Nation Thailand
Suphachai calls for THB100bn university innovation drive
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Thailand should consider investing about THB100 billion over five years in university-linked innovation centres to develop artificial intelligence and medical-technology talent, while banks should go beyond lending to help businesses improve productivity and competitiveness, two leading executives have said.
Key facts
- Suphachai also referred to current annual investment of about THB1 billion and estimated that THB35 billion in combined domestic and foreign investment would be required to increase GDP by 3%.
- Suphachai Chearavanont, Senior Vice Chairman of Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group), proposed the investment as part of a wider drive to position Thailand as a technology hub
- Suphachai estimated that innovation centres established jointly with universities could require about THB100 billion over five years
- Fresh durian alone had developed into a market worth about US$4 billion, he said
- Agriculture currently represented about 10% of GDP, and he estimated that increasing its contribution to 30% could add about 3% to GDP.
- He said more than THB100 billion had already been invested in areas including people and education, but the intended purpose and results of such spending needed to be examined.
Summary
Suphachai Chearavanont, Senior Vice Chairman of Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group), proposed the investment as part of a wider drive to position Thailand as a technology hub. Kattiya Indaravijaya, Chief Executive Officer of KASIKORNBANK, said financial institutions must support companies through economic and technological change with services extending beyond access to capital.
They were speaking at the Bangkok Business Summit 2026 during a session titled “Business Building the Future: Winning in Turbulence”, which examined geopolitical tensions, artificial intelligence, domestic constraints, economic growth and the transformation of the financial system.