September 18, 2025 — The Mekong Institute (MI), in its role as Coordinator of the Greater Mekong Subregion Knowledge Network (GMSKN), successfully launched the Knowledge for Innovation (KFI) 2025 Program through a high-level virtual event titled “Seeding Knowledge, Cultivating Innovation, Harvesting Growth in GMS Agrifood Systems.”
Drawing nearly 90 participants from six GMS countries—Cambodia, the People’s Republic of China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam—the launch brought together leading academics, research institutions, policymakers, and development partners to explore how knowledge collaboration and innovation can advance sustainable and inclusive agrifood systems across the subregion.
A Regional Effort to Strengthen Knowledge Cooperation
In his welcome remarks, Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, Executive Director of MI, emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among universities and knowledge institutions.
“While the GMS hosts many leading knowledge centers, there remains a gap in coordinated knowledge creation and policy advocacy,” he said. “The GMS Knowledge Network was established to bridge this gap—serving as a platform where research and evidence can be translated into practical policy actions for inclusive and sustainable growth.”
The GMSKN, endorsed by the GMS Ministerial Conference in 2022 and supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is a multi-stakeholder platform that facilitates systematic knowledge sharing, joint research, and coordinated policy advocacy. Through the KFI 2025 Program, the Network aims to build communities of practice, develop policy briefs, and enhance the capacities of institutions to generate and apply evidence-based knowledge.
Setting the Stage for Innovation and Inclusion
Mr. Antonio Ressano, ADB’s Principal Regional Cooperation Specialist and representative of the GMS Secretariat, introduced the KFI 2025 Program and its role in supporting the GMS Economic Cooperation Program Strategic Framework 2030.
“The Knowledge Network represents the GMS’s evolution—from focusing purely on connectivity and trade to building a shared ecosystem for innovation, knowledge, and sustainability,” he noted.
Country representatives from the GMSKN Steering Committee—Dr. Kimlong Chheng (Cambodia), Dr. Zhou Guanqi (PRC), Ms. Latdavanh Songvilay (Lao PDR), Dr. Tin Tin Wai (Myanmar), Dr. Watcharas Leelawath (Thailand), and Dr. Nguyen Dinh Tho (Viet Nam)—shared national perspectives on how knowledge partnerships can address agrifood challenges while ensuring local relevance and inclusion.
Insights from the High-Level Panel
The panel discussion, moderated by Mr. Suriyan, featured experts including Dr. Chayanis Krittasudthacheewa (SEI Asia/SUMERNET), Ms. Yin Yin Phyu (MELA), Mr. Omer Zafar (ADB), and Dr. Andreas Brander (Knowledge for Development Partnership).
Panelists highlighted how regional knowledge networks can transform agrifood systems by:
- Translating research into practical tools and policy solutions;
- Building trust and cross-border communities of practice;
- Harnessing digital technologies and AI for data sharing and innovation; and
- Ensuring that women, youth, and local communities are empowered participants in shaping policies.
Mr. Zafar underscored that agrifood systems in the GMS are already powerful engines of growth, contributing significantly to national GDPs, but require more inclusive policies and stronger knowledge linkages to sustain their potential.
“The GMS Knowledge Network can help organize, translate, and connect knowledge to action,” he said. “It can guide regional solutions to challenges that no single country can solve alone.”
Next Steps: Building a Shared Knowledge Agenda
The event concluded with an invitation for GMS knowledge institutions to contribute position statements outlining their priorities and perspectives. These inputs will inform the regional knowledge and innovation agenda and feed into upcoming activities, including the Knowledge and Innovation Management Certification Course to be held in Ha Noi, Viet Nam, in October 2025.
“Today’s launch marks the beginning of a journey,” Mr. Suriyan stated in closing. “By working together, we can transform the way knowledge is generated, shared, and applied—ensuring that innovation benefits farmers, businesses, and communities across the GMS.”
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About the Knowledge for Innovation (KFI) 2025 Program
Running from August 2025 to March 2026, the KFI Program focuses on “Sustainable and Inclusive Agrifood Systems” through an integrated set of activities, including networking, policy brief development, training, and the establishment of operational communities and digital platforms.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Myat Myat Mon
Coordinator, GMS Knowledge Network, Mekong Institute
[email protected]
