Bangkok: The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) and the Ministry of Labour have collaborated in a strategic effort to develop a semiconductor workforce, aiming to propel Thailand towards an innovation-based economy. The initiative, led by Professor Dr. Yotsanun Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of MHESI, and Mr. Julaphan Amornvivat, Minister of Labour, was launched at Silicon Synergy 2026 held at the Rama Gardens Hotel, with a goal to produce and develop 10,000 highly skilled personnel over five years.
According to Thai News Agency, the event featured a signing ceremony for a cooperation agreement on human resource development to support the semiconductor industry. High-ranking officials, including Prof. Dr. Supachai Pathumnakul, Permanent Secretary of MHESI, and Pol. Lt. Col. Wannapong Kacharak, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, participated in the agreement. This initiative is a crucial step to help Thailand transition from a middle-income to a high-income country by focusing on technology and research and development.
Professor Dr. Yotsanun emphasized the importance of the semiconductor industry, which extends beyond chip manufacturing to include various supply chain sectors like electronic circuit boards. Developing this industry could reduce logistics costs and facilitate expansion into other fields, such as the electric vehicle industry and data centers. Furthermore, Thailand is promoting the "ASEAN CHIP Act" to connect ASEAN supply chains, particularly in photonic chip technology, to support next-gen data centers and quantum technology.
The collaboration is seen as a national agenda requiring investment from all sectors to develop comprehensive human resources in the semiconductor field. This includes power chips, biosensors, and advanced packaging technologies. Mr. Chulaphan highlighted the event's role in showcasing the collaborative power of the two ministries and the importance of connecting educational institutions, skill development agencies, and industry entrepreneurs.
The initiative also featured a seminar titled "Decoding Demands, Driving the Future of Thailand's Semiconductor Industry," which provided a platform for exchanging ideas on labor market trends and technological directions. It aimed to gather feedback to shape a human resource development plan aligned with labor market needs, targeting the training of 10,000 people within five years. The Department of Skill Development will play a key role in achieving these targets, with plans to upgrade workforce skills in smart electronics industry technology starting from the fiscal year 2027.