IP: Strengthens Intellectual Property Governance Through Reform of the National IP Policy Committee

IP: Strengthens Intellectual Property Governance Through Reform of the National IP Policy Committee

On 17 March 2026, the Thai Cabinet approved in principle a draft amendment to the Regulation of the Office of the Prime Minister on the National Intellectual Property Policy Committee (No. ..) B.E. .…, as proposed by the Ministry of Commerce. This reform constitutes a measured and forward-looking step to modernize Thailand’s intellectual property (“IP”) governance architecture and to position IP more centrally as a driver of long-term economic competitiveness and innovation-led growth.

The amendment principally revises the composition of the National Intellectual Property Policy Committee (the “IP Policy Committee”), which is chaired by the Prime Minister. The updated membership structure integrates representatives from newly restructured government agencies and introduces, for the first time, senior leaders from prominent private-sector organizations. These changes aim to deepen public–private coordination and to ensure that national IP policy more closely reflects contemporary economic realities and commercialization realities.

Historical Development of the Framework:

The IP Policy Committee was formally established in 2011 (B.E. 2554), with the original Regulation taking effect on 2 September 2012 (B.E. 2555). The Regulation defined the Committee’s composition (initially comprising the Prime Minister as Chairperson and 23 ex-officio government members), its operational rules, and its core mandate to formulate, coordinate, and oversee national IP policy and strategy.

Previous amendments were incremental:

• Regulation (No. 2) B.E. 2556 (2013) adjusted membership and added procedural rules for meetings in the Chairperson’s absence.
• Regulation (No. 3) B.E. 2559 (2016) further refined the composition without altering the Committee’s fundamental powers or structure.

The 2026 amendment departs from this pattern by introducing more substantial changes designed to align the Committee with Thailand’s current administrative organization and strategic economic priorities.

Principal Revisions to Committee Composition:

1. Update of Existing Government Positions (3 positions)
The following reflect current ministerial and institutional nomenclature:

• Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation
•  Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society
•  Director of the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council

2. Addition of Six New Ex-Officio Members

• Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office — to improve whole-of-government coordination of IP policy
• Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports — to advance IP commercialization in tourism and sports industries
• Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior — to strengthen promotion and protection of geographical indications (GIs)
• Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries — to bring industrial-sector expertise and foster public–private collaboration on industrial property matters
• Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce — to support Thai businesses in extracting greater economic value from IP assets
• Director of the National Innovation Agency (Public Organization) — to promote innovation policy alignment and execution

As a consequence, the number of ex-officio members rises from 18 to 24.

Anticipated Institutional and Economic Benefits:

The revised structure is expected to deliver several concrete improvements:

• Strengthened public–private dialogue, enabling policies to better address real-world business needs and commercialization barriers
• Reduced inter-agency fragmentation through broader and more balanced representation
• More coherent and expedited decision-making and policy implementation
• Closer integration of IP strategy with national priorities in innovation, digital economy, tourism, regional development, and industrial competitiveness

While the larger membership enhances inclusiveness, it also necessitates clear internal governance procedures to preserve operational efficiency.

Key Takeaways:

• The 2026 amendment marks a significant evolution in Thailand’s IP governance, moving beyond minor compositional tweaks to embed meaningful private-sector participation.
• By expanding the IP Policy Committee to include leaders from industry associations and innovation agencies, Thailand seeks to create a more collaborative, responsive, and commercially oriented IP ecosystem.
• The reform aligns national IP policy more closely with broader economic development objectives, particularly in innovation-driven growth and value creation from intellectual assets.
• Successful implementation will depend on effective coordination mechanisms to manage the enlarged Committee without compromising decisional speed or clarity.
• Overall, the measure reflects a deliberate policy commitment to elevate intellectual property as a strategic pillar of Thailand’s future economic competitiveness.

Author: Panisa Suwanmatajarn, Managing Partner.

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