On June 17, 2026, at the M506 Conference Room, MTEC Building, Thailand Science Park, the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), and the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on research and development under the Science and Technology Cooperation Project. The collaboration aims to promote the research, development, and application of knowledge in materials science and advanced engineering to upgrade Thailand’s expressway infrastructure into a safe, modern, and environmentally friendly “Smart Expressway” system. The MOU was signed by Assoc. Prof. Toemsak Srikhirin, Executive Director, MTEC, and Mr. Surachet Laophulsuk, Governor of EXAT, in the presence of executives, researchers, and personnel from both organizations.
This collaboration marks another important step in integrating the expertise of two leading national organizations to drive transportation infrastructure development through science, technology, and innovation. It will help raise Thailand’s expressway system standards, making the network more modern, safe, and efficient. As the organization responsible for managing and operating the country’s expressways, EXAT seeks to enhance engineering and safety standards as well as service efficiency. Meanwhile, MTEC-NSTDA will contribute its knowledge, expertise, and technologies in materials science and advanced engineering to support the research, development, testing, and performance evaluation of materials and equipment for expressway infrastructure. These efforts will support efficient operation and accommodate growing transportation demand in the future.
Under the cooperation framework, the two organizations will jointly study, analyze, and develop innovations in engineering materials and equipment for expressway applications. The work will focus on improving the durability and service life of infrastructure while raising safety standards through design, testing, and evaluation based on engineering principles and international standards. The goal is to help reduce accident severity and ensure sustainable safety for expressway users.
The collaboration also aligns with Thailand’s goals of achieving carbon neutrality and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. It will draw on MTEC’s “Material Solutions for Net Zero” research approach, which focuses on developing environmentally friendly materials and technologies, promoting resource efficiency in accordance with circular economy principles, and supporting infrastructure construction and maintenance processes that minimize impacts on the environment and surrounding communities.
This collaboration will also serve as an important mechanism for promoting the development of domestic technologies and innovations through research, testing in accordance with international standards, and knowledge exchange between personnel from both organizations. These efforts will help reduce reliance on foreign technologies, strengthen personnel capabilities, and enhance Thailand’s capacity in science, technology, and innovation to support the development of efficient, safe, and sustainable transportation systems in the future.