On 23-25 July, 2026 – The APEC Center for Technology Foresight (APEC CTF) participated in the Asia-Pacific Symposium for Strategic Innovation in Sustainable Technology (ASSIST). The symposium was organised under the APEC framework through the Policy Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation (PPSTI) and was held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China. Thailand participated as a co-sponsoring economy, together with China; Hong Kong, China; Malaysia; and Peru, while China served as the host economy.

The symposium provided a platform for scientific research institutions and the private sector to strengthen the value and application of green technologies. It also facilitated the exchange of ideas and approaches for advancing technological innovation in sustainable transportation. The discussions focused particularly on the development of the low-altitude economy and low-carbon urban air mobility, including electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs; aviation equipment manufacturing; advanced materials; and clean-energy applications. These technologies are expected to accelerate the development and practical deployment of low-carbon air mobility systems across the Asia-Pacific region.

Dr. Natthamon Suwanaprom and Mr. Chatkapat Bunnag, Policy Researchers at APEC CTF and NXPO, participated as representatives of Thailand. They contributed to the exchange of policy perspectives and supported stronger cooperation in science, technology, and innovation among APEC member economies.

During the event, Dr. Natthamon presented certificates of recognition to companies selected for their outstanding low-altitude aviation innovations under the “2026 APEC Low-Altitude Economy Innovation Pioneer Cases”, which formed part of the ASSIST symposium. The awards recognised enterprises that have played a significant role in advancing innovation and supporting the development of sustainable urban air mobility systems. Among the award recipients was Zhejiang Sensha Aviation Technology Co., Ltd., whose “Sensha Intelligent Mobile Heliport” was recognised as an outstanding low-altitude aviation product and an exemplary innovation case in the APEC region.

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The APEC Center for Technology Foresight (APEC-CTF), hosted by the Office of National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO) under Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), represented Thailand at two international forums in the People’s Republic of China from 27–30 June 2026. The events brought together policymakers, researchers, innovation agencies, universities, and private-sector representatives from 12 APEC member economies — Australia; the People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; the Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Papua New Guinea; Peru; the Russian Federation; Singapore; Thailand; and Viet Nam — to exchange knowledge and experiences on science, technology, and innovation (STI) policies and explore opportunities for regional cooperation to support sustainable economic growth across the Asia-Pacific region.

Representing Thailand, Mrs. Jirapan Christian Linares, Policy Developer at the APEC-CTF, was invited to deliver keynote presentations at both events, sharing Thailand’s experience in health innovation and Strategic Foresight with international participants.

At the APEC Workshop on Policies, Resources, and Information Exchange on STI to Promote Formal and Global Economic Growth, held in Haikou, Hainan Province, on 27–28 June 2026, Mrs. Jirapan delivered a keynote presentation entitled “Building a Future-Ready Health & Medical Innovation Ecosystem in Thailand: From Innovation to Foresight.” The presentation highlighted Thailand’s efforts to strengthen its health and medical innovation ecosystem by fostering collaboration among government agencies, funding organizations, universities, hospitals, industry partners, and other key stakeholders. The ecosystem aims to accelerate the translation of research and innovation into practical applications and societal benefits while enhancing Thailand’s capacity to address emerging health challenges.

During the workshop, Thailand proposed four areas for enhanced cooperation among APEC economies in health and medical innovation: exchanging experiences and best practices on innovation policies and support mechanisms; jointly developing pilot projects, testbeds, and innovation sandboxes; strengthening collaboration on Strategic Foresight to improve future preparedness; and establishing a regional Strategic Foresight network to promote continued knowledge exchange and collaboration across the Asia-Pacific region.

On 30 June 2026, Mrs. Jirapan delivered a second keynote presentation at the China Lecheng International Precision Medicine Innovative Cooperation Workshop, held in the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in Hainan Province. Her presentation, entitled “Strategic Foresight for Health & Medical Innovation: Thailand’s Approach through APEC-CTF,” introduced Thailand’s experience in applying foresight methodologies to health and medical innovation and highlighted the role of APEC-CTF as an only regional platform for technology foresight, foresight capacity building, and future-oriented STI policy dialogue among APEC economies.

