Category: The Bangkok Post

Two Thai high school students have brought pride to the nation after their invention was honoured internationally and nationally within the same month.

The Future of Good Life project, led by Marc Sithsakorn Jantrakul of Ruamrudee International School (RIS), Bangkok, together with Win (Chaiyanat Kuptivej) of Bangkok Patana School, received top honours at the 10th International Invention Innovation Competition (iCAN 2025) in Toronto, Canada, on 30 August 2025. Their device, RiceSense, impressed international judges and earned the Gold Medal, the Organiser’s Choice Award, the Certificate of Excellence, and a Special Award from the Korea University Invention Association.

On 23 September 2025, the two students were again recognised in Thailand when they received the Prime Minister’s Digital Award 2025 – Digital Youth of the Year (Merit Award). The national honour highlights the impact of their project in using digital technology to support sustainable farming practices.

RiceSense is a low-cost, portable device that uses digital sensors and cloud-based data submission to help farmers measure water levels in rice fields. Designed as an affordable and farmer-friendly alternative to complex IoT systems, it enables more farmers to adopt low-carbon rice farming methods.

Marc, who hopes to pursue computer science or computer engineering at university, said the awards mark an important milestone for Thai youth-led innovation. ‘Being recognised both internationally and nationally in the same month is incredible,’ Marc said. ‘These honours show that students in Thailand can create real solutions for farmers, for the environment, and for the country’s future.’

Both Marc and Win have also been nominated by the Thai government to represent Thailand at the World Food Forum Youth Representatives Programme in Rome this October, where they will present their project to global leaders.

The awards were presented by Dr Jakkanit Kananurak, Vice President, Digital Manpower Development and Promotion Department, Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA).

The back-to-back recognition abroad and at home, combined with the upcoming World Food Forum, underscores how Thai youth are combining engineering, coding, and innovation to drive sustainable agriculture and contribute to global solutions.

Though Thailand has a high adoption rate for artificial intelligence (AI), the country’s global competitiveness and economic growth are threatened because 47% of businesses cite a lack of digital skills as the main barrier to expanding AI use, according to Amazon Web Services (AWS) research.

More than 600,000 businesses in Thailand report use of AI, yet only 16% of AI-adopting large enterprises are harnessing the technology to innovate new AI-driven products or services, compared with 40% of AI-adopting startups, reflecting a “two-tier AI economy”, noted the research.

The report “Unlocking Thailand’s AI Potential” was conducted in collaboration with Strand Partners, using an AI adoption survey in Thailand with participation from 1,000 business leaders and 1,000 nationally representative members.

Recent research by the Telecoms Advisory Service, commissioned by AWS, found cloud and AI added more than US$3.3 billion to Thailand’s GDP in 2023.

Cloud services are set to add $2.8 trillion to Asia-Pacific regional GDP by 2030, with nearly $203 billion alone coming from cloud-enabled AI, according to the research.

“AI adoption is gaining momentum. In Thailand, 150,000 businesses adopted AI solutions in 2024 — nearly one every three minutes,” said Nick Bonstow, director of Strand Partners.

“Now a total of 600,000, or 32% of Thailand’s businesses, have already adopted AI, a year-on-year growth rate of 33%.”

A total of 67% of Thai businesses that adopted AI reported an increase in revenue, with an average uplift of 17%, while 78% expect an average of 17% in cost savings, according to the report.

The top three sectors adopting AI are manufacturing, IT and technology, and financial services.

Some 32% of businesses in Thailand now use at least one AI tool, rising from 24% last year.

However, 72% of respondents remain focused primarily on basic use cases, rather than innovation such as developing new products or disrupting industries.

“This underscores the need to deepen AI adoption to unlock Thailand’s full AI potential,” Mr Bonstow said.

Only 18% of Thailand’s businesses have advanced to the intermediate stage of AI adoption, while 10% reached the most transformative stage of AI integration, compared with 9% of companies in Vietnam and 8% in the Philippines, he said.

Two-tier economy

Half of startups in Thailand use AI in some way, of which 40% are building entirely new AI-driven products.

The study found 73% of businesses overall and 84% of startups believe AI will transform their industry in five years, making Thai startups key to innovation and competitiveness on the continent, noted AWS.

While 44% of large enterprises are using AI, only 16% of these are delivering a new AI-driven product or service, and only 18% have a comprehensive AI strategy.

