Thailand’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) has signed agreements with six regional Internet of Things (IoT) innovators for the exchange of know-how and technology.
Signed in Singapore in February 2019, the agreements are expected to boost the agency’s Digital Park Thailand and IoT Institute Initiative under the Thailand 4.0 policy, the government's ambitious 20-year strategy to move Thailand toward a tech-centric and value-based economy.
Depa signed the memorandum of agreements with Willowmore, UnaBiz, Gobi Partners, Ascent Solutions, Unity, and Spotwerkz.
“These partnerships will strengthen and enhance Thailand's resources and help us gain a competitive position in the IoT industry within the Asean market. Ultimately, these agreements will improve the lives of the Thai people,” said Dr. Passakon Prathombutr, Senior Executive Vice President of depa.
Gaming platform Unity provides professional 3D automotive design, industrial and architectural services as well as film and animation services.
According to depa, its partnership with Unity is essential in supporting digital transformation efforts for SMEs and manufacturing as well as Thailand's creative industries in film and animation.
Spotwerkz, on the other hand, is a big data analytics company and the licensee of Unity in Thailand.
Depa has also explored investment and development opportunities with UnaBiz, Asia's first IoT dedicated network operator in Singapore and Taiwan selling solutions in 28 countries.
"Thailand is a key market in Asean to develop digital capabilities in the area of industrial automation, agriculture, tourism, education and healthcare," said Henri Bong, CEO and founder of UnaBiz.
The MoU covers opportunities such as opening a training center within the Thailand EEC digital park to explore the development turnkey IoT solutions for Thailand's small-medium enterprises and large companies.
Meanwhile, Willowmore Singapore Pte. Ltd., an enterprise-grade smart padlock, smart cabinet locks, and a pioneer in portable Sigfox-Bluetooth gateway SigWAV, is developing innovations such as state-of-the-art access control, security systems technology, and IoT gateways.
Gobi Partners, which has a long history of working with government agencies, will be providing depa and the Thai government with expertise on funding startups.
Singapore-based IoT company Ascent Solutions provides services in various industries such as warehouses, logistics, freight forwarding, intelligent transportation, and e-passport tools with state-of-the-art technologies such as NB-IoT, Satcom, GPRS, and Active and Passive RFID.
In partnership with depa, the company is eyeing to develop and expand innovative technologies and provide its solutions to the Digital Park Thailand and IoT Institute in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
"This official depa MoU signing with the six major companies in Singapore is considerably a continuing progress of integrated development, reinforcing the growth of Thailand's digital economy to international standards as part of 'Thailand 4.0' policy,” reiterated Dr. Passakon Prathombutr.
“Given Thailand's goals to enhance digital technology, developing personnel capabilities through partnerships with leading Singapore companies, and its pursuit to exchanging knowledge with partners from many countries, 'Thailand 4.0' policy will be a kick starter to the future generation of Thai digital business operators," he added.