Thailand’s participation in both forums provided an important opportunity to share the country’s experience in Strategic Foresight and health innovation with the international community while strengthening networks among policymakers, researchers, and innovation leaders across the Asia-Pacific region. The engagement also reflects Thailand’s commitment to advancing science, technology, and innovation as key drivers of sustainable development and to supporting regional cooperation through knowledge sharing, capacity building, and future-oriented policymaking.

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On 22 June 2026, Prof. Dr. Supachai Pathumnakul, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), chaired the NXPO Executive Board Meeting. Dr. Surachai Sathitkunarat, President of NXPO, served as Board Member and Secretary to the meeting.

One of the key agenda items was Thailand’s Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) 2nd Edition, presented by Dr. Srichattra Chaivongvilan, Strategist 2 at APEC CTF – NXPO. The presentation emphasized that climate change has become an urgent structural issue affecting economic development, international trade, technological competitiveness, and national resilience. In this context, the TNA serves as a strategic mechanism for identifying and prioritizing climate technologies that can support greenhouse gas mitigation and strengthen Thailand’s adaptive capacity.

Thailand’s TNA Phase II forms part of the broader foresight work of the APEC Center for Technology Foresight (APEC CTF), hosted by NXPO. By applying foresight and systems-based tools such as horizon scanning, STEEP analysis, system mapping, technology fact sheets, multi-criteria analysis, and evaluation matrices, the TNA process supports future-oriented technology planning. It helps identify priority technologies, assess readiness and impacts, anticipate implementation barriers, and translate climate technology needs into actionable policy pathways.

The TNA is implemented under the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and technical support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre. NXPO serves as the national coordinator, working with the Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE), public agencies, academia, the private sector, and other stakeholders.

Four strategic sectors have been identified under Thailand’s TNA Phase II: energy, agriculture, water resources management, and human settlements and security. Priority technologies for mitigation include Small Modular Reactors, Sustainable Aviation Fuel, carbon capture technologies, Solar PV for Infrastructure, methane reduction technologies for ruminants, genetically modified rice varieties, nitrification inhibitors, and Near-Infrared sensor technologies. For adaptation, priority technologies include real-time IoT-based water quality monitoring systems, Underground Attenuation and Storage, Managed Aquifer Recharge, Physics-Guided Long Short-Term Memory models, the Thailand Climate Integrated Model, resilient energy systems, Passive Radiative Cooling materials, and Digital Twin-based Climate Risk Urban Planning Platforms.

Board members emphasized the importance of moving the TNA from assessment to implementation. They recommended that the next phase clearly identify responsible agencies, budget mechanisms, research and innovation instruments, human resource requirements, and potential sources of domestic and international financing. They also highlighted the need to assess Thailand’s technology gaps, readiness levels, economic returns, and investment attractiveness, particularly for advanced technologies that require substantial capital, regulatory preparation, and specialized expertise.

As part of APEC CTF’s foresight work, the TNA also provides lessons for broader regional knowledge exchange. The process demonstrates how foresight can support climate technology assessment, anticipatory policymaking, and the design of practical implementation pathways. These lessons can contribute to future cooperation among APEC economies on climate innovation, technology prioritization, and mission-oriented policy development.

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On 22 June 2026, the APEC Center for Technology Foresight (APEC CTF) convened a virtual meeting of its International Advisory Board (IAB) 1/2026 to seek strategic guidance and international perspectives on foresight, science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy, and future-oriented cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region.

The meeting brought together leading foresight experts from ten economies serving on the IAB, including Prof. Dr. Kerstin Cuhls of Fraunhofer ISI, Germany, Chair of the Board; Dr. Hien Thu Pham of CSIRO, Australia; Dr. Jieni Guo of the Beijing International Exchange Association, China; Dr. Felipe Donato Valentín Rojas of CONCYTEC, Peru; Dr. Byeongwon Park of STEPI, the Republic of Korea; Dr. Tan Shu Ying of MIGHT, Malaysia; Prof. Dr. Alexander Sokolov of HSE University, Russia; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sarah Lai-Yin Cheah of NUS Business School, Singapore; Dr. Rafiq Dossani of RAND Corporation, the United States; and Prof. Dr. Ozcan Saritas of RIT Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

Dr. Surachai Sathitkunarat, Executive Director of APEC CTF and President of APEC CTF, provided an overview of the Center’s development and achievements. He noted that APEC CTF was established in 1998 following an initiative by the Thai delegation to APEC’s Industrial Science and Technology Working Group (ISTWG). As the first and only regional foresight center within APEC, the Center currently serves as a long-term foresight mechanism and specialized center under the APEC Policy Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation (PPSTI), with NXPO acting as the host organization.

