== Pattani Yala Narathiwat Community Based Research Node == [Thailand Research Fund

Vision

The ninth National Social and Economic Development Plan (2002-2006) set a research investment goal at 0.40% of the gross domestic product. Forecasts for 2006 predict the GDP will reach 6 trillion baht. In order for such investment to be beneficial for the country as a whole, there should be research investment of at least 24 billion baht, there should be at least 240 research administrators, and there must be a high-quality research infrastructure, including both research institutions and research funding organizations.

TRF’s intentions are to help construct a strong Thai research infrastructure. Policy, budgeting, expenses, research institutions, researchers, and research culture are areas identified by TRF as needing focus. Development requires improving research investment in terms of quality and amount. This fiscal year there is an investment of about 9 billion baht. For maximum benefit of the country, five times this amount should be invested. Additionally, ten times the present number of researchers are needed, and the number of strong research institutions must be increased. Finally, strategies must be set up for attracting more talent into the research career. In this regard, systems for the establishment of professional research and research administrator should be introduced in Thailand.

Objective

TRF’s objectives are :

1.      To build up professional researchers and strengthen the research community.

2.      To support research that is significant to national development, both for basic research and research where results can be used directly.

3.      To promote the dissemination and use of research findings.

4.      To raise funds for the national research and development system.

Administrative Structure

TRF consists of an administrative division which looks after all office works and seven divisions which handle research granting activities. Also in order to promote research in regional parts of Thailand, TRF has set up its first regional office in Chiang Mai. It is called “TRF Regional Office”. This office started its operation in October 1998. The seven divisions and the TRF Regional office have the following responsibilities :

1. Program on National Policy and Transnational Relations (Division1)

This program’s primary focuses are to develop a strong base for various social institutions; understand the situation of the country in relation to worldwide economic, political, and cultural changes; and find new options for national unity and stability.

2. Program on Agriculture (Division 2)

This program’s primary focuses are to promote scientific and technological research which will increase the capabilities of the producers or service providers in order to maintain and increase Thailand’s competitiveness, with due consideration to possible effects on the environment.

3. Program on Public Welfare (Division 3)

This program’s focus is on multidisciplinary research in the areas of natural resources and on solving environmental, energy, social welfare, and health problems.

4. Program on Community (Division 4)

This program’s focus is to promote and coordinate research and development which will strengthen community. Various aspects of social and economic research programs on community development are under the responsibilities of this division.

5. Program on Industry (Division 5)

This program’s focus is to promote research and development in the industrial sector. In the beginning, emphasis will be on development of necessary technologies for small and medium enterprises (SME). This will include improvement of processes, development of new product and quality improvement of existing product. Recently a program to develop researchers for the industry, similar to the Teaching Company Scheme (TCS) in United Kingdom, has been launched by this division. The ultimate goal of this division is to make Thai industry more competitive in the world market.

6. Program on Academic Research

This program’s focus is to support basic research in every academic field and to develop high-quality researchers in the areas of science, technology, social sciences, and the humanities. Presently, emphasis is on directed or targeted basic research which will serve as a basis for research development in other programs.

7. Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Program

This program’s aim is to tackle the severe shortages of highly qualified researchers in the country. The objectives of the program are to support the production of 25,000 international quality research work and Ph.D. graduates in the next 25 years. Due to its highly significant and far reaching nature, the government strongly approved the program in 1996 as a program to commemorate His Majesty the King’s Golden Jubilee year of reign, as well as a budget of 1.32 billion baht for the first phase (1997-2011) where 5,000 research work and Ph.D. graduates would be produced.

8. TRF Regional Office

This office’s role is to promote area-based research to solve local problems and serve the needs of the community. The office supports small projects which are of mainly development or action-research types. Currently, projects supported by this office cover every region of Thailand.

Types of Research Grants

Research grants supported by TRF are divided into 2 main categories:

1. Research where results will be used directly. This type of research is called “research and development (R&D)”. It could be scientific or technological research to develop products or processes, humanities research to be used for institutional adjustment, or national policy research which is commonly referred to as “research and development.” So that research and development projects can truly be improved and reach levels of high quality, there are supplemental funds for research and development support in the areas of:

- project development

- pilot project

- state-of-the-art review

2. Basic research. This is the research that searches for new knowledge, new theories, new concepts, or new technologies. It does not focus on the practical use of the results. There are two types of basic research. The first type is initiated freely by researchers themselves. The second type is called directed or targeted basic research. This is the basic research which is determined by TRF. Its aim is to support R&D and to strengthen research in the areas which are relatively weak. However, the outputs of both types are the same. The expected results are publications in international journals.

Basic research grants consist of :

Research Team Promotion Grant
Basic Research Grant
Research Career Development Grant
Post-Doctoral Research Grant
New Researchers Grant
Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Grant

1. Research Team Promotion Grant

Grantees are selected by the committee appointed by TRF. They are selected from the nation’s top researchers with outstanding records in international publications or have produced high-quality research work. The grantees must also possess desirable characteristics to develop new researchers and do not hold any administrative positions at the level of the dean or above. The grant is 2.5 million baht per year, for a period of 3 years and is renewable.

The grantee who will be honored as “TRF Senior Research Scholar” will receive a monthly honorarium of 40,000 baht.

2. Basic Research Grant

Open for application twice a year, July-December and January-June. Eligible applicants must have at least 2 publications in international journals.

The amount of the grant does not exceed 3 million baht and for a period of not more than three years. TRF also allocates extra 5-10% on top of research budget as a compensation to the researcher’s institutes.

3. Research Career Development Grant

Open for application once a year, between January, 1 and March, 31.

Applicant must have excellent education and research track record with at least 2 publications in international journals, not over 45 years of age, and do not hold any administrative position at the level of departmental head or above. The grant is 400,000 baht per year, for a period of 3 years and can be reapplied one more time.

The grantee, who will be honored as “TRF Research Scholar” will receive a monthly honorarium of 15,000 baht.

4. Post-Doctoral Research Grant

This grant is open for young Ph.D.s with strong interest in research career. The grant requires Post-Doctoral Fellow to work full time with experienced senior researcher for a period of up to 2 years. There are 2 tracks for this grant. Those who want to work in Thailand will receive a monthly honorarium of 30,000 baht. Those who prefer to do research abroad will receive travel expense and sufficient stipend to live comfortably. In this case, host institute will share expense with TRF.

At present, University of Wisconsin, at Madison (UWM) and the National Research Council of Canada agree to support Thai researchers who want to do research at UWM and in Canada.

5. New Researchers Grant

Open for application once a year, between October, 1 and December, 31.

Applicants must possess good education and research track record, receive master or doctorate degrees within the past 5 years, not over 45 years of age, and do not hold any administrative position at the level of departmental head or above. The grant is 200,000 baht per year, for a period of not exceeding 2 years.

The grantee will receive a monthly honorarium of 10,000 baht.

6. Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Grant

The grants are to support doctoral students in every discipline to study in Thailand. The student must have a co-supervisor in a recognized foreign university and will be supported to do research abroad for a period of up to one year.

The amount of each grant does not exceed 2,000,000 baht for a period of up to 5 years.