BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach - 7 August 2023 - The National Innovation Agency (Public Organization), or NIA, is continuing to drive Thailand's Innovation Index to the 30^th place by 2030 in the role of a "Focal Conductor" that connects with domestic and international partners to promote and support innovation-based entrepreneurs in all dimensions. This will lead to sustainable economic and social impacts for the country with 7 main strategies which are: 1) To create and enhance innovation-based entrepreneurial competency in targeted industries with networks throughout the supply chain; 2) To promote open innovation and open up the Thai innovation system; 3) To promote access and the utilization of infrastructure with universities and science parks; 4) To be a center for creating an ecosystem that promotes the utilization of innovation; 5) To promote innovation marketing both domestically and internationally; 6) To raise awareness and recognize the importance of innovation in all sectors; and 7) To develop the organization into one that is ready for change and which grows sustainably. Dr. Krithpaka Boonfueng, Executive Director of the National Innovation Agency (Public Organization), or NIA, revealed that in 2023, the policy of using innovation to drive the economy, society and infrastructure necessary for the development of the country had been discussed and roles in order to bring the country to compete at the macro level again were clearly defined. Through this drive, the NIA is another agency that plays a role both in terms of policy makers, facilitating an innovation ecosystem for work capability and for business value creation, including creating innovation among entrepreneurs, startups and government sectors. In addition, there is an important goal to accelerate Thailand to become one of the 30 leading innovation countries in the world by 2030. "In order to enhance the direction of Thailand's innovation drive to be in line with the global context, the NIA has a new strategy under the concept of "Create the Dot - Connect the Dot - Value Creation" through the "Groom Grant Growth" mechanism and the "2 reduce 3 increase" approach, which is to reduce inequality by focusing on open innovation through the exposure to new ideas from startups and SMEs to fill weaknesses or to combat social and economic problems. Second, to reduce barriers to access and to leverage innovation for all sectors along with revising regulations that could hinder growth and increasing opportunities to access funding sources for both the public and private sectors. Also, to increase the number of innovators and innovation-based entrepreneurs. To create employment, increasing the GDP and creating the image of an "Innovation Nation" as well as increasing the potential of innovation-based entrepreneurs. This will provide the opportunity to expand the market and to create Thai innovative brands that are ready to compete with innovations from abroad," he said. For the years 2023 – 2027, the NIA has changed its role from being a "system integrator" to become a "Focal Conductor", which will be another new role according to the 7 strategies, he said, namely: 1) To create and upgrade innovation-based entrepreneurs (IBEs) in targeted industries together with networks throughout the supply chain to develop and expand the results of important projects in 5 industry groups: 1) Food Tech & Ag Tech 2) Travel Tech 3) Med Tech 4) Climate Tech and 5) Soft power by promoting IBEs to protect and manage intellectual property in innovative products and to use the NIA Academy as the main mechanism for developing IBEs through an intense curriculum. This is also to be achieved by establishing a network of cooperation with external agencies such as the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Confederation of Thai SMEs, The Federation of Thai Industries, The Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, the Siam Commercial Bank, the Government Savings Bank, the Government Housing Bank, etc., with a goal being that in 4 years there will be 10,000 innovation-based entrepreneurs along with 15,000 innovation personnel and workers and with an impact value in targeted industries and areas of 20,000 million baht. 2) To promote open innovation and to make the Thai innovation system more open by placing an emphasis on open funding and links to other sources of funds. Regionally-aligned industry sector funding should enhance the capacity for grant applications and in preparing project proposals with innovation networks such as universities, science parks, The Federation of Thai Industries, The Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Thai Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneurs Group (YEC) and the Confederation of Thai SMEs to diversify opportunities to access sources of...