TRF consists of an administrative division which looks after all office works and seven divisions which handle research granting activities. Also in order to promote research in regional parts of Thailand, TRF has set up its first regional office in Chiang Mai. It is called “TRF Regional Office”. This office started its operation in October 1998. The seven divisions and the TRF Regional office have the following responsibilities :

1. Program on National  Policy and  Transnational Relations (Division1)

This program’s primary focuses are to develop a strong base for various social institutions; understand the situation of the country in relation to worldwide economic, political, and cultural changes; and find new options for national unity and stability.

2. Program on Agriculture  (Division 2)

This program’s primary focuses are to promote scientific and technological research which will increase the capabilities of the producers or service providers in order to maintain and increase Thailand’s competitiveness, with due consideration to possible effects on the environment.

3. Program on Public Welfare (Division 3)

This program’s focus is on multidisciplinary research in the areas of natural resources and on solving environmental, energy, social welfare, and health problems.

4. Program on Community (Division 4)

This program’s focus is to promote and coordinate research and development which will strengthen community. Various aspects of social and economic research programs on community development are under the responsibilities of this division.

5. Program on Industry (Division 5)

This program’s focus is to promote research and development in the industrial sector. In the beginning, emphasis will be on development of necessary technologies for small and medium enterprises (SME). This will include improvement of processes, development of new product and quality improvement of existing product. Recently a program to develop researchers for the industry, similar to the Teaching Company Scheme (TCS) in United Kingdom, has been launched by this division. The ultimate goal of this division is to make Thai industry more competitive in the world market.

6. Program on Academic Research

This program’s focus is to support basic research in every academic field and to develop high-quality researchers in the areas of science, technology, social sciences, and the humanities. Presently, emphasis is on directed or targeted basic research which will serve as a basis for research development in other programs.

7. Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Program

This program’s aim is to tackle the severe shortages of highly qualified researchers in the country. The objectives of the program are to support the production of 25,000 international quality research work and Ph.D. graduates in the next 25 years. Due to its highly significant and far reaching nature, the government strongly approved the program in 1996 as a program to commemorate His Majesty the King’s Golden Jubilee year of reign, as well as a budget of 1.32 billion baht for the first phase (1997-2011) where 5,000 research work and Ph.D. graduates would be produced.

8. TRF Regional Office

This office’s role is to promote area-based research to solve local problems and serve the needs of the community.  The office supports small projects which are of mainly development or action-research types. Currently, projects supported by this office cover every region of Thailand.