Page 334 - Social Enterprise A New Business Paradigm for Thailand

(3) A business that provides products or services to vulnerable populations, such as the poor,
persons with disabilities, and people living in remote or crisis-affected areas, including
ethnic minority communities.

(4) A business whose articles of association require that at least 5% of profits be reinvested

into society, and that, if funded, no less than 5% of revenues generated from research
utilization be returned to NRCT.

The definition of “vulnerable populations” includes: 1) children, 2) pregnant women, 3)
persons with disabilities, 4) older adults, 5) low-income individuals, 6) the homeless, 7) Thai
citizens residing in remote or fragile areas, such as those in upstream watershed zones or
ethnic minority communities, and 8) Thai citizens without legal housing rights, such as sea
nomads.

“Social innovation” refers to public policies and regulations co-created through citizen

participation to address or alleviate social problems, along with mechanisms and tools
designed to strengthen civil society and promote good governance. Examples include:
various levels of access rights to natural resources, payment for ecosystem services, and
transferable development rights.

2. Objectives of the Research Plan

(1) To research, develop, and assess technologies and innovations that address social and
environmental challenges; to promote the efficient use of resources and reduction of waste;
and to enhance the business capabilities and financial sustainability of SEs.

(2) To develop prototype models for applying technology within SEs and support their
effective upscaling.

(3) To support research and development targeting markets that serve vulnerable groups,
such as the poor, persons with disabilities, and older adults.

(4) To foster research and innovation that strengthens the social innovation ecosystem,
linking businesses, academic institutions, government agencies, and target communities.

(5) To conduct public policy research, including the study of social norms and regulatory
frameworks aimed at reducing or resolving social problems.

(6) To organize both onsite and online platforms for presenting research outcomes and to

award outstanding innovations from SEs in order to raise public awareness and encourage
other government agencies to participate in the support and application of SE-related
research outputs.

(7) To promote collaboration with other organizations working in science, technology, and
social innovation that share similar goals, with the aim of strengthening the social enterprise
sector.

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