Similarly, 32% of small and medium-sized enterprises have adopted AI, but only 9% are leveraging AI for its most advanced uses.

“Our report warns of a two-tier AI economy, where startups are racing ahead and other businesses are left behind, said Mr Bonstow.

AI Skills Gap

A lack of skilled personnel is the leading reason that 47% of businesses in Thailand say is preventing them from adopting or expanding their use of AI.

This puts Thailand’s global competitiveness at risk and restricts economic potential, as AI literacy is expected to be required in 61% of jobs in the future, and only 29% of businesses feel prepared with their current workforce’s skillset.

Only 34% of employees received any digital skills training in the past year, noted the report.

Businesses are struggling to hire workers with the right skills and would be willing to increase salary offers by an average of 36% for a candidate with strong AI skills, according to respondents.

Firms spend 27% of their technology budgets on legal and compliance expenses, with 76% expecting these costs to rise over three years.

Vatsun Thirapatarapong, country manager of AWS Thailand, said to maintain Thailand’s competitive edge on the global AI stage, a clear “AI First” policy is needed to drive adoption.

He said this involves reimagining and automating government workflows, potentially requiring legal changes to enable fully online services.

Thailand have been tipped to become overall medal champions at the upcoming Southeast Asian Games as men’s football gold remains the most coveted prize among voters in a recent sports poll.

The poll on “The 2025 SEA Games and the opportunities for Thai national athletes”, a collaboration between Kasem Bundit University’s Center of Innovation for Human Capital Development (CIHCD KBU) and the World Institute of Sports Development and Organization Management (Wisdom), was conducted among 1,209 participants, aged 18 years and over between Oct 1-3. Of these, 647 were male (35.51%), 402 were female (33.25%), and 160 were LGBTQIA++ (13.32%).

The survey found that 38.02% believed Thailand could become the overall medal champions, while 57.33% expected the national contingent to win more than 100 gold medals at the biennial tournament.

Football remains the most popular sport, receiving 29.60% of the votes, followed by volleyball (27.96%), sepak takraw (16.29%), badminton (13.50%) and taekwondo (9.66%).

The women’s volleyball was voted as the sport that the Thai team have the strongest chance to win gold with 26.80%. Sepak takraw came second with 24.10%, followed by muay (18.94%), futsal (13.35%) and athletics (12.08%).

The men’s football gold is the most wanted medal with 32.90% of the votes, followed by women’s volleyball at 30.88% and sepak takraw at 16.55%.

The 33rd SEA Games will take place from Dec 9-20 in Bangkok, Chon Buri and Songkhla, with 50 medal sports, three demonstration sports — air sports, flying discs and tug of war — and mixed martial arts featuring as a “value creation” event.

This will be the seventh time the Kingdom is hosting the event. The last time Thailand finished as overall champions was in 2015 in Singapore.

Sixteen Thais who were duped into working for a scam syndicate in Myawaddy, Myanmar, have been safely repatriated, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.

Ministry spokesman, Nikorndej Balankura, said the group was brought back safely after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul instructed Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow to work closely with the Royal Thai Embassy in Yangon, the Royal Thai Police and officials from the Naresuan Task Force to secure their repatriation.

The group – comprising 10 men and six women – crossed back into Thailand via the Mae Sot-Myawaddy permanent border checkpoint in Tak on Sunday.

The group said they were lured into working for the syndicate after responding to job advertisements on social media promising work in Myanmar casinos, he said.

Authorities are now working to verify their information under Thailand’s National Referral Mechanism.

Mercedes’ George Russell won the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday ahead of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, as McLaren clinched the Formula One constructors’ championship.

Oscar Piastri was fourth, meaning his lead over McLaren teammate Norris at the top of the drivers’ standings was cut to 22 points.

The 27 points scored by Piastri and Norris were more than enough for McLaren to equal the record set by Red Bull in 2023 by winning the team title with six races to spare.

It was McLaren’s second title in a row and 10th in the team’s history, and was won despite their two drivers clashing in the opening turns with sparks flying as Norris got the better of Piastri.

“They have driven brilliantly all season. You can’t win the constructors’ without two awesome racing drivers,” said McLaren CEO Zak Brown.

“As you can see, we are letting them race. They race hard, they race clean, they race to win.”

Russell was overjoyed to win the night race for the first time, saying it was payback for his final-lap crash two years ago while pushing for victory on the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

“It feels amazing, especially after what happened a couple of years ago. That was a bit of a missed opportunity, but we more than made up for it today,” said the Englishman, who started on pole.

