Integrating Public-Sector Innovation to Promote Sustainable Grassroots Economic Development in Alignment with the SDGs
On 21 September 2026, the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP), represented by Mr. Piya Boonpitak, Deputy Director of the SME One-Stop Service Center Division, joined representatives from public- and private-sector partner networks, together with the School of Business and Communication Arts, University of Phayao (BCA), represented by Dr. Piyapong Supanyo, Deputy Dean for Research and Innovation and Network Development.The meeting was also attended by Dr. Luethaipat Primonsree, Head of the Pride Supply Thailand Project; Assistant Professor Dr. Thariga Pholloke, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs and Quality Assurance; Assistant Professor Dr. Theerut Muenwongthep, Chair of the Master of Business Administration Program; Ms. Jittima Sakuljiamjai, Chair of the Bachelor of Business Administration Program in Business Management; and faculty members from the Business Management Program.
The meeting was held as part of the mission of the SME One-Stop Service Center (SMEs OSS) for Fiscal Year 2026, with the aim of strengthening the business ecosystem in Upper Northern Region 2, including Chiang Rai Province and surrounding areas. The initiative focuses on four key measures of OSMEP that are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as follows:
· SME ONE-ID: Government Service Referral System: (SDG 9 & SDG 16) Leveraging digital infrastructure and technology to enhance public service delivery, increase transparency, reduce procedural complexity, and enable entrepreneurs to access government benefits and support more efficiently and comprehensively.
· Thai SME-GP: Promotion of Entrepreneurs for Government Procurement: (SDG 8 & SDG 10) Promoting equal opportunities and reducing disparities in access to large-scale markets, enabling regional SMEs to compete in government procurement and contributing to inclusive and equitable economic growth.
· Business Development Service (BDS) Entrepreneur Promotion Programme: (SDG 8 & SDG 9) Providing financial support and knowledge to enhance entrepreneurial capabilities, strengthen competitiveness, promote the adoption of innovation, and build long-term resilience among local businesses.
· Area-Based Collaborative Networking: (SDG 17) Strengthening collaboration between government policy agencies, particularly OSMEP, and local higher education institutions, including BCA, University of Phayao, to facilitate opportunities, knowledge sharing, and comprehensive support for entrepreneurs.
This collaboration marks an important step in connecting public-sector support mechanisms with academic knowledge to deliver targeted services to SMEs in Northern Thailand. It will contribute to strengthening entrepreneurial capacity, stimulating the grassroots economy, and advancing communities towards sustainability across all dimensions.