NXPO and the Program Management Units – PMU A, PMU-B, and PMUC – welcomed a delegation from the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for an introductory meeting and discussion on potential bilateral cooperation between Thailand and Germany. The Thai hosts included Dr. Suchat Udomsopagit, Assistant to the President at NXPO; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Poon Thiengburanathum, Deputy Director of PMU A; Asst. Prof. Dr. Paripok Phitsuwan, Deputy Director of PMU-B; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chaleeda Borompichaichartkul, Deputy Director of PMUC. The German delegation comprised Mrs. Kathrin Meyer, Head of Division for Cooperation with Asia and Oceania at BMBF; Dr. Thorsten Clausing, Counsellor for Cooperation on Science and Technology at the German Embassy in Bangkok; representatives from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Ms. Adele Clausen, Advisor at the DLR Project Management Agency.
During the meeting, NXPO International Policy Partnership Division Director Dr. Pranpreya Sriwannawit Lundberg and representatives from PMUs provided an overview of Thailand’s higher education, science, research and innovation system, detailing the roles and scopes of involved agencies. Both sides engaged in extensive discussions on the work plans for the Joint Declaration of Intent between MHESI and BMBF, focusing on identifying joint research areas and joint funding mechanisms.