“We don’t really know where this performance came from, but really, really happy.

“I mean, a one hour, 45-minute race here in Singapore, with the heat and humidity, is never smooth and straightforward.

“But pulling out a 10-second gap in 20 laps was really great. And from that moment on it was bring it home.”

Dutchman Verstappen was relieved to finish second for Red Bull.

“I think the whole race was quite difficult, more difficult than I hoped for, for a lot of different reasons,” said the four-time world champion, who remains third in the title race, 63 points behind Australia’s Piastri.

“There’s a few things that we need to understand why they went wrong today.

“But around here even if you have more pace, you can’t pass without anything crazy happening. So I think second was the maximum result.”

– ‘Not fair’ –

Kimi Antonelli crossed the line fifth in a Mercedes, followed by the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.

Fernando Alonso, Oliver Bearman and Carlos Sainz rounded out the top 10.

Hamilton struggled with failing brakes towards the end of the race, dropping from fifth to seventh.

He then was slapped with a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits multiple times, relegating him to eighth behind Alonso.

At the start, Russell got away cleanly from Verstappen, but the drama all happened behind the Mercedes.

Norris, from fifth on the grid, darted past Antonelli and dived up the inside of Piastri, who started third, at turn one.

Norris was flying and clipped the back of Verstappen on the way to barging his way into third place in a wheel-to-wheel clash with teammate Piastri.

The championship leader was not impressed. “So are we cool with Lando just barging me out of the way there? What’s the go there?” Piastri complained on team radio.

His anger was not appeased by the team saying they would discuss the incident after the race and not order Norris to swap places.

“That’s not fair. I’m sorry, that’s not fair,” Piastri said.

Norris disagreed. “It was good racing,” he said.

After pitting for hard tyres, the leading four emerged in the same order, though Verstappen was reporting downshift problems with his gearbox that felt “like a handbrake”.

By lap 41 of the 62 Norris had the ailing Verstappen in his sights but found it impossible to get close enough to pass on a circuit where overtaking is notoriously tricky.

“Max didn’t make any mistakes. I gave it my all today and got close,” said Norris.

The night race in tropical Singapore was declared the first official Formula One “Heat Hazard”.

That means all drivers had to have liquid-cooled vests available, though wearing them was not mandatory.

However, with the air temperature around 28C for the race, rather than the expected 31C, some opted not to use the new equipment, including Verstappen.

The Finance Ministry expects the “Khon La Khrueng” co-payment scheme and increased allowances under the state welfare card programme to lift private consumption by 0.87 percentage points.

According to a ministry source who requested anonymity, additional allowances under the state welfare card scheme are estimated to add 0.35 percentage points to private consumption, while the co-payment scheme will contribute 0.52 percentage points.

Combined, these two measures are projected to lift GDP by around 0.3 percentage points, said the source.

The funds are expected to primarily flow into the grassroots economy, directly benefiting retail (especially small shops), food and beverage, and personal services, which cover a wide range of small and medium-sized enterprises.

In addition, the two schemes are expected to increase value-added tax (VAT) collection by the Revenue Department by around 6 billion baht, assuming private consumption of 10 trillion baht and a VAT rate of 7%.

According to the Fiscal Policy Office’s forecast at the end of July, private consumption is expected to grow by 3.1% per year, within a range of 2.6% to 3.6%.

Roughly 33 million people are expected to benefit under the co-payment scheme and uptick in state welfare card allowances:

1. State welfare cardholders: 13 million people are scheduled to receive a top-up of 1,700 baht each. Combined with the existing monthly 300 baht allowance, this totals 2,000 baht per person. The money can be spent at “Blue Flag” shops under the Commerce Ministry, either gradually or in a lump sum, but must be used by December.

2. People outside the tax system: 9 million people are slated to receive a quota of 2,000 baht each under the co-payment scheme, with the government subsidising 50% of spending, capped at 200 baht per day. Funds must be used by December.

3. Taxpayers: 11 million people are expected to receive a spending quota of 2,400 baht each under the co-payment scheme, with the government covering 50% of spending, capped at 200 baht per day. Funds must be used by December.

The combined budget for the Khon La Khrueng scheme and the state welfare card top-up amounts to 66 billion baht.

The cabinet approved the state welfare card top-up project on Sept 30.

The Finance Ministry said the co-payment scheme will be submitted to the cabinet on Tuesday, with public registration open from Oct 20-26.

