Chiang Mai University School of Public Policy

What Chiang Mai University School of Public Policy does

Chiang Mai University School of Public Policy (CMU-SPP) is an academic department within Chiang Mai University, located 700 km north of Bangkok in Thailand's second capital. Established in 2017, the school was created to address "wicked" public policy problems through inclusive, innovative, and progressive policy solutions. It operates with a listed team of 28 personnel and delivers a portfolio that combines academic degree programs, executive training, and policy research/consultancy services. Its graduate offerings include an international Master in Public Policy (MPP/MA) and a PhD in Public Policy, alongside executive education in foresight, policy lab experimentation, and short courses delivered in Thai.

The school's core technology stack centers on decision support systems, data analytics, foresight and futures-thinking methodologies, and deliberative policy analysis frameworks — taught both as curriculum (Decision Support System and Data Analytics for Public Policy) and applied in research. Proprietary outputs include the Innovation Index for Inclusive, Sustainable, and Connected City (ISC), co-developed with Thailand's National Innovation Agency (NIA), and Global Innovation Index (GII) policy analysis. Platform-style assets include Policy Markets (deliberative forums), Policy Seminars, the Chiang Mai City Lab (urban innovation testbed), CMU Policy Lab, the Wellbeing & Public Policy platform, and the HOPESEA-Thailand regional network. Research domains span energy, sustainability, PM2.5/transboundary air pollution, mental well-being, just society, smart/livable cities, and innovation.

CMU-SPP generates revenue through three streams: graduate tuition (international MA/PhD programs), executive education and training, and funded research/consultancy contracts. Its customer base comprises Thai government ministries (e.g., Ministry of Energy, NIA, Thailand Science Research and Innovation, local city managers), international graduate students, and ASEAN/regional bodies. Strategic partnerships anchor its standing: the Director serves on the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA); core alliances include NIA, TSRI, the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Facebook Thailand (for the Women Leading Our Connected World series), and ASEAN member states (transboundary haze work). The school markets primarily through its website, Facebook/LinkedIn channels, and recurring events such as Policy Markets and the annual Summer Symposium.

Name

Chiang Mai University School of Public Policy

Legal name

School Of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University

Website

https://spp.cmu.ac.th

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chiang Mai University School of Public Policy (CMU-SPP) is a Thai academic institution offering graduate degrees, executive training, and policy research. It serves graduate students, Thai government agencies, and ASEAN stakeholders through deliberative platforms, foresight methodologies, and consultancy services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Policy Education and Research

NAICS

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921), Administration of Economic Programs (9261)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAAAI

Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Public Research Universities

SECONDARYEDADAKAB

Academic Affairs Administration (Curriculum, Scheduling, Academic Policy)

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Institutional Governance & Administration (School/College/University Admin)

Keywords

• Public policy education
• Policy research services
• Executive policy training
• Foresight consulting
• Governance advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Chiang Mai

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

Revenue model

1. Graduate Education Tuition: Revenue from Master and PhD program tuition fees for international graduate programs in Public Policy
2. Executive Education and Training: Short courses, foresight training programs, and professional development for public sector policy analysts
3. Research Projects and Consultancy: Funded research projects from government agencies, international organizations, and policy consultancy services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Chiang Mai University School of Public Policy (CMU-SPP) is an academic and research institution offering graduate degree programs (Master and PhD in Public Policy), executive education and short courses, policy research, and consultancy services. It operates deliberative platforms such as Policy Markets and the Chiang Mai City Lab, and develops proprietary policy research tools including the Innovation Index for Inclusive, Sustainable, and Connected City (ISC).

