On 25^th January 2019, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Thailand Branch hosted the 10^th anniversary MSIWF's research grant award at U Sathorn Hotel with around 60 attendance  including Mr. Hiroyuki Ikemoto, Chief Executive Officer of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Thailand Branch, and  Mr. Yoshihito Nomura, Executive Director of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Welfare Foundation (MSIWF). The event was held in celebration of MSIWF's 10-year presence in Thailand, during which the total of 600,000 Baht was granted to support Thai researchers.

This year, 4 road safety researches received the grant; they are, 

• A Study for Behavior and Traffic Law Compliance of Motorcycles at Crosswalks
  
  (Dr. Vasin Kiattikomol – King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi)
• An Examination of the Factors that Influence Young Drivers' Willingness to Speed and Text while Driving for Sustainable Encouragement of Safety Driving in Thailand
  
  (Dr. Cheerawit Rattanapan – Mahidol University)
• Impact of Branch Office of Highway on Traffic Accidents and Fatalities: Multilevel Model Approach
  
  (Mr. Thanapong Champhhom - Suranaree University)
• Road Safety Assessment and iRAP Star Ratings for High-risk Schools in Bangkok
  
  (Associate Professor Kasem Choocharukul – Chulalongkorn University)
  
   
  
   

After the research presentations, Dr.Taeching Siripanich, Secretary General of Don't Drive Drunk Foundation gave the talk on 'Crisis of Road Safety in Thailand' which was very fruitful and eye-opening for the audiences.

MSIWF was established in Japan in 1975 in recognition of the importance of research and development, along with the aim to enhance the mutual benefits between Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group and society. 

Since 2008, MSIWF has been awarding funds to support Thai academics to conduct the research on "Road Safety".  For 10 consecutive years, 44 researches were granted the support from MSIWF, in hope to create awareness and reduce road accidents in Thailand.