NSTDA and PPT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) signed an MOU to signify collaboration on the development of the Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECi) and R&D to support industry 4.0. The MOU signing ceremony was held on 21 February 2020 at Thailand Science Park, in the presence of Mr. Phongsthorn Thavisin, PTTEP President and Dr. Narong Sirilertworakul, NSTDA President.
EECi is the Thai Government’s project to establish an innovation hub to support Thailand’s new growth engines. EECi offers a complete ecosystem for innovation and a new economic estate specializing in research, innovation, and related testing and evaluation. Infrastructure and services will be established to foster collaboration between the public and private sectors, as well as universities and local communities. NSTDA has been assigned to lead the development and construction of EECi. Construction of the first phase is expected to complete in 2021.
The partnership with NSTDA will reinforce the vision of PTTEP, a petroleum exploration and production company, to be "Energy Partner of Choice” through Competitive Performance and Innovation for Long-term Value Creation. PTTEP will be the first private company to establish a research center at EECi. PTTEP Technology and Innovation Centre (PTIC) will focus its R&D on petroleum exploration and production, as well as other emerging fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to support the company’s future ventures.