Thailand\u2019s economy and trade have shown steady signs of recovery in recent years, driven mainly by exports of processed agricultural products, electronics, and electric vehicles. These sectors align with global trends that are shifting toward green and digital technologies. At the same time, Thailand has been developing its \u201cinnovation economy\u201d through policies that support research, as well as the use of digital and biotechnologies in manufacturing and services. The goal is to reduce dependence on natural resources and increase value through knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Global trends such as the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, the shift to clean energy, and the rise of a borderless digital economy present both opportunities and challenges. Thailand must act quickly to close gaps in skills, infrastructure, and data to move toward an innovation-driven economy that is competitive and sustainable in the global value chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Global Innovation Index 2025<\/em> by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Thailand ranks 45th globally. This ranking is \u201cin line with its level of development\u201d as an upper middle-income country. In other words, Thailand is progressing as expected but still lacks standout performance compared to neighboring countries like Vietnam (ranked 44th) and the Philippines (ranked 50th), both considered \u201cinnovation overperformers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thailand\u2019s clear strengths lie in its ability to absorb technology and its role as a manufacturing hub. This is reflected in its high rankings in high-tech exports (8th) and creative goods exports (7th). Thai businesses also invest heavily in R&D, with the highest share of business-funded R&D among comparable countries showing strong private-sector readiness to leverage innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, there are still key gaps that need attention:<\/p>\n\n\n\n To address these gaps, Thailand should act urgently in three main areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If Thailand can successfully close the gaps in human capital and research commercialization, and use AI smartly to boost capacity, it can move from a country that \u201cmeets expectations\u201d to one that \u201coutperforms\u201d and become truly competitive on the global stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Author:
Mr. Kamol Panmuang
Senior Researcher
International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD)
www.itd.or.th
Publication: Bangkok BIZ Newspaper
Section: First Section\/World Beat
Volume: 39 Issue: 13021
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025
Page: 8 (bottom-left)
Column: \u201cAsean Insight\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":501,"featured_media":110874,"template":"","categories":[35,29],"tags":[674,728,353,1341,1343,1342,465,471],"class_list":["post-110873","itd-data-center","type-itd-data-center","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article-en","category-data-center-en","tag-development-en","tag-digital-transformation","tag-economic-en","tag-human-capital-en","tag-innovation-economy-en","tag-rd-en","tag-technology-en","tag-thailand"],"pp_force_visibility":null,"pp_subpost_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_force_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_subpost_visibility":null,"yoast_head":"\n