State, unis, big firms unite on robotics
Three-pronged plan to boost development
The Industry Ministry is working with government agencies, universities and private organisations to create an investment network to rev up the development of the robotics industry.
Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana said the ministry signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with those organisations yesterday, expecting it would lead a new investment of 12 billion baht this year. “The value of new investment was expected to rise further to 200 billion baht in the next five years,” he said.
Those that signed the MoU are the ThaiGerman Institute, Chulalongkorn, Khon Kaen and Chiang Mai universities, state agencies the Board of Investment (BoI), the Office of the East Economic Corridor (EEC), the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), and private companies Siam Cement Group (SCG) and WHA Corporation Plc.
Mr Uttama said the move would lead to new innovations in the robotic sector in major universities that could be developed on a bigger scale and eventually commercialised as academics seek to put their research funds to better use.
The government also set up a clear policy to allow state agencies, particularly those in the MoU, to opt to buy new technologies created by the project from their annual budget allocations. “The government procurement could be another way to help accelerate demand for robots invented by the universities, which could be developed further in the future,” said Mr Uttama.
State procurements would compliment any purchases or investment made by the private sector, the third leg of the triumvirate.
The MoU stems from the government’s policy to support the robotic industry after the cabinet approved on Tuesday a robotics development plan. It is pushing to enhance a 200-billion-baht investment scheme for the industry over the next five years.
The cabinet also approved a slew of measures to support the development of robotics and other targeted industries to keep up with the Thailand 4.0 policy. Minister Uttama said the measures are aimed at encouraging the manufacturing and service sectors to increase productivity through the use of robotics and automation systems.
Robotics is one of 10 industries the government plans to support to attract new investment in those sectors, particularly in the EEC, which spans in three eastern provinces of Chon Buri, Rayong and Chachoengsao. They comprise next-generation cars; smart electronics; affluent, medical and wellness tourism; agriculture and biotechnology; food; robotics for industry; logistics and aviation; biofuels and biochemical; digital; and medical services.
As one of the leading organisations, the ministry would encourage the Department of Industrial Work (DIW) to start the procurement of new innovations such as automation systems to be used by the DIW, he said.
Mr Uttama said the government plans a robotics and automation system fair next year to stimulate demand in the sector that would support new investment on the supply side eventually.
WHA Corporation Plc is Thailand’s largest developer of build-to-suit logistics facilities. As one of the private firms in the MoU, it said it plans an automation system at its warehouses in EEC areas.