The Nordic countries, specifically Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland, are known for being leaders in green innovation, education, quality of life, and sustainability. With the vision to strengthen collaborations with its Nordic counterparts on innovation and sustainability, the Royal Thai Embassies in Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, and Helsinki, thus, jointly established the Thailand-Nordic Countries Innovation Unit (TNIU) as a mechanism to promote such collaborations between Thailand and the Nordic counterparts.

Lately, Thailand has been promoting the Bio-Circular-Green Economy, or BCG Model, to push forward sustainable development. Innovation is the core driving force of this economic model. With the strength of the Nordic countries in innovation and sustainability, they become Thailand’s natural partners for sustainable development, green transition, and innovation. TNIU will respond to these demands for collaborations.

TNIU’s three main functions are to promote knowledge exchange in innovation and technologies through activities such as webinars and blog posts in its social media platforms, to help business sectors create partnership and invest in startups of both sides, and to promote stronger partnerships between academic, civil society, and public agencies on innovation.

In his pre-recorded speech during the official launching ceremony of TNIU on 7 September 2022, H.E. Mr. Vijavat Isarabhakdi, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, emphasized the significance of TNIU as an essential mechanism for Thailand and the Nordic countries to work together in promoting innovation. Moreover, it will open doors to more investment opportunities and create innovation partnership between all stakeholders. In attendance were Mr. Asi Mamanee, Director-General of the Department of European Affairs, representatives from the 4 Nordic embassies in Thailand (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden), and representatives from the TNIU’s partners, namely Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), National Innovation Agency (NIA), Chulalongkorn University, and SCG. 

To support and drive more concrete innovation cooperation between Thailand and the Nordic countries, Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Ms. Duangjai Asawachintachit, BOI’s Secretary General, Prof. Kaywalee Chatdarong, Vice President of Chulalongkorn University, Dr. Pun-Arj Chairatana, Executive Director of National Innovation Agency, and Mr. Yuttana Jiamtragan, Vice President of SCG, jointly signed the Declaration of Intention on Thailand-Nordic Countries Innovation Unit (TNIU). Other agencies in both regions are welcomed to be a part of this partnership.

Since April 2022, TNIU has launched its Facebook page and created an online community to stimulate discussion on innovation partnership between Thailand and the Nordic region. Since then, TNIU has assisted in many projects, such as helping the Thai private sector in finding its partnerships in the Nordic countries, supporting collaboration efforts between the Thai and Nordic academic departments, and organizing webinars with the aim to promoting the exchange of knowledge between Thailand and the Nordic countries.

You can follow TNIU’s news and activities at www.tniu.se or the ‘Thailand and Nordic Countries Innovation Unit’ Facebook page.