More funds to boost research

"Currently, research funds stand at just 0.3 per cent of the country's GDP," Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday at a gathering of researchers.

The premier lamented that the limited funding posed a problem for research circles.

"In developed nations, the amount of total research funds is about five per cent of their GDP," Abhisit pointed out.

He insisted that research studies were very important to a country's development.

"They can be used to develop the country in many ways."

Abhisit said his government wanted to promote research by launching a "national research university".

Financed under the government's Thai Khemkhaeng economicstimulus package, the project will receive Bt12 billion in funding.

"We will inject Bt9 billion to 10 national research universities while the rest will go to support other universities for research purposes," he said.

The premier also planned to encourage the private sector to provide more funds to research.

"For research that may have commercial value, private companies and the government may jointly provide funding," he said.