Thailand must shift from being a ‘technology user’ to a ‘co-creator’ to survive in an increasingly volatile global landscape, according to Dr Chai Wutiwiwatchai, Director of the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (NECTEC). As the agency approaches its 40th anniversary, he warned that reliance solely on foreign platforms and innovations presents growing risks to national competitiveness and security. He said technology is now central to economic resilience and geopolitical stability.

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Dr Chai said that over the past 39 years, NECTEC’s mission has been to act as the nation’s “engineers”, laying technological foundations in areas beyond the reach of the private sector. The aim has been to strengthen national security, drive economic growth through innovation and sustainably improve quality of life. He stressed that dependence in many areas “may no longer be the answer”.

He highlighted NECTEC’s role in establishing Thailand’s digital foundations, including pioneering the Thai Social/Scientific Academic and Research Network (ThaiSARN) and later piloting the country’s first commercial internet services. The centre also laid groundwork for the microelectronics sector through ASEAN’s only wafer fabrication facility at the Thai Microelectronics Centre (TMEC).

NECTEC contributed to Thailand’s National IT Master Plan and helped advance e-commerce, leading to the establishment of the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) and the Digital Government Development Agency (DGA). It has delivered public platforms such as Traffy Fondue and Thai School Lunch, and co-developed the Thai People Map and Analytics Platform (TPMAP) with the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) to support vulnerable groups.

Dr Chai also cited work on the Sustainable Manufacturing Centre (SMC) and the National AI Action Plan to strengthen the economy and improve living standards. Looking to the next decade, he said NECTEC has “pinned” its focus on future technologies for sustainable quality of life, aiming to develop internationally competitive capabilities rather than simply extending its existing base.

Initiatives include “HandySense Bfarm”, an open smart-farming system designed to enhance food security by allowing farmers to create their own solutions. NECTEC is also developing a low-carbon EV charging-station management platform and accelerating medical AI and rapid disease-screening technologies to shift healthcare from reactive treatment to proactive, accessible surveillance. The centre is laying foundations for AI testing laboratories and standards to build trust and ensure lasting ethics in the digital world.

The Nation reported that “Today, technology is not just an option for convenience, it is national security and survival in a world facing volatility in both economics and geopolitics,” Dr Chai said, calling on cross-sector partners to help design Thailand’s technology infrastructure. He said the goal is to enable the country to stand on its own with home-grown technology and grow steadily in a rapidly changing world.

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Key Takeaways

• Thailand must move from technology user to co-creator to reduce strategic risk and boost competitiveness.

• NECTEC has shaped national digital infrastructure, microelectronics and public technology platforms over 39 years.

• Future priorities include smart farming, EV infrastructure, medical AI and AI standards for ethical oversight.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Nation 21 Feb 2026

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And yet many Thai online platforms are badly flawed !