During the meeting, Dr. Kommate Jitvanichphaibool, Assistant to the President of NXPO and Deputy Director of APEC CTF, presented the Center’s operational framework for 2026–2029. The framework is built around three strategic pillars: conducting foresight studies and developing policy recommendations; strengthening foresight capabilities among APEC member economies; and expanding the regional foresight network through collaborative research and partnerships.

The presentation also highlighted the draft Annual Report 2025, which summarizes the Center’s key achievements over the past year, as well as two proposed projects included in the 2026 work plan currently under consideration for endorsement by PPSTI. These projects are “APEC Young Futurists: Frontier Technologies and Solutions for Future Food,” which aims to cultivate the next generation of futurists through the theme of food futures, and “Strengthening Mission-Oriented Frontier Technology Commercialization Ecosystem in APEC,” which seeks to enhance the commercialization ecosystem for frontier technologies across the region.

Board members engaged in extensive discussions and provided valuable recommendations on the future direction of APEC CTF. Their comments covered the presentation of project outcomes and suggestions for the proposed 2026 projects. Members also expressed their commitment to supporting the Center’s work by facilitating connections with experts and institutions in their respective economies, assisting in participant outreach and selection, and providing feedback on future project proposals. The discussions underscored the important role of the International Advisory Board in strengthening the strategic direction, international engagement, and institutional capacity of APEC CTF as a regional foresight center. They also reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to leveraging foresight as a tool for policymaking under uncertainty and for advancing sustainable STI cooperation among APEC economies.

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The APEC Center for Technology Foresight (APEC CTF) participated in the 2026 APEC Program Series Events held in Beijing, China, from 21–26 May 2026. The events served as a platform for exchanging experiences and policy approaches on innovation city development, digital transformation, and open innovation ecosystems across the Asia-Pacific region. The program comprised two key events: the APEC Innovation City Workshop: Digital Transformation and Industry-Academia Collaboration Development Policy Exchange (21–22 May 2026) and the APEC Voluntary Contribution Platform for the Best Practices in Open Innovation Ecosystem (24–26 May 2026).

The meetings brought together representatives from 14 APEC member economies—Australia, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, China, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, and Russia. Participants also included representatives from government agencies, universities, science, technology and innovation organizations, the private sector, and institutions engaged in strengthening innovation ecosystems throughout the region.

At the APEC Innovation City Workshop, Dr. Natthamon Suwannaprom, Policy Developer at NXPO-APEC CTF, delivered a presentation entitled “Thailand’s Innovation City Policy System.” The presentation highlighted Thailand’s policy framework and mechanisms for advancing innovation cities through the development of innovation districts, regional science parks, and the application of foresight to support long-term policy planning and regional collaboration among APEC economies.

Dr. Natthamon emphasized the importance of foresight as a strategic tool for innovation city development. She noted that innovation cities must be designed not only to address current challenges but also to anticipate emerging technologies, future industries, and long-term uncertainties. She identified four key drivers shaping the future of innovation cities: (1) digital transformation and artificial intelligence, which are rapidly reshaping innovation systems and urban competitiveness; (2) climate and resource pressures, including climate risks, decarbonization requirements, and constraints on energy, water, and land resources; (3) demographic and workforce transitions, particularly population aging and evolving skill demands; and (4) the restructuring of industrial value chains and supply chains amid changing geopolitical dynamics. She further underscored the importance of integrating foresight with APEC cooperation mechanisms to strengthen linkages among innovation cities across member economies. Such collaboration can facilitate the exchange of talent, technology, investment, and policy experiences, helping to strengthen regional innovation systems and promote sustainable growth throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

At the APEC Voluntary Contribution Platform for the Best Practices in Open Innovation Ecosystem, Ms. Jirapan Christian Linares, Policy Developer at APEC CTF – NXPO, delivered a presentation entitled “Open Innovation Needs a Home: Thailand’s Regional Ecosystem Experience and Implications for APEC.” Her presentation showcased Thailand’s approach to developing regional innovation ecosystems through collaboration among government agencies, universities, industry, and local communities. The approach aims to foster scalable innovations that effectively address area-based development needs.

