(April 20, 2026), at Beijing, People’s Republic of China, the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and National Center for Materials Service Safety (NCMS), University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB), P.R. China, held a signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on academic and research cooperation. The signing was led by Associate Professor Toemsak Srikhirin, Executive Director of MTEC, the representative of NSTDA’s President, and Professor Xiaolu Pang, Director of NCMS, USTB. The event was honored by the presence of Dr. Xiuqin Xia, Chancellor of NCMS, USTB. Also, attendees from both sides were Dr. Ekkarut Vuyanit, Deputy Executive Director of MTEC, Professor Ying Jin, Deputy Director of NCMS, USTB, as well as the executive teams and researchers from both organizations. This collaboration aims to enhance the safety of engineering infrastructure and materials, while strengthening industrial competitiveness in Thailand.
Associate Professor Toemsak Srikhirin stated, ” the MoU marks an important milestone in strengthening strategic collaboration between Thailand and China. Building upon previous engagements — including institutional visits and participation in international conferences — this partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing research and innovation, particularly in particularly in materials service safety and structural integrity for critical industries. He also emphasized NSTDA’s role in promoting sustainability through the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy model, supporting energy transition and sustainable infrastructure development. The collaboration is expected to lead to joint research, innovation, and long-term sustainable development benefiting both countries.”
Prof. Xiaolu Pang highlighted the long-standing cooperation between Thailand and China under the “Belt and Road Initiative,” particularly in science, research, and innovation. He noted that the MoU marks a concrete step in expanding collaboration with ASEAN partners. The partnership will serve as a platform to advance joint research, promote academic and expert exchange programs, and support innovation in materials safety, infrastructure systems, and related industrial sectors, thereby enhancing academic and technological capabilities of both institutions.
Under this institutional collaboration, NSTDA will engage its key research centers, including MTEC and ENTEC, to jointly implement activities with NCMS. The collaboration will focus on knowledge exchange, joint research, and the development of technologies and solutions related to infrastructure safety, particularly for emerging energy systems and aging infrastructure. It also aims to facilitate researcher exchange and short-term research programs, as well as to promote the application of jointly developed technologies to address national and industrial needs in a sustainable manner.
Following the MoU signing ceremony, Professor Jin Ying also led the delegation on a technical tour of NCMS facilities, including the Corrosion Assessment and Prediction Laboratory (CAPLab) and four testing stations: Multiphase Flow Environment Test Facility for Engineering Structures, Atmospheric Environment Test Facility for Engineering Structures, High-Temperature and High-Pressure (HTHP) Vapor Environment Test Facility, and Extreme / Multi-Factor Coupled Environment Test Facility. The visit provided an opportunity for both sides to exchange technical insights and explore potential areas for future collaboration.
