Bangkok: The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation's policy board has approved four agendas to transform the country, pushing forward the strategy of developing human resources through innovation via the Sandbox initiative.
According to Thai News Agency, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) Policy Board has outlined strategies to accelerate human resource development through innovation sandbox programs, increase the number of doctors by 22,200, and implement a poverty alleviation model in 20 pilot provinces. The ultimate goal is to transform the country for the future with a 'quantum economy and advanced AI' strategy, aiming to become a leader in ASEAN.
Mr. Yotsanu Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, chaired the 3rd meeting of the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council for 2026. The meeting, attended by Minister of Labour Mr. Julaphan Amornvivat, senior executives from relevant ministries, and experts, resulted in the approval of four key agendas for transforming the country. These include accelerating the development of highly skilled human resources, improving the quality of life and public health system, addressing regional poverty, and laying the foundation for future technologies to enhance Thailand's long-term competitiveness.
Mr. Yoschanan highlighted the success of the Higher Education Sandbox program, a key mechanism for breaking down traditional educational frameworks. Currently, 24 proposals have been approved, aiming to produce 26,620 highly skilled personnel. Chulalongkorn University's Computer Engineering and Digital Technology program is a successful example, having shifted to a block-based learning approach with internships from the first year. The Ministry is also focusing on developing high-quality human resources to support the semiconductor industry and promoting Talent Mobility measures to encourage the movement of researchers and faculty into the private sector, aiming to transform Thai businesses from competing on price to competing on innovation.
In the social and public health dimensions, the meeting approved the second phase of Thailand's Doctor Production Project (2028-2037), aiming to produce an additional 22,200 doctors within 10 years through collaboration with 22 medical schools. This is intended to address the aging society and resolve the shortage of healthcare personnel, reducing the doctor-to-population ratio from 1:922 to 1:650 by 2037, enabling citizens to access healthcare services more quickly and comprehensively.
The meeting also approved a plan to eradicate poverty and improve social status in five dimensions: economy, living standards, health, education, and social protection. The project will be expanded to 20 pilot provinces, utilizing universities as centers for addressing specific local problems. The plan aims to drive the economy through innovation, targeting an increase in the number of unicorn startups, generating significant revenue for SMEs, and promoting smart farming to increase average income threefold.
Looking to the future, the meeting approved a national strategy for developing a "quantum economy" through four pillars: promoting technology in the industrial sector, enhancing cybersecurity, establishing a human resource development center, and expanding the quantum hardware manufacturing base. "Quantum is a truly achievable future technology," stated Mr. Yoschanan, emphasizing the focus on applying quantum to add value in industries where Thailand excels. Additionally, the meeting designated "advanced artificial intelligence" (AI) as a national priority, aiming to elevate Thailand from a mere "user" to a "developer and innovator," with the goal of becoming a regional leader in medical and bio-AI and establishing Thailand as a technology leader in ASEAN.