The National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), led by Assoc. Prof. Toemsak Srikhirin, Executive Director of MTEC, together with delegates from MTEC and the Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECi), visited the University of Toyama, Japan, from May 19–22, 2026, to attend the signing ceremony for a broad framework agreement on academic and research cooperation between NSTDA, through MTEC, and the University of Toyama.
The signing ceremony was held on May 20, 2026, at the University of Toyama. Prof. Shigeru Saito, President of the University of Toyama, together with university executives, including Vice President Kitajima, Vice President Sakai, Vice President Aizawa, and Special Advisor Dohda, attended the ceremony as witnesses. The agreement aims to promote academic and research collaboration, as well as knowledge exchange, between the two institutions, particularly in materials technology, lightweight materials, aluminium, titanium, and technologies related to future industries.
Following the signing ceremony, Prof. Shigeru Saito, President of the University of Toyama, delivered the opening remarks. Assoc. Prof. Toemsak Srikhirin then presented MTEC’s research and development directions in response to future challenges, followed by a presentation by Assoc. Prof. Peerawat Nuntawong entitled “Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Tribology Research.” Faculty members and researchers from the University of Toyama also presented research conducted by the Advanced Aluminium International Research Center (ARC) and the Advanced Titanium International Research Center (TRC). In addition, Dr. Ekkarut Viyanit, Deputy Executive Director of MTEC, delivered a presentation entitled “Current Status and Future Outlook of Thailand’s Aluminium Industry,” providing an opportunity to exchange information on the current situation and future development trends of Thailand’s aluminium industry.
Another key activity was a roundtable discussion entitled “Future Technology Development and Collaboration on Light Materials Technology,” which provided experts from Thailand and Japan with an opportunity to exchange perspectives on the development of lightweight materials technologies and discuss potential directions for expanding future research collaboration.
During the visit, the delegation also toured the ARC research center as well as organizations and companies in Toyama. The delegation additionally visited the Central Research Institute of Kobe Steel Company for technical exchanges aimed at strengthening collaborative networks with Japan’s academic and industrial sectors. This cooperation marks an important step in expanding science, technology, and innovation partnerships between Thailand and Japan, with the shared goal of advancing high-level research, promoting exchanges of personnel and knowledge, and developing materials technologies to sustainably meet the needs of future industries.