Ms. Jirapan proposed three key areas for cooperation under the APEC framework: (1) the development of a shared and inclusive definition of an open innovation ecosystem to facilitate innovation scaling and long-term, systematic collaboration; (2) the promotion of cross-border connectivity to strengthen regional innovation cooperation through mechanisms such as researcher mobility programs, shared testbeds, and SME matchmaking among member economies; and (3) the use of foresight as a common tool for policy design, open innovation ecosystems preparedness, and responses to emerging technologies, systemic challenges, and long-term change. She emphasized that foresight should not be viewed merely as a tool for anticipating the future, but as a practical instrument for shaping strategic directions and fostering collaboration among member economies. This perspective aligns closely with the role of APEC CTF in advancing foresight capacity and promoting cooperation in science, technology, and innovation across the APEC region.

Thailand’s participation in these events reflects its active role in strengthening regional cooperation in science, technology, and innovation, while advancing the application of foresight and open innovation ecosystem approaches to enhance competitiveness and support sustainable development across the Asia-Pacific region.

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On 30 June 2026, the APEC Center for Technology Foresight (APEC CTF), under the Office of National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO), welcomed Mdm Hazami Habib, Vice-Chair of APEC’s Policy Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation (PPSTI) and Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM), for the “MOIP Strategic Dialogue” at the Promthep Room, NXPO / APEC CTF.

The visit provided an opportunity for strategic exchange on how technology foresight can support Thailand STI system, strengthen policy design, and enhance regional collaboration.

APEC CTF briefed Mdm Hazami on its mandate, current work, and foresight initiatives in APEC, including its role in supporting anticipatory policy, emerging technology analysis, and cross-economy cooperation. The discussion also explored potential linkages between MOIP and Thailand’s STI system, particularly in applying foresight approaches to identify future opportunities, connect innovation ecosystems, and translate emerging signals into practical policy and collaboration pathways.

The meeting continued with an office visit and informal exchange, allowing both sides to discuss possible areas of future cooperation. The dialogue concluded with a wrap-up session, group photo, and discussion on next steps to further advance collaboration between APEC CTF, APEC members, and MOIP-related initiatives.

This strategic dialogue reflects APEC CTF’s continued commitment to promoting technology foresight as a tool for evidence-informed policy, regional innovation cooperation, and future-ready development across the Asia-Pacific region.

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(23 February 2026) The Office of the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO) and the APEC Center for Technology Foresight (APEC CTF) convened a meeting of the Climate Change Adaptation Working Groups under Thailand’s Second Technology Needs Assessment (TNA 2) Project, implemented under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The project supports the assessment of Thailand’s technology needs in responding to climate change, with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) providing implementation support. The meeting was organized in two sessions: Water Resources Management in the morning and Human Settlements and Human Security in the afternoon, and was held at Waghor Room 1, NXPO, Chamchuri Square Building, 14th Floor.

The meeting was convened in the context of Thailand’s increasing emphasis on climate action—particularly “adaptation,” defined as national and societal efforts to reduce vulnerability and strengthen the capacity to cope with climate impacts that are expected to intensify over time. Adaptation and impact management are therefore critical to national security, covering water security, health, community and urban safety, and overall quality of life. Thailand has established a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and now needs to accelerate the systematic and formal selection and deployment of appropriate technologies to reflect the country’s technology needs in its international reporting. This process can create opportunities for future support, including finance, capacity building, and technology transfer.

The meeting was chaired by Assoc. Prof. Wongkot Wongsapai, Vice President of NXPO and Chair of both the Water Resources Management Working Group and the Human Settlements and Human Security Working Group. He underscored the importance of the TNA report for Thailand and highlighted the role of the working groups in providing technical inputs to enable the country to prioritize adaptation technologies in line with national circumstances—particularly in support of Thailand’s climate change adaptation plan, which sets out a three-phase framework: short term (B.E. 2566–2570 / 2023–2027), medium term (B.E. 2571–2575 / 2028–2032), and long term (B.E. 2576–2580 / 2033–2037). This framework aims to ensure that selected technologies address climate risks and can be scaled up in a practical manner at both local and national levels.

Participants included representatives from key stakeholder groups, including government agencies, the private sector, financial institutions, and academia, to jointly deliberate, exchange views, and provide recommendations on approaches for selecting priority technologies in each sector.

