On October 27, 2025, the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), through the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), signed two Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with leading universities in Belgium. The signing ceremony was graciously presided over by H.E. Mrs. Kanchana Patarachoke, Ambassador of Thailand to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the European Union, at the Royal Thai Embassy in Brussels.
Under the MoU with Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), BIOTEC will work with the Mycology Laboratory and the Belgian Co-ordinated Collections of Micro-organisms (BCCM/MUCL) Agro-food & Environmental Fungal Collection. The four-year collaboration (2025–2029) will emphasize fungal biodiversity and biotechnology. Ongoing and future joint activities include participation in joint project submission to the Horizon Europe program. Research will also cover areas such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, fungal taxonomy and phylogeny, host–pathogen interactions, and the ecosystem services of fungi in promoting plant growth and sustainable agriculture.
The MoU with Ghent University, through its Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, and the BCCM/LMG Bacterial Collection, also spans four years (2025–2029). Building on previous cooperation, including BIOTEC researchers’ participation in specialized training on bacterial culture handling and preservation, the new agreement will deepen collaboration in food microbiology. Key potential areas include probiotics and gut health, fermented foods, microbial diversity and safety, and microbial biotechnology for sustainable food production.
Speaking at the ceremony, Asst. Prof. Dr. Chaowaree Adthalungrong, BIOTEC Executive Director, on behalf of NSTDA President, expressed confidence that these collaborations with UCLouvain and Ghent University will foster meaningful research outcomes, strengthen scientific exchange, and contribute to advancing biotechnology and agricultural innovation in both Thailand and Belgium.