The Southeast Asia START Regional Center is the regional research node of the Southeast Asia Regional Committee for START (SARCS). Southeast Asia is one of the eight existing regions of the Global Change SysTem for Analysis, Research and Training (START) network, jointly initiated by the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), International Human Dimension Programme (IHDP), and World Climate Research Programme (WCRP).

START is a global network that supports multidisciplinary research on the interactions between humans and the environment. Other START regional networks represent Pan-Africa, South Asia, Temperate East Asia, Mediterranean, and Oceania.

SEA START RC was established in 1996 under a Memorandum Of Understanding between Chulalongkorn University (CU), National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), and International START. The center is located on Chulalongkorn Campus in Bangkok, Thailand.