On 2 May 2025, at 2:00 p.m., Kasetsart University hosted a special lecture entitled “Innovation Strategies to Overcome Middle-Income Trap: Korean Experience and Implications” at the Kamphol Adulavidhaya Conference Room, 2nd floor of the Golden Jubilee Administration and Information Center Building. The event was organized to provide an opportunity for KU personnel to learn from the economic development strategies of the Republic of Korea. The lecture was graciously delivered by Professor Jeong-Hyop Lee, Economic Advisor, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR, and former Senior Advisor on Deep Science and Technology to the Program Management Unit for Competitiveness Enhancement (PMUC), Thailand.

On this occasion, Professor Kornsorn Srikulnath, Ph.D., Assistant to the President for Research and Internationalization, presided over the opening ceremony and presented a token of appreciation to Professor Jeong-Hyop Lee before the lecture commenced. The lecture covered the following key issues:

•          The Path of Innovation and Lessons from Korea

•          System Diagnosis Framework and Policy Design

•       Knowledge Transfer Strategies and Korea’s Model: Recommendations on Digital Security, Energy, and Other Areas

During the session, Professor Lee emphasized the importance of policy design tailored to the economic and social structure of each country. He illustrated how South Korea successfully escaped the middle-income trap through systematic investments in science, technology, and human capital development. He also shared strategic insights that could be adapted to the Thai context, such as strengthening linkages between research and industry, integrated innovation management, and the promotion of a sustainable innovation ecosystem.

This seminar aimed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and policy implementation by drawing valuable lessons from Korea’s development journey, offering guidance for other countries striving for sustainable economic growth. The lecture attracted more than 50 KU administrators, faculty, and staff members and served as an important platform for exchanging knowledge on Korea’s national development, especially its innovation-driven and policy-oriented approaches—insights that could be adapted for Thailand’s sustainable transition beyond the middle-income trap.