Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation

What Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation does

Thailand's Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) is a government ministry established on June 19, 2018, through the merger of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Office of the Higher Education Commission, the National Research Council of Thailand, and the Thailand Research Fund. It functions as Thailand's primary policy, funding, and regulatory authority for higher education, scientific research, and innovation, operating under the Royal Thai Government and headquartered in Bangkok. The ministry oversees 26 public universities under direct supervision, 57 state universities, and 72 private universities (155 higher education institutions in total), as well as 20+ national research institutes and laboratories, including NSTDA, TISTR, NRCT, NIMT, GISTDA, NARIT, TINT, SLRI, and the National Innovation Agency.

MHESI's core product portfolio is a set of national digital platforms and programs rather than a single unified product. Key platforms include the TCAS centralized university admissions system (handling 242,000+ students annually), the Thai MOOC lifelong learning platform, the CWIE cooperative education database, the Higher Education Information System, the Graduate Employment System, ThaiWater, the BDS business development service platform, and the new NSTIS & STARS Open Sci. Connect Platform for SME access to research infrastructure. Infrastructure assets include Thailand Science Park, Software Park Thailand, Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark, and the National Satellite Assembly Integration and Test Center. Recent 2025-2026 initiatives include 'AI for All Thais' with True Corporation and Google, a semiconductor workforce partnership with Arizona State University, recognition of 24 Thai-language LLM prototypes, and a TISTR service catalogue offering SMEs up to 80% subsidies on research and testing costs.

MHESI operates as a non-commercial public service entity funded entirely through annual government budget allocation and reports to the Council of Ministers under Minister Professor Dr. Yodchanan Wongsawat and Permanent Secretary Prof. Dr. Supachai Pathumnakul. It does not generate commercial revenue; services are provided free or heavily subsidized to four primary stakeholder groups: higher education institutions (funding, quality assurance, accreditation), students (scholarships, admissions, employment tracking), researchers and scientists (research funding, international collaboration), and SMEs and entrepreneurs (innovation support, testing access). Current leadership is led by Minister Yodchanan Wongsawat with Vice Minister Danuphorn Punnakanta and Permanent Secretary Supachai Pathumnakul, supported by Deputy Permanent Secretaries and Inspector General functions.

Name

Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation

Legal name

Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (กระทรวงการอุดมศึกษา วิทยาศาสตร์ วิจัยและนวัตกรรม)

Website

https://mhesi.go.th

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Thailand's Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation is a government ministry that sets policy, allocates funding, and oversees 155 universities and 20+ national research institutes serving students, researchers, SMEs, and government agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bangkok

HQ country

Thailand

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MHESI is a Thai government ministry that develops and implements national policy, funding, and quality assurance for higher education, scientific research, and innovation. It delivers programs and digital platforms (e.g., Thai MOOC, CWIE, TCAS admissions, BDS service catalogue) to 155 affiliated higher education institutions, students, researchers, SMEs, and government agencies, and operates national research infrastructure such as Thailand Science Park, Software Park Thailand, the National Synchrotron, NARIT, and GISTDA.

Product overview

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) operates as a government ministry overseeing Thailand's higher education, scientific research, and innovation ecosystem. The portfolio consists of multiple platforms and programs rather than a single unified product. Core offerings include the Thai MOOC platform for lifelong learning, the CWIE Database for cooperative education, the NSTIS & STARS Open Sci. Connect Platform for national research resource access, and the U2Tambon program for community-based innovation. Infrastructure services include Thailand Science Park, Software Park Thailand, Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark, and satellite testing facilities. Supporting services span graduate employment tracking, higher education information systems, water resource platforms, and university admissions systems. These products collectively serve students, researchers, SMEs, and government agencies through both direct service delivery and partner platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Thai MOOC: Thai Cyber University project - lifelong learning system providing online courses
• CWIE
• มหาวิทยาลัยสู่ตำบล (University to Subdistrict)
• อว.พารอด (MHESI Survival)

Products and services

• Thai MOOC Lifelong learning platform providing online courses and educational resources to support continuous skill development for Thai citizens.
• CWIE Database Database system for cooperative and work-integrated education, connecting universities with employers for student work-experience programs.
• NSTIS & STARS Open Sci. Connect Platform National platform connecting Thailand's research and innovation ecosystem, enabling nationwide access to research resources, testing services, and innovation infrastructure for SMEs and startups.
• U2Tambon (University to Subdistrict) University-to-subdistrict program creating community-based R&D hubs to drive localized innovation and economic development across Thailand.
• AIMS Programme (Asian International Mobility for Students) International student exchange program providing opportunities for Thai students to gain global skills and cross-cultural experience.
• Thailand Science Park Research park serving as a private-sector focused industrial research zone supporting technology development and innovation.
• Software Park Thailand Software industry zone providing infrastructure and support for software technology companies.
• Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark National astronomy park and observatory facility for astronomical research and public education.
• Innovation Park (NIA) Innovation park supporting the development and commercialization of innovative technologies and businesses.
• TISTR Service Catalogue on BDS Platform Service catalogue from Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research providing SMEs access to national research, testing, and innovation services via the BDS platform with government subsidies up to 80% of costs.
• Graduate Employment System System tracking and reporting graduate employment rates and outcomes.
• Higher Education Information System Information dissemination system for higher education data and statistics.
• ThaiWater Platform Water data and monitoring platform providing water resource information and analytics.
• TCAS (Centralized University Admission System) Central university admissions system managing student selection and placement processes; over 242,000 Thai youth passed through the TCAS69 cycle.

