Connecting Research into Practice and Policy: A Case Study of Health Equity Research in Thailand

In Thailand, the commercial utilization of science and technology research is accelerated by the Thailand science park, which is fully integrated R&D hub and managed by the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA). On the other hand, the concept of transferring social science knowledge into effective and innovative solution of social problems does not taken place systematically. JuSNet (Just Society Network), is the recent collaboration model to bridge gaps among researchers, social workers and policy makers to tackle the health inequity problems. This paper explains the two years project and its aim to connect research into practice and policy and expand researcher networks based on three kinds of research: theory, policy and communication researches. The study observes the knowledge linkage, networks actions and policy process. The conceptual framework conducted by a group of multidisciplinary researchers indicates that the policy research should identify the policy causing marginalization and the policy recommendations for ensuring the health equity of marginalized group should enable various levels of structural intervention. Furthermore, the two policy researches, homeless and informal labor topics,    conducted by two groups of young researchers with participation of the social workers and communities, empower the movements and increase the acceptance of the policy recommendations. Additionally, the communication research provides more understanding of society’s contextual influences in decision making process. Hence, integration of theory, policy and communication researches enables the transfer of knowledge to policy process more effectively. Although connecting of researchers from various universities and research institutes enable a critical mass of conversations and leads to emergence of innovative ideas, the lack of common physical space have a risk of maintaining of sustainable conversation and the newcomers in marginalized research are recruited only from universities. Also, this working model should be developed into a new kind of institution located within a university.