In an effort to enhance collaboration in the innovation economy and startup sectors, the Royal Thai Embassy invited Ms. Judy Costello, Special Project Manager, Business, Innovation and Economic Development, Office of County Executive, Montgomery County Government, to visit Thailand from 19-29 July 2024 to attend the Startup X Innovation Thailand Expo (SITE 2024), one of Thailand’s largest annual startup events, which showcased products and innovations from over 300 Thai startups. The event was hosted by Thailand’s National Innovation Agency (NIA) and Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) from 22-22 July 2024 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, under the theme of “Innovation for Growth and Sustainability.” Mr. Thitidej Tularak, Minister-Counsellor (Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation), along with an officer from the Office of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Royal Thai Embassy, also accompanied Ms. Costello throughout this visit.

At SITE 2024, Ms. Costello, representing the Montgomery County Government, witnessed the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding Cooperation and Collaboration on the startup ecosystem between Montgomery County, Maryland and NIA, and the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). She also delivered a keynote address on “Startup and Innovation Ecosystem in Montgomery County, Maryland, USA”

During this visit, Ms. Costello also engaged with Thai startup companies and other relevant agencies, including Baiya Phytopharm (plant-based Covid vaccine), Meticuly (customized bone implants), True Digital Park, NIA, FTI, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy of the United States of America in Bangkok, and Chulalongkorn University, to discuss ways to further promote cooperation on innovation economy and startups between Thailand and Montgomery County as well as between Thailand and the United States.

This visit is part of the joint efforts between the Royal Thai Embassy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NIA and MHESI to promote closer cooperation in the innovation economy and startup sectors between Thailand and the United States. These efforts align with the Thai Government’s IGNITE Thailand vision, which aims to establish Thailand as a regional hub for eight key industries, including digital economy.