Product overview

Chiang Mai University School of Public Policy (CMU-SPP) offers a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs and policy services. The core educational offerings include an international Master in Public Policy (MPP/MA) and a PhD in Public Policy for graduate students. Executive education includes short courses and specialized training programs in foresight and policy experimentation. The school provides policy research services across multiple domains (energy, inclusiveness, sustainability, smart cities, air pollution, mental well-being) and consultancy services for government and non-government organizations. Its distinctive deliberative platforms include Policy Markets (market-style policy exchanges), Policy Seminars, and the Chiang Mai City Lab for urban innovation testing. CMU-SPP has developed proprietary research tools including the Innovation Index for Inclusive, Sustainable, and Connected City (ISC) for measuring city innovation capacity. The institution also offers specialized course modules including Decision Support System and Data Analytics for Public Policy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master in Public Policy (MPP/MA) International graduate degree program providing rigorous training for the next generation of decision-makers in public policy.
• PhD in Public Policy Research-intensive doctoral program designed for aspiring policy experts and academics.
• Short Courses in Public Policy Top-class public policy training services and short courses for professionals and executives.
• Foresight Training Program Training program helping executives and managers prepare for uncertainties of the future through futures thinking and foresight analysis methodologies.
• Policy Lab and Experimentation Training Short-course training on policy lab methodology and policy experimentation approaches for innovative policy design.
• Future Thinking for Public Policy and Planning Training program on futures thinking methodologies for public policy design and strategic planning.
• Research Projects Multi-scale research on public policy issues critical to sustainability, including energy, inclusiveness, just society, mental well-being, smart cities, air pollution, and innovation.
• Consultancy Services Policy consulting services for government and non-government organizations addressing complex and wicked public problems.
• Policy Markets Innovative policy learning platform that enables stakeholders to co-create, discuss, and deliberate policy options through market-style exchanges.
• Policy Seminars Seminars and symposiums featuring policy scholars, researchers, and practitioners discussing public policy issues.
• Chiang Mai City Lab Platform for understanding urban phenomena and testing innovative policy solutions in Chiang Mai as an urban laboratory.
• CMU Policy Lab Cutting-edge research and consulting organization committed to solving complex public problems with inclusive, innovative, and progressive policy solutions.
• Wellbeing & Public Policy Platform focused on mental health policy and well-being research and policy development.
• HOPESEA-Thailand Southeast Asian regional network for policy collaboration and knowledge sharing on public policy issues.

Quantifiable outcome

• Global Innovation Index (GII) analysis and policy recommendations provided to Thai government
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Facebook ThailandflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 September 2019Partnership for the Women Leading Our Connected World (WOW) series - Policy Market EP.9 and subsequent seasons. Facebook Thailand co-designed activities to promote women's leadership in Thailand's digital economy.
• ASEAN Member StatescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2019Organized ASEAN 2020: Managing Disasters & Haze International Conference addressing transboundary air pollution. Part of Haze Free Country Network in Upper ASEAN research initiative.
• National Innovation Agency (NIA) of ThailandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIA is CMU-SPP's main partner for innovation research. The school conducts analysis of the Global Innovation Index (GII) and provides policy recommendations to the Thai government. Jointly developed the Innovation Index for Inclusive, Sustainable, and Connected City (ISC).
• Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating with TSRI to study new frameworks for driving science, research, and innovation policy in Thailand.
• United Nations (UN DESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school Director serves as a member of the Committee of the Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) for UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The school produces reports for UN on public administration and sustainable development.
• Chiang Mai UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMU-SPP is an integral school within Chiang Mai University, utilizing university facilities and collaborating with other CMU faculties for interdisciplinary research.
• National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on science, research, and innovation policy frameworks for Thailand.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• UNDP Regional Hub Bangkok: Major multilateral development organization funding policy research and capacity building across Southeast Asia. Functions as both a potential partner and funder that competes for the same policy mandates.
• Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI): Tokyo-based think tank producing policy research and capacity building programs across Asia. Comparable research output and government audience, with overlapping topics in energy, urbanization, and governance.

Direct peers

• Thailand National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (NIDA): Thailand's leading public policy graduate institution offering Master's and doctoral programs and government-focused research. Direct domestic peer competing for the same Thai government talent pool and policy mandates.
• Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (NUS): Asia's leading graduate public policy school offering MPP and PhD programs, executive education, and policy research. Highly comparable to CMU-SPP in mission, graduate offerings, and Southeast Asia focus, but at significantly larger scale.
• Thammasat University Faculty of Political Science: Major Thai public university offering graduate programs in public administration and political science with policy research. Domestic peer for graduate students, faculty, and Thai government research contracts.
• Chulalongkorn University College of Population Studies: Another leading Thai public university offering public policy and governance programs. Competes with CMU-SPP for graduate students, executive training clients, and government policy mandates in Thailand.
• KDI School of Public Policy and Management: Korea's premier policy graduate school with MPP and PhD programs, executive training, and applied policy research. Comparable in mission, structure, and government-adjacent positioning to CMU-SPP.

Regional players

• University of Hong Kong Faculty of Social Sciences: HKU offers graduate public policy and governance programs with research output on Asian policy issues. Comparable academic positioning in Asia but in a different jurisdiction.
• Singapore Management University (SMU) School of Public Policy: SMU offers graduate programs and policy research in the region. Comparable in mission and Southeast Asia focus, though based in Singapore with different funding model.

Broad incumbents

• Harvard Kennedy School: Global leader in public policy education and research. Competes for top international graduate students and sets the benchmark for executive education and policy advising that CMU-SPP emulates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sppcmu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cmuspp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Chiang Mai University School of Public Policy