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Thailand gets ready to host regional meeting

Thailand is preparing to host “Global Research Council Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting 2022” in Bangkok during Nov 21-23.

Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) together with the National Research Council of Thailand and the Program Management Unit for Human Resources and Institutional Development, Research and Innovation are the official hosts for the regional meeting.

They are expected to collaborate with Japan Science and Technology Agency and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science to host the event.

Pongpan Kaewtatip, vice-president of TSRI, said the agency participated in the 10th annual Global Research Council (GRC) meeting in Panama last May. At the meeting Thailand was nominated and selected to host this year’s edition.

“The main host typically invites another country in the Asia-Pacific region to co-host the regional meeting. TSRI invited Japan to co-host because of our long-standing collaboration in science, research and innovation systems,” said Mr Pongpan.

The GRC is a virtual organisation dedicated to promoting the sharing of data and best practices for high-quality collaboration among funding agencies worldwide.

Each year, the organisation identifies one or two topics for action and then coordinates via working-level regional meetings to develop a consensus document for consideration at the Annual Meeting of Heads of Research Councils.

The participants aim to support basic science and engineering research across a broad range of disciplines.

The next annual meeting is scheduled for the Netherlands in April to May 2023.

For the 2023 meeting, GRC plans to focus on two key issues. The first is the role of funding agencies in supporting research on climate change, which poses severe environmental problems around the world.

The second topic is rewarding researcher innovation for those who contribute extensive economic and social impacts.

Mr Pongpan said hosting the GRC regional meeting provides a good opportunity for Thai agencies in science, research and innovation to learn and share experiences with other member countries.

“Together, all funding agencies will contribute to solving common global problems, such as those related to air quality, society and the environment,” he said.

Some 50-100 participants are expected to attend the event in Bangkok from member countries including Asean nations, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia and India.

Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2423621/thailand-gets-ready-to-host-regional-meeting