National Innovation Agency (Public Organization)
สำนักงานนวัตกรรมแห่งชาติ (องค์การมหาชน)
NIA is Thailand's public agency for innovation-based business. It funds market testing, standards, consulting and expansion for innovation companies, and runs the Startup Thailand platform.
Bangkok
Thailand
What they focus on
- NIA's mission is to promote and develop Thai innovation, especially work that turns research and inventions into commercial products, and to recommend innovation policy and measures to the Cabinet.
- Its 2023–2027 strategy works through three mechanisms, Groom (incubating projects and startups), Grant (funding) and Growth (expanding innovation markets), with regional and international goals for Thai innovation businesses.
- Most NIA grants are matching grants of up to 75% of project cost, in economic tracks (such as Open Innovation, Regional Market Validate, Thematic Innovation and Market Expansion) and social innovation tracks.
- Applicants must be Thai-registered juristic persons with at least 51% Thai individual ownership; grants are paid by reimbursement and do not cover VAT.
Programs
- Market Expansion (กลไกการขยายธุรกิจนวัตกรรม) · Up to THB 2M; 100% (government customer) or 50% (private customer). Testing an innovation with target government or private customers; up to 1 year
- Thematic Innovation (ทุนโครงการนวัตกรรมแบบมุ่งเป้า) · Up to THB 5M, up to 75%. Market feasibility testing in priority themes; up to 3 years
- Open Innovation / Regional Market Validate · Up to THB 1.5M, up to 75%. Commercial prototype tests with real customers, or expanding a selling innovation to new markets; up to 1 year
- MIND consultancy · Up to THB 1M, up to 50%. Consultants for strategy, marketing, IP, finance and international trade; up to 1 year
- Corporate Co-funding · Up to THB 5M. Recoverable grant alongside NIA-listed investors; up to 5 years
- Startup Thailand League · THB 25,000 a team for prototypes; national prizes separate. Coaching camp to national pitching for university teams
- Standard Testing (ทุนสนับสนุนการทดสอบมาตรฐาน) · Up to 50%, max THB 1.5M. Matching grant for product registration and certification
- Zero Loan Interest · Up to 100% of interest, up to THB 5M of interest over up to 3 years. Grant covering loan interest, with seven partner banks
- Sectoral Social Innovation Project · Up to THB 1.5M. Prototype or pilot grants across nine social issue areas
On SEA Bridge
Sources
Last checked
November 7, 2026
NIA met a Swedish Incubators & Science Parks delegation hosted by SEA Bridge in Bangkok, Oct 2026.