A major engine for economic growth

Rapid economic development in Thailand during the past three decades has been accompanied by increasing investment in, and growing export from, the electronics and electrical industry sector. Relocation of production in this industrial sector from the industrially advanced countries to Thailand started in the late 1980's. It is still ongoing, and continuously fuels Thai economic growth. Against such background, the timely establishment of the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC) has strategically facilitated the expansion of this increasingly important industrial sector.

The Regional Hub

The emergence into prominence of the Asia-Pacific Rim countries and the reconstruction of South-East Asian countries, after many decades of ideological conflicts, naturally put Thailand on the path of becoming a regional hub. Significant steps in the development of telecommunication infrastructure have been the installation of three million telephone lines in the mid-1990's and additional six million lines between 1997 and 2001, coupled with the launching of the first THAICOM satellite in December 1993. With such undertakings, Thailand is committed to the era of information technology, vitalizing its manufacturing and business sectors and heralding the age of information technology-based mass and life-long education. There is an opportunity for Thailand to assert its role as human resource development hub.

Forward through Tripartite Parnership

Taking cognizance of the growing capital and technology provided by the private sector and the catalytic role of the government in the formulation of visionary policies of incentives and qualified technical manpower in universities, NECTEC has adopted a tri-partite approach bringing together government, the private sector and researchers in universities and specialized institutions. The three-party partnership works together to develop products for existing or new markets, with emphasis on equipment for telecommunication and office automation, professional products, computers and software development. For the medium term, technology development is underway in selected fields such as VLSI design and fabrication and applications of computer technology to the national cultural heritage, such as languages and high value-added crafts.

Networking Thai Research and Education to the World

Enhancement of the research and education infrastructure is achieved by installation of the ThaiSarn computer network connecting universities, research insti-tutions and public agencies. Exchange of electronic mail, on-line information retrievals and sharing of computer facilities through the ThaiSarn network is firmly integrating Thai researchers within the global community.

Next Chapter: Chulalongkorn University