PIER’s Targeted Research Grant 2026 – Call for Proposal

The Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research (PIER) was established to foster economic research, provide a centralized platform for disseminating high-quality research to inform better policy making, and connect researchers with necessary resources. To support capable researchers in producing rigorous research suitable for publication in international peer-reviewed journals on priority topics that are highly relevant to the Thai economy, the Bank of Thailand’s policy mission, and the institute’s research priorities, PIER is launching a Targeted Research Grant program – open to both domestic and international researchers.

1. To foster research on priority topics that are highly relevant to the Thai economy and the Bank of Thailand’s policy mission and the institute’s research priorities.
2. To support capable researchers in producing rigorous, policy-relevant research that is suitable for publication in international peer-reviewed journals.

• The project must address one or more of research areas specified by PIER as follows:
  • Inflation Measurement & Dynamics
  • Evaluating Thailand’s Monetary Policy Framework
  • Understanding Thailand’s Economic Structure and Its Potential
  • Making the Financial System Work Better for Businesses and Households
  • Promoting Competition in Financial and Payment Services Markets
• The project should demonstrate a strong conceptual foundation, including a clear research question, comprehensive literature review, and sound methodology.
• Research should generate new knowledge with policy relevance and should be suitable for publication in peer-review international journals.
• If the proposed project has received funding from other sources, applicants must disclose the funding source.

Applicants should have strong economic research backgrounds. CVs and publication lists must be submitted for principal and co-investigators. Proposals from international, PhD, or early-career researchers are encouraged. For empirical projects, the principal investigator must lead the main analysis. Those seeking to use Bank of Thailand or PIER datasets must collaborate with internal staff and confirm feasibility before proposing.

• Initial Screening: PIER conducts a preliminary review to confirm that proposals are complete and meet basic eligibility criteria. Incomplete or ineligible submissions will not advance.
• Full Review: Qualifying proposals are evaluated by a panel consisting of one PIER researcher and two external experts, with consideration given to feasibility, academic quality, and policy relevance.
• Applicants will be notified of the decision within approximately one month after the submission deadline.

• Duration: typically 12 months. (extensions possible case-by-case)
• Funding: up to THB 400,000 (approximately USD 12,300) per project. Case-by-case additional support (e.g., for data collection) may be considered.

Grant recipients will be required to submit a full academic paper (in English) for publication as a PIER Discussion Paper.

Applicants must submit a signed proposal form via email to pier@bot.or.th with the subject line: “PIER's Targeted Research Grant 2026 Application”.

Submission Deadline: May 31, 2026.
Notification of Results: Approximately one month after the deadline.