\"){kind=spacer}
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