Individuals should be able to start using the scheme on Oct 29, noted the ministry.

Shops wishing to participate can register from Oct 15 until the end of the project in December.

Nida Poll suggests 44.1% of the public do not understand the function of the two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) signed with Cambodia in 2000 and 2001.

The National Institute of Development Administration (Nida Poll) on Sunday released the results of a survey titled “A Referendum is Coming. Do You Understand MoU 43 and MoU 44 Yet?”

The survey was conducted on Oct 1-2, targeting Thais aged 18 and above across all regions, education levels, occupations and income groups.

A total of 1,310 respondents were sampled to assess understanding of MoU 43 (on land boundaries, signed in 2000) and MoU 44 (on overlapping maritime zones, signed in 2001) ahead of a proposed referendum on whether to cancel them after the recent border conflict with Cambodia.

When asked about their understanding of MoU 43, 44.1% said that they did not understand it at all, followed by 24.9% who said they understood it only slightly. Meanwhile, 23.1% said they somewhat understood it and only 7.7% said they understood it well.

As for MoU 44, 45.7% stated that they did not understand it at all, followed by 24.9% who said they understood it only slightly. In addition, 22.4% indicated they somewhat understood it, while just 6.8% reported a high level of understanding.

Regarding the public’s desire to gain a clearer understanding of both MoUs, the survey found that 65.5% expressed a wish to understand both MoUs, while 34% said they did not wish to understand either. A total of 0.23% indicated a desire to understand only MoU 43, and an equal percentage wished to understand only MoU 44.

When asked about holding a referendum on repealing both MoUs, 60.7% said they agreed with holding the referendum. This was followed by 20.9% who said they completely disagreed with such a referendum, 12.6% who declined to answer or were uninterested, 4.9% who said they were unsure, 0.46% who supported a referendum to repeal only MoU 43, and 0.3% who supported a referendum to repeal only MoU 44.

The previous government’s soft power initiatives are facing calls to be cancelled on grounds of a lack of clear, measurable outcomes and misinterpretation of the concept entirely.

Senator Alongkot Worakee, chair of the Senate Committee on Budget Oversight, called on the government to drop all soft power initiatives. The committee will summon agencies from nearly 12 ministries every Monday until Oct 30 to clarify their budget allocations under the soft power framework.

“Soft power isn’t just Lisa (Blackpink) eating grilled meatballs and posting about it — that’s marketing. What we’re seeing now is just event planning,” Sen Alongkot said, criticising the current approach as superficial and ineffective.

While procurement processes may be legally sound, the underlying concept is flawed.

“We’re spending hundreds of millions on events without any real evaluation. If you organise an OTOP (One Tambon One Product) fair, how do you measure its success? Why isn’t there a central system to assess impact, like a cashier in a department store?” he asked.

The government, Sen Alongkot said, should redirect the budget to more tangible infrastructure, such as building border fences along the Cambodian frontier.

Last year, the soft power scheme received a five-billion-baht budget and included plans to develop festivals and events, such as the Maha Songkran Water Festival.

Sen Alongkot said the failure lies with the previous administration’s misguided incentives. “The entire soft power budget allocation should be scrapped. It’s a waste of public funds,” he said.

As the global shift towards renewable energy accelerates, Thailand continues to emerge as a key player in the region’s clean energy transformation. Building on this momentum, SKYWORTH, a leading global technology group with more than 37 years of expertise in the electronics industry, has expanded beyond smart home appliances and intelligent systems into the renewable energy sector through the launch of SKYWORTH Photovoltaic (SKYWORTH PV). The company now delivers comprehensive solar energy solutions – from modules and inverters to energy storage systems, mounting structures, and EPC services – serving both residential and commercial customers.

Most recently, SKYWORTH PV announced a strategic partnership with Solve System (Thailand), a provider of innovation-driven energy solutions. The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a 120MW solar project and a 30MW Solar Home strategic cooperation, reinforcing renewable energy development across the ASEAN region with Thailand as the central hub of operations. This collaboration reflects not only confidence in Thailand’s potential but also the enduring friendship between Thailand and China as both nations work together towards a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Strengthening Bilateral Energy Cooperation

Ms Wanfei Qu, Chief Investment Officer of SKYWORTH Group, Director and CEO of SKYWORTH PV, and President of SKYWORTH Renewable Energy (Thailand) Co., Ltd., highlighted the significance of the partnership: ‘It is my great honour to be here today at this important moment, as China and Thailand celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Over the past five decades, our two countries have built a deep friendship and robust cooperation. I firmly believe that clean energy will be one of the most promising areas for us to move forward together. This partnership is more than a signing – it is a symbol of trust, shared values, and a shared vision. Together with our Thai partners, we will write a new chapter in clean energy cooperation between China and Thailand.’

