Promoting research and development: A case study of Thai ICT industry

Information and communication technology (ICT) plays a critical role in various developments in government policy. The study focuses on Thailand as a case to analyze an implementation of the government policy. The case shows that Thai government creates the ICT plan for ten years to leverage the strength of research and development. The plan supports and encourages five sectors of development: 1.Government, 2. Commerce, 3. Industry, 4. Education, and 5. Society. Each sector is often known as “electronics development” or “e-government, e-commerce, e-industry, e-education, and e-society.” The study, thus, is initiated to analyze and make recommendation for improving the ICT plan that Thai government can promote and leverage the potential of researchers to the point that innovative creation in ICT is flourishing. The results of the study show that the ICT industry can reinforce with a). Setting the research and economic development agency for ICT industry, b). Promoting research potential in ICT at country level, c). Developing national research database for ICT, d). Evaluating and following up the ICT research in every segment in the country, and e). Creating research funding for ICT projects.