Background

The National Innovation Agency (NIA) was established by the Ministry of Science and Technology on October 1st, 2003, following the Cabinet resolution on August 26th, 2003. It is an autonomous organization operating under the policy guidance of the National Innovation Board, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology. This special organization outside the normal framework of state enterprise and civil service enable the NIA to take a board-based, systematic approach towards enhancing the entire innovation system of Thailand in support of national economic and social development.

| The establishment of the National Innovation Agency is considered an important "innovation" by the Ministry of Science and Technology in changing the administrative course of the Innovation Development Fund (previously under the direction of the National Science and Technology Development Agency) and the Revolving Fund of Research and Technology Development (previously under the direction of the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology). Because of their similar missions, the two funds were combined to create a nationally recognized agency to undertake and support innovation development, in both the ways of improvement and initiation, in order to encourage economics restructuring and increase national competitiveness, especially in strategic innovation which affects the productivity of the nation.

The National Innovation Agency functions as a central unit in coordinating, networking and partnering different organizations from various fields such as education, technology, finance or investment but mainly focuses on utilizing knowledge management to achieve innovation, particularly to induce "innovation on Cluster Platform" which uses innovation as the principal tool in improving the quality of life and as a driving tool for competitive economics.

The course direction of the National Innovation Agency will follow that of the Innovation Development Fund, with three main objectives:
1. To induce innovations in the economic units.
2. To create a supportive atmosphere for innovation culture.
3. To strengthen organizations in innovation direction.

During the first period, the agency focused on developing strategic innovation projects in five branches: food and herbs, indigenous rubber and products, software and mechatronics, automotives and parts, and engineering and industrial designs. Such undertaking will integrate innovation into the strategic industry with a short term goal to generate a change in the manufacturing structure that will affect the economy and society in a swift and efficient manner. The long term goal is to bring Thailand to a knowledge-based economy and society in the end.

Currently, NIA is focusing on three strategic areas namely; Bio-Business, Energy and Environment, and Design and Branding.