Through this partnership, SKYWORTH PV will supply solar products, services, and technical support, while Solve System will drive local operations across the region. The collaboration aims to deliver maximum benefits to Thailand by offering clean, affordable, and reliable energy supported by local expertise and efficient installation. It is also expected to boost brand awareness, encourage wider adoption of solar technology, and empower Thai consumers to embrace sustainable living – reducing reliance on the grid, lowering costs, and promoting energy independence.

Expansion and Future Goals

Looking ahead, Ms Qu outlined SKYWORTH PV’s future plans: ‘Over the next three to five years, we plan to expand into larger-scale commercial and industrial projects, integrating advanced energy storage and digital monitoring systems. We are also seeking to strengthen R and D collaboration and extend our presence into neighbouring ASEAN markets. Within the next one to two years, we will pursue additional strategic partnerships and enhance brand awareness through seminars, workshops, and training, enabling households and businesses to embark on their green energy journey with SKYWORTH solar solutions.’

Local Expertise and Long-Term Impact

On behalf of Solve System, Mr Tan Pinthanon, Managing Director of Solve System Group, emphasised the company’s strategic role: ‘Our strength lies in our deep understanding of local and regional markets, supported by well-established distribution channels. With extensive experience in the solar energy sector, we are committed to helping customers access clean energy and achieve true energy independence. Partnering with SKYWORTH – a company with over 37 years of experience, a strong reputation in Asia, and a robust supply chain – creates the perfect synergy to drive Thailand’s solar industry forward.’

Since establishing its Thailand subsidiary earlier this year, SKYWORTH PV has made significant progress in the local market. In July, the company formed strategic partnerships with ICBC (Thailand) and Olympus Capital, supporting cross-border green finance and clean energy investment. The new cooperation with Solve System and Hermis Property marks another milestone in SKYWORTH PV’s efforts to deepen its presence in Thailand and accelerate its localisation and large-scale development strategy – solidifying the company’s continued expansion in the Southeast Asian market.

‘The 120MW project and 30MW Solar Home initiative represent more than just business,’ Mr Tan added. ‘They embody our shared mission to accelerate Thailand’s transition to clean energy. By combining advanced technology with local expertise, we aim to make renewable energy more accessible, reliable, and affordable for all – strengthening energy independence, reducing carbon emissions, and supporting Thailand’s long-term sustainability goals.’

An assistant teacher accused of assaulting a first-grade student with a metal ruler will be reassigned to an inactive post while the investigation continues, authorities said on Sunday.

The transfer was ordered by the director of Lampang Primary Educational Service Area Office 1, following outrage over the incident which left the child with bruises on his face and neck.

Deputy director of Lampang Primary Educational Service Area Office 1, Thanayut Kamphira, along with the principal of Ban Mae Chang School, and social welfare and child protection officials, visited the home of the victim in Mae Mo district to extend their support and gather information about the incident.

The boy, identified as Pot, 7, was struck in the face by the 23-year-old assistant teacher for taking his snacks without permission.

Mr Thanayut said the teacher will be reassigned to Lampang Primary Educational Service Area Office 1, effective on Oct 6. A committee will determine if the teacher’s actions warrant serious administrative sanctions, he added.

“We will be fair to all parties,” he said, acknowledging the emotional toll on the child’s family and pledging stricter oversight to prevent future incidents.

Regarding the assistant teacher’s licence, Mr Thanayut said the matter falls under the Teachers’ Council of Thailand (TCT).

Amonwan Weerathammo, secretary- general of the TCT, said Education Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat expressed concern and instructed the council to act swiftly.

“Violence in schools is unacceptable. Teachers are meant to nurture, not harm,” Ms Narumon said.

The assistant teacher holds a provisional teaching licence issued in May 2023, which is valid until May 2028. The case has been submitted to the Professional Standards Committee for review under the 2025 Code of Ethics.

Ms Amonwan added the committee may suspend the licence pending the results of the investigation. If the school’s administration recommends dismissal, it can proceed without awaiting the committee’s final decision which will follow in due course.