According to a recent report, a Zurich-based technology provider announced that it will be teaming with King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) to promote robotics education in Thailand.
Both parties signed an agreement to foster cooperation and put in place a framework that facilitates R&D for industrial robots to enhance education for engineers.
The growing adoption of robots in all walks of manufacturing is creating increased demand for workers with skills in programming and operating robots.
The vice-president of the tech provider’s local unit said that this partnership formalises the existing cooperation between the two entities, focusing on sharing of information and development of an engineering curriculum to build a skilled workforce.
He stated that the agreement covers cooperation on educational resource development as well as the transfer of knowledge and technology in the development of industrial robots for varied industries.
The agreement is also is in line with the Thailand 4.0 initiative that targets innovation as a means of development.
The Associate Professor, the dean of KMITL’s faculty of engineering, said that the institution aims to improve how it nurtures students with knowledge of industrial robotics to equip them with the necessary skills to succeed in Thailand’s growing industrial landscape.
The tech provider in Thailand has a long history in the utility and industry sectors, delivering the first motor to a major cement group in 1913. Its manufacturing base in Thailand is located in Bangpoo Industrial Estate, producing low-voltage capacitors and power transformers, while offering a transformer service and an oil laboratory.
The medium and low-voltage switchgear assembly is also located at this factory. The tech provider has its business centre in Rayong, with four service branches in Chon Buri, Saraburi, Prachin Buri and Khon Kaen.
According to the Thailand 4.0 initiative website, the initiative is an economic model that aims to unlock the country from several economic challenges resulting from past economic development models which place emphasis on agriculture (Thailand 1.0), light industry (Thailand 2.0), and advanced industry (Thailand 3.0).
The second agenda of the Initiative (Agenda 2), titled the Development of Technology Cluster and Future Industries, Thailand 4.0 is an engine to propel new economic growth through the transformation of “comparative advantage” into “competitive advantage”.
This approach will fulfil the country with knowledge, creativity, innovation, science, technology, research and innovation, and build upon comparative advantage with “5 Groups of Technology and Targeted Industries” which comprises of:
(1) Food, Agriculture and Bio-Tech: building a stable economy base on biodiversity and environmentally friendly biotechnology and moving Thailand toward becoming the centre of premium agricultural products and food, and an exporter of technology in agriculture, seeds, vaccine.
(2) Health, Wellness and Biomedical: building medical infrastructure and move Thailand forward to be “Medical Hub” of ASEAN within 2025.
(3) Smart Devices and Robotics – Mechatronics: moving Thailand forward to advance as a leader in the automatic system, industrial robotics, and service robotics in ASEAN.
(4) Digital, Internet of Things (loT), Artificial Intelligence and Embedded Technology: using digital tools and loT as platforms to enhance productivity, quality and innovation in various economic activities within agriculture, industrial, service and education sectors.
(5) Creativity, Culture and High-Value Services: undertaking actions that synergize basic cultural assets, innovation and technology in order to increase commercial value and ultimately enable Thailand to move forward in becoming one of ASEAN’s “Creative hubs” within the next ten years.
The “5 technology and targeted industries” will be transformed into “integrated research” in order to provide possible solutions to challenges that may arise at the national and global levels, as well as identify business opportunities for the private. At the initial stage, the government will pursue the following five agendas:
(1) Integrated research on Food and Agriculture
(2) Integrated research on Energy
(3) Integrated research on Aging Societies
(4) Integrated research on Smart Cities
(5) Integrated research on Creative Economy
It appears that the aforementioned tech provider will be partnering with Thailand’s KMILT to aspect three of the 5 Groups of Technology and Targeted Industries.