Key outcomes included the working groups’ review of a preliminary longlist of technologies for both sectors, followed by prioritization using UNEP’s standard criteria, and the collection of feedback from participants. The inputs will be used to refine and synthesize a shortlist of technologies for the next phase of work.

#tna #foresight #apecctf #thailand

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On 24 February 2026, Ms. Jieni Guo, Secretary General of the Beijing International Exchange Association (BIEA), paid a visit to the APEC Center for Technology Foresight (APEC CTF) at the Office of the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO) to strengthen strategic collaboration and prepare for joint initiatives under the APEC framework.

Led by Dr. Srichattra Chaivongvilan, Strategist 1 at APEC CTF and NXPO, the delegation held in-depth discussions with Ms. Jieni Guo to translate cooperation into tangible outcomes. Both sides exchanged views on BIEA’s important role in supporting connectivity and cooperation among Beijing’s international partners by coordinating networks across government, the private sector, and academic and research institutions. This includes promoting exchange activities and innovation cooperation at the regional level, as well as supporting work aligned with China’s priorities in APEC—particularly on sustainable development and the transition toward a green economy.

In the meeting, both sides agreed to advance practical cooperation through a Low-Carbon Project and workshops. The cooperation will emphasize knowledge sharing and best practices, connecting expert networks, and developing policy approaches that can be implemented in practice.

APEC CTF reaffirmed its readiness to closely coordinate and drive cooperation with BIEA to enhance science, technology and innovation collaboration in the Asia-Pacific, support the transition to a low-carbon economy, and further strengthen cooperation networks among APEC economies going forward.

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(19 February 2026) The Office of National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO) and the APEC Center for Technology Foresight (APEC CTF) convened the Mitigation Working Group meeting under Thailand’s Second Technology Needs Assessment (TNA 2). The project is implemented under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to support Thailand’s assessment of technology needs for addressing climate change, with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) providing implementation support.

The meeting was divided into two main sessions: the energy sector in the morning and the agriculture sector in the afternoon. It was held at the Mandarin C Meeting Room, 1st Floor, Mandarin Hotel Bangkok.

The meeting took place in the context of Thailand’s strong commitment to tackling climate change, both in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation and strengthening national implementation capacity in line with global directions. Thailand has announced the goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (Net Zero GHG 2050). This underscores the need to systematically and formally identify and advance appropriate technologies in key sectors, so that Thailand can submit its priority technology needs to international bodies through national reporting—thereby creating opportunities to access future financial support and technology transfer.

The meeting was chaired by Associate Professor Wongkot Wongsapai, Chair of both the energy and agriculture working groups, with the APEC CTF team serving as the Secretariat. He emphasized the importance of the TNA report for Thailand and highlighted how the sub-working groups provide the technical input necessary to prioritize mitigation technologies in line with national circumstances.

Key outcomes of the meeting included the review of a preliminary list (longlist) of 12 technologies for the energy sector and 8 technologies for the agriculture sector. The working groups prioritized these technologies using the standard criteria defined by UNEP and provided feedback to refine and synthesize the longlists into shortlists for the next phase of work.

This meeting marked the first session of the mitigation technology working groups under Thailand’s TNA 2. It aims to identify high-potential and context-appropriate technologies to support Thailand’s climate action agenda, with results to be reported to the Project Steering Committee for Thailand’s Technology Needs Assessment for climate change at its next meeting.

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On Friday, 13 March 2026, a delegation from the Futures Studies Center, National Intelligence Agency (NIA) paid a visit to the executives and staff of the APEC Center for Technology Foresight (APEC CTF). The delegation was led by Ms. Athirat Suwannaloet, Director of the Office of the Secretariat to the Intelligence Advisor (OSIA), and was welcomed by Associate Professor Wongkot Wongapai, Vice President of NXPO and Dr. Kommate Jitvanichphaibool, Deputy Director of APEC CTF. The meeting aimed to explore avenues for cooperation in strategic information exchange, situational analysis, and the development of evidence- and data-informed policy support mechanisms.

In addition, both organizations discussed collaboration under the framework of the Thailand Foresight Alliance (TFA), with the objective of connecting core agencies and relevant partners to enable systematic exchange of data, tools, and knowledge in futures and foresight. The collaboration also seeks to build capacity among personnel in strategic analysis, evidence-based decision-making, and the formulation of policy recommendations aligned with future-oriented challenges and opportunities.

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