Background
Sub‑Decree No. 227 ANKr.BK, dated 30 December 2025, established the National Research Foundation (NRF) as a public trust. H.E. Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation, was appointed to chair the NRF Board of Trustees. The board is composed of members representing ministries and other state institutions, aligning governance of the foundation with cross‑government representation.
A public trust legal form creates a governance mechanism in which an appointed board exercises fiduciary and administrative authority over the trust’s functions and assets. National research foundations commonly provide a formal institutional vehicle for coordinating public R&D priorities, advising on science and innovation policy, and administering government research funding through board oversight.
Scope of Application
Sub‑Decree No. 227 provides the legal basis for the NRF’s establishment and the appointment of its Board of Trustees. The instrument applies to the founding, governance arrangements, and official leadership of the NRF as a state‑anchored public trust.
Key Provisions or Decisions
Key elements announced by the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation include: the formal establishment of the National Research Foundation as a public trust; the date of the enabling sub‑decree (30 December 2025); the appointment of a Board of Trustees to govern the NRF; and the designation of H.E. Hem Vanndy as Chair of the Board. The board is specified to include representatives from ministries and relevant institutions.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
Public and private research organisations, universities, and R&D collaborators should recognise the NRF and its Board of Trustees as the newly established institutional reference for national research governance under Sub‑Decree No. 227. Entities engaging with public research funding, national R&D coordination, or formal partnerships will need to consult the NRF’s governance instruments and any future implementing rules for administrative procedures and compliance requirements.
Official Source
Announcement published by the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI) on 20 June 2026: MISTI Facebook post. The enabling instrument is Sub‑Decree No. 227 ANKr.BK, dated 30 December 2025.
