National Innovation Agency (Public Organization) or NIA in collaboration with FutureTales Lab by Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited has launched the podcast "Futures MEME: The Future We Must Know" under the project Futures and Beyond: Navigating Thailand toward 2030. This initiative aims to provide insights into the future changes in Thailand's economy and society over the next decade across six dimensions: the future of living, the future of work, the future of learning, the future of play, the future of mobility, and the future of sustainability. The goal is to share important information with government agencies, the private sector, and the public, which can be utilized for product and innovation development that meets the needs, as well as to guide economic policy and improve the quality of life for the population in the future.

Dr. Pun-Arj Chairatana, Director of the National Innovation Agency (Public Organization) stated, "Currently, NIA has partnered with FutureTales Lab by MQDC to implement the Futures and Beyond: Navigating Thailand toward 2030 project.

This project studies the changes in Thailand's economy and society over the next decade and prepares a research report predicting the future of Thailand in 2030. The collaboration aims to forecast developments in six dimensions:
1. Future of Living
2. Future of Work
3. Future of Learning
4. Future of Play
5. Future of Mobility
6. Future of Sustainability
In addition to these six topics, the project aims to provide crucial information to government agencies, the private sector, and the public for the development of housing, products, and innovations that address each area. It will also play a significant role in shaping policies to enhance economic value and improve the quality of life for the population.

"The research data will be disseminated through the podcast "Futures MEME" which will update listeners on changes in each dimension, including statistical data, situational analyses, signals of change, key driving factors, as well as scenarios and various future alternatives. Additionally, the Futures MEME program will serve as an important repository of knowledge in the field of futures studies, which is essential for the context of Thailand's development and the world. Everyone can come to learn, share experiences, discuss, and seek new ideas to collaboratively create a future for the country. There will be a total of 13 episodes hosted by experts from various sectors.

"Currently, the online world is filled with diverse information that is constantly being disseminated. However, in the field of futures studies or forecasting future changes, there has not been a serious development by any agency. Therefore, NIA and FutureTales Lab by MQDC aim to create a space for sharing and exchanging visions of this discipline to guide the country's development and foster necessary innovations for society and the nation. Many countries have successfully developed both economically and socially by utilizing futures studies data to inform essential policies, such as Singapore, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, etc. NIA believes that the stories shared in this program will benefit people and inspire the study of futures studies and the development of innovations that are beneficial to the nation," Dr. Pun-Arj added.

On the other hand, Dr. Karndee Leopairote, Executive Vice President of FutureTales Lab by MQDC stated, "This collaboration with NIA is an extension and expansion from 2020, aiming to raise awareness and portray the future changes in Thailand's economy, behavior, and society over the next decade, leading to a collective prediction of humanity's future under the concept of For All Well-Being."

"We want to communicate with a more diverse audience, so the podcast is the answer as it is easy to listen to on both iOS and Android systems. It also aligns with the vision of FutureTales Lab by MQDC, which is the first futures research center in Thailand's real estate sector and a leader in futures studies in the country with three main goals:
1. Exchange knowledge and information to disseminate to the public.
2. Build collaboration, networks, and community participation.
3. Change human behavior and attitudes towards future preparedness (Evolution) by creating the idea that futures studies are no longer distant but are an unavoidable part of our lives. We all need to learn and understand the changes that will occur and push all sectors to recognize the importance of this issue to shape policies and develop innovations and tools to respond to changes promptly," Dr. Karndee concluded.

For those interested, you can listen to the podcast "Future Meme: The Future We Must Know" every second and fourth Friday of the month at https://soundcloud.com/niathailand/sets/futures-meme, starting with the first episode on October 22.