Research and Innovation Acceleration Agency for Competitiveness and Area Development (RCAD)
สำนักงานเร่งรัดการวิจัยและนวัตกรรมเพื่อเพิ่มความสามารถการแข่งขันและการพัฒนาพื้นที่ (องค์การมหาชน)
RCAD is a public organization under MHESI that funds research and innovation through three units: PMU-C (competitiveness), PMU-A (area-based development) and PMU-B (workforce and higher education).
Bangkok
Thailand
What they focus on
- RCAD was set up under a 2025 royal decree and, from 1 January 2026, houses three funding units: PMU-C for competitiveness, PMU-A for area-based development and PMU-B for workforce and higher education.
- PMU-C funds research and innovation that raise the competitiveness of manufacturing and services, including technology transfer and commercial use, in eight areas: high-value food, health and medicine, bioenergy and biomaterials, tourism and the creative economy, digital platforms, the circular economy, future mobility and rail, and logistics.
- PMU-C grants favor programs built with end users such as SMEs and industry, through collaboration or co-investment, and it also runs Global Partnership, Innovation Driven Enterprises (IDEs) and National Quality Infrastructure programs.
- PMU-A funds area-based research and innovation to improve local well-being and the competitiveness of local startups, micro-enterprises, SMEs, community enterprises and social enterprises.
- PMU-A works on poverty reduction, the grassroots economy, livable and learning cities, and local government capacity, with researchers, universities, community enterprises, government, private firms and foreign organizations as partners.
Programs
- PMU-C (หน่วยบริหารจัดการทุนด้านการเพิ่มความสามารถการแข่งขัน, บพข.) · No fixed cap in the FY2569 call. Competitiveness research and innovation at TRL 4+, with private co-funding of 10–50%
- PMU-A (หน่วยบริหารจัดการทุนด้านการพัฒนาพื้นที่, บพท.) · THB 0.3–2.2M a project in 2026 calls. Area-based research with local partners
On SEA Bridge
Sources
Last checked
November 7, 2026
RCAD met a Swedish Incubators & Science Parks delegation hosted by SEA Bridge in Bangkok, Oct 2026.