27–29 October 2025, Santiago, Chile —
Dr. Boonnanida Sodha, Director of the International Relations Division, and Ms. Pimprapai Supornrat, Senior International Relations Officer, represented the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR)at the WAITRO Executive Board – Regional Focal Point (RFP) Meeting held at Fraunhofer Chile, and the Networking Session hosted at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Republic of Chile.
The meeting brought together the Executive Board members, RFPs, WAITRO Secretariat, and Operations e.V. teams associated with the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organizations (WAITRO) — a global network dedicated to advancing international cooperation in scientific and technological research.
The meeting served as a key platform for reporting progress, exchanging ideas, and discussing policy directions and upcoming activities of the organization.
Key discussion topics included:
- Updates on WAITRO’s communication strategy
- Reports from the Secretariat and WAITRO Operations e.V.
- Regional activity reports, including the Asia and the Pacific report, jointly presented by TISTR (as RFP) and SIRIM Malaysia (as RR)
- Development of WAITRO’s Digital Infrastructure to enhance the website, membership database, and collaboration platforms
- Preparations for the WAITRO Summit 2026, to be held in Türkiye at the end of next year
- Regional Workshop Funding Program and Capacity Development Programs
- Regional participation plans for the WAITRO Summit 2026
- Open discussions on improving communication and coordination
In addition, participants attended a Networking Session at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, providing opportunities to strengthen connections and share insights among members from the Latin American region.
TISTR’s participation in this meeting reflects its active role as the Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific under WAITRO. Through this role, TISTR continues to foster international cooperation in science, technology, and innovation (STI) — strengthening the capabilities of researchers and research institutions across the region toward greater global collaboration.
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