“Hard Disk DriveEXPO 2010 and the 3rd International Conference on
Data Storage Technology (DST-CON2010)”
30 July 2010 ; 08.30 hrs.
At BITEC Bangna
Dr. Thaweesak Koanantakool, President of NSTDA
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Kitti Tirