The growing strength of Thailand’s Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in climate and development research has prompted the Gates Foundation to explore deeper collaboration with the country’s leading technology-focused academic institution.

“We have built a strong, decade-long partnership with AIT, beginning with sanitation innovation and expanding into areas such as digital public infrastructure, agriculture, and aquaculture,”  said Christopher J. Elias, President of Global Development at the Gates Foundation.

Elias made the remarks during a visit to the AIT campus just north of Bangkok, where he met with institute executives to discuss aligning AIT’s research and implementation capacity with   the Foundation’s priorities. The Gates Foundation is focusing on climate resilience, digital public infrastructure, water and sanitation, health innovation, and agriculture, among other areas.

These areas are considered critical for green and advanced development in Thailand and across the Asia-Pacific region.

“We look for partners whose strengths align with our priorities, and we see opportunities to deepen collaboration to deliver measurable impact,” Elias said.

Founded in 1959 as a graduate engineering school, AIT is a non-profit institution whose mission is “to develop highly qualified and committed professionals who will play a leading role in the sustainable development of the region and its integration into the global economy.”

The institute currently educates approximately 1,800 graduate students from more than 50 countries and is involved in over 300 research projects.

“We appreciate the Foundation’s continued trust and support and look forward to expanding collaboration in areas where research can translate into scalable solutions,” said AIT President Prof. Pai-Chi Li.