Quantifiable outcome

• 242,000+ students admitted through TCAS centralized system annually
• +4 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Innovation Agency (NIA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 May 2026MHESI co-hosts national seminars on wellness industry development with NIA, and NIA announced it will formalize cooperation agreements with over 30 organizations including the Food and Drug Administration and multiple hospitals on May 29 to create a regulatory sandbox for trialing and scaling wellness innovations.
• True Corporation and GooglecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026True Corporation, Google, and MHESI launched 'AI for All Thais,' a nationwide AI literacy initiative embedding AI education into Thailand's university system for the first time. The program includes a 45-hour credit-bearing course 'AI for Future Workforce,' co-developed by True and Google, addressing Thailand's estimated shortage of 80,000 AI professionals. Google's existing $1 billion investment in Thai data centre and cloud infrastructure underpins the initiative, with True targeting to empower 12 million Thais with AI skills by 2030.
• Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026MHESI launched the TISTR Service Catalogue on the Business Development Service (BDS) platform, enabling SMEs to access national research, testing, and innovation services through a single digital system. Participating businesses can receive government subsidies covering up to 80% of eligible service costs, capped at THB 200,000 per project. Services span food and beverage, cosmetics, medical devices, agriculture, and aerospace sectors.
• Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 March 2026GHIT Fund and Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) signed an MOU on March 30, 2026, to establish a co-funding partnership for R&D targeting malaria, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), and other infectious diseases with pandemic potential. The partnership provides additional funding opportunities to Thai universities, research institutes, and companies conducting R&D in Thailand, building on Thailand's world-leading expertise in parasitic and infectious disease research.
• National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) and National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 March 2026MHESI, in partnership with NRCT and NSTDA, recognized 24 prototype Thai-language large language model projects developed by organizations across government, academia, and industry. The initiative aims to build domestically trained AI systems capable of handling Thai's unique tonal system and contextual nuances, reducing dependence on foreign-developed systems and strengthening national technological sovereignty.
• NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited and EDA (Thailand)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2026NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited and its subsidiary EDA (Thailand) signed an MOU with MHESI to launch the 'Learn-to-Career Ecosystem,' a government-backed AI initiative aimed at integrating AI across Thailand's education-to-employment pipeline. NetDragon contributes its global AI-powered learning platform expertise while EDA (Thailand) serves as the local ecosystem builder.
• Arizona State University (ASU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Arizona State University partnered with MHESI to build Thailand's national semiconductor capability through coordinated workforce development, faculty capacity-building, and infrastructure transformation. Key initiatives include an eight-week Semiconductor Ecosystem Master Class for Thai faculty, a Curriculum Accelerator program, a semiconductor packaging certificate targeting approximately 200 participants beginning in 2026, and plans for 10 PhD fellowships. The partnership also transforms the Thailand Microelectronics Center into a regional training hub.
• IMPACT Exhibition Management Co., Ltd.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigiTech ASEAN Thailand & AI Connect 2025, supported by MHESI, gathered over 350 technology brands from 17 countries with 80+ speakers across 80+ conference sessions covering AI, cybersecurity, cloud modernization, and digital commerce at IMPACT Exhibition & Convention Center in Bangkok.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Department of Science and Technology, Philippines: Philippines' DOST coordinates national scientific research funding, technology transfer, and STI policy. Comparable as a national-level government body governing science and innovation ecosystems in a Southeast Asian developing economy.
• Vietnam Ministry of Science and Technology: Vietnam's MOST governs science, technology, and innovation policy. Comparable as a national-level ministry coordinating STI strategy in a neighboring ASEAN economy at similar stage of development.
• National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF): NRF Singapore funds research, innovation, and manpower development at the national level. Comparable as a government-coordinated STI funding and policy body in a Southeast Asian context, though at smaller national scale.
• Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia: Malaysia's MOHE directly governs public and private higher education institutions and policies research funding. The closest ASEAN counterpart in mandate and structure to MHESI's higher education oversight role.

Broad incumbents

• Ministry of Education, Singapore: Singapore's MOE oversees higher education and skills development across its public institute network. Comparable as a national government education authority, though focused on Singapore's smaller, more centralized system.
• Ministry of Education, Indonesia: Indonesia's Kemendikbudristek (merged in 2021 similar to MHESI's 2018 consolidation) oversees education, research, and technology. Comparable as a recently consolidated ministry integrating higher education, science, and innovation under one authority.
• Ministry of Science and ICT, Republic of Korea: South Korea's MSIT oversees national ICT, science, and innovation policy at a much larger industrial scale. Comparable as a consolidated STI ministry, though with significantly higher R&D intensity and GDP scale.
• National Science Foundation (NSF), United States: NSF is the U.S. federal agency funding non-medical scientific research and STEM workforce development. Comparable to MHESI's NRCT/TSRI research funding role, though U.S.-focused and not a ministry-level entity.
• Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT): Japan's MEXT integrates higher education, science, and sports/culture policy under one ministry. Structurally analogous to MHESI's consolidated higher-education-and-science remit, operating in a more mature and larger-scale economy.

Regional players

• Department of Higher Education and Training, South Africa (DHET): DHET oversees post-school education and skills development in South Africa. Comparable as a national higher education authority, though geographically distant and operating in a different market context.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/MHESIThailand
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ScienceThailand
• Facebookfacebook.com/MHESIThailand

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation