Thailand’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency and the World
Bank have agreed
to jointly undertake activities to promote awareness of the Internet of Things
(IoT) in Thailand and drive digital transformation in public and private
sectors.
The announcement was made during a seminar attended by over
150 representatives from the Thai government, international organisations,
businesses, NGOs and the media, for the local launch the recent World Bank
report, The
Internet of Things: The New Government-to-Business Platform. The report
examine the progress made by governments incorporating IoT within their
functions – many governments are eager to use IoT to better serve people,
despite the obstacles of taking initiatives beyond the pilot stage. Prasanna Lal Das, lead author of the report,
said that IoT has significant potential, but it requires systematic, informed
work by the government, private sector, and civil society.
Opportunities that will be created by the development of the
IoT and ways to make the Internet of Things work in Thailand were discussed at
the seminar
jointly organised by DEPA and the World Bank. The agenda also included a
collaboration on digital economy promotion between World Bank and DEPA in three
areas, namely Smart City, IoT Institute, and Benchmarking study Indicators.
“Internet of Things plays a key role in our daily lives.
Recognising the importance of IoT in creating digital innovation that will
boost productivity and improve individual lives, the Ministry of Digital
Economy and Society (MDES) has endeavored to promote the development of the IoT
in Thailand through various initiatives, said HE Dr Pichet Durongkaveroj,
Minister, MDES.
Dr Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, the President and CEO of DEPA
Thailand, commented, “The Internet of Things is not just a hype. We view it as
one of the most exciting pieces of technology of the decade, which will help
catalyse digital transformation in public and private sectors in Thailand.
Therefore, we need to raise awareness of IoT in all sectors by providing a
networking forum so we all can meet and discuss opportunities offered by this
technology as well as ways to allow IoT work for Thais.”
DEPA, an operating arm of the MDES, is responsible for the
development of digital industry and innovation as well as the adoption of
digital technology in all sectors in Thailand. DEPA is heading the establishment
of the IoT Institute which aims to create a healthy IoT ecosystem in the
country.
The IoT institute, being set up through public-private
partnership, will be a part of the Digital
Park to be built in Chon Buri province, as a flagship project under
the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). The institute will include MDES, local and
international universities and other private sector players, and research
institutes, including the National
Electronics and Computer Technology Center. Last month,
According to a report
in the Bangkok Post, DEPA is seeking to form an international IoT
alliance, which has already attracted participation from 30 local IoT
companies.
The same article in the Bangkok Post also mentioned that 60%
of space in the institute will be used as a testbed and laboratory for IoT, Artificial
Intelligence and robotics. There will be areas for the testing of autonomous
cars and drones as well.
The Bangkok Post reported that cost of the first IoT building
is expected to be around 1.6 billion Baht (USD 51 million). Around 270 million
Baht has been allocated for design. The total cost for the institute which will
include three buildings will be around 3.6 billion Baht (USD 116 million).