October 22, 2025

Phra Wisanu Room, 3^rd Floor, Asawin Grand Convention Hotel, Bangkok

The National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), an entity of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), hosted the seminar “Advancing Thai Industries Toward the Circular Economy with Recycle/Upcycle Innovation and Technology” in collaboration with the Department of Primary Industries and Mines (DPIM). The event was conducted to support a project aimed at strengthening industrial capabilities to engage with circular-economy markets through innovative technology. It attracted significant interest from entrepreneurs, government officials, and researchers, resulting in substantial attendance.

October 20–21, 2025

Jubilee Prestige Hotel, Ratchadaphisek, Bangkok

The National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), an entity of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), led by Dr. Asira Fuongfuchat, Deputy Director of MTEC and Thailand’s Focal Point, participated in the 55th Meeting of the ASEAN Sub-Committee on Materials Science and Technology (SCMST-55). The meeting was convened on October 20, 2025, under the framework of the 88th Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI-88).

CAE and Digital Twin constitute two critical technologies that play a vital role in upgrading manufacturing operations toward Industry 4.0. By integrating advanced technologies with digital systems, manufacturers can enhance productivity and implement predictive maintenance practices. This approach aligns with NSTDA’s “Industry 4.0 Platform,” a one-stop service that consolidates assessment tools, advisory services, and capacity-building activities to facilitate a seamless transition to Industry 4.0. The platform commences with the Thailand i4.0 Index to evaluate readiness levels before advancing to consultation services and training programs designed to improve factory operations and workforce competencies at all levels.

Dr. Sarawut Lerspalungsanti, Deputy Executive Director of the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC-NSTDA), delivered the welcoming remarks and stated that the project aims to transfer knowledge, technologies, and case studies on greenhouse gas reduction from three pilot factories. These demonstrations are intended to guide the industrial sector in mitigating the impacts of CBAM and in raising Thailand’s manufacturing standards.

Ms. Araya Salaipetch, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Primary Industries and Mines (DPIM), presided over the opening ceremony, emphasizing the urgent necessity for Thai industries to adapt to the emerging “green barriers”—trade measures designed to safeguard the environment and curb the impacts of climate change. She also underscored DPIM’s role as a key agency driving the circular economy, particularly through the promotion of recycling critical metals, specifically lithium, with the dual goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening the nation’s raw material security.

During the opening ceremony, Dr. Asira Fuangfuchat, Deputy Executive Director of MTEC, delivered the welcome remarks and officially inaugurated the event on behalf of the co-organizing agency. This was followed by a special lecture by Dr. Jitti Mangkalasiri, Team Leader of Life Cycle Database Development and Applications for Sustainable Development and Trade at the Technology and Informatics Institute for Sustainability (TIIS), and Deputy Director of the Program Management Unit for Competitiveness Enhancement (PMU-C). His talk, titled “Life Cycle Assessment Journey: From Zero to Net Zero Era,” delineated the evolution of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) from a stage of limited data availability (“Zero”) to its current role as a key tool in propelling systematic progress toward Net Zero goals. Dr. Jitti underscored the importance of understanding LCA deeply and creating strong collaborations to support its practical applications at organizational, industrial, and national levels—ranging from calculating carbon footprints and assessing product life cycles to shaping long-term sustainable development policies. Dr. Kiyotaka Tahara, Director of IDEA Lab, AIST, also provided an overview of the Asian Life Cycle Inventory Database Project. The workshop was structured into two sessions: the first featured presentations on the current state of LCA and LCI development in Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia; and the second included group discussions and a joint synthesis of findings.

The workshop hosted more than 30 participants from across Asia, representing Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan. Their participation underscores the growing international collaboration in advancing environmental data development to support a sustainable future for the region.

The research and development of the steam turbine forced-cooling system represents a joint effort between EGAT and MTEC. The prototype developed through this collaboration has already been proven to effectively reduce turbine cooldown time. Since early 2022, the prototype has been in continuous use at the Mae Moh Power Plant in Lampang Province, generating tens of millions of baht in economic benefits annually by improving power generation efficiency.

This discussion marks another important step forward in advancing Thailand’s energy innovation sector. It highlights the strong potential for collaboration between research institutions and the power generation sector, with a shared dedication to improving technological efficiency for economic benefits and strengthening the country’s energy security.

This partnership reaffirms the industrial sector’s readiness and the shared commitment of all stakeholders to develop a truly sustainable packaging management system in Thailand.

Prof. Dr. Sukit Limpijumnong, President of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and a member of NDC Class 67, added that, “NSTDA, through the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), with support from the NDC Class 67 cohort, has developed the prototype landmine-neutralization machine. The project was spearheaded by Dr. Ekkarut Viyanit, Director of the Rail and Modern Transport Technology Research Group (RMT), who oversaw the advanced engineering design and material technologies utilized for neutralizing PMN-2 landmines.

The innovation began with the concept of modifying a compact excavator (approximately 3.5 tons), which was selected for its maneuverability on steep, rugged terrain, ease of operation, and durability. The excavator was subsequently fitted with a landmine-neutralizing attachment and reinforced with an armored operator cabin, thus ensuring personnel remained protected during operations.

Advanced engineering design, incorporating 3D modeling and computer simulation, was applied to engineer the machine components with precision, thereby ensuring dimensional accuracy for fabrication and adequate structural strength to withstand explosive pressure. The team also analyzed blast-pressure behavior that could pose risks to operators, using computer-based simulations to study potential human hazards.

Given MTEC’s extensive experience with high-strength materials, the protective armor for the operator cabin was fabricated from S700 structural steel (minimum yield strength of 700 MPa) with a thickness of 12 mm. The newly designed Landmine Punching Destroyer unit was developed specifically to meet the operational requirements for PMN-2 neutralization. The ‘punch rod’ was engineered with an optimal standoff distance from the ground surface to dissipate blast pressure and reduce the potential for rapid component damage. The rod is made from medium-carbon steel, heat-treated for sufficient strength (yield strength of 720 MPa), and manufactured as a threaded stud bolt with a 28.5 mm diameter, thereby allowing easy removal, replacement, or repair during field operations along the border.

The prototype was successfully completed within a short development period of just one month and is now ready to be handed over to the Royal Thai Army’s Corps of Engineers for field testing and evaluation. Real-world use will enable the research team to collect feedback and operational data, which will guide improvements and inform the development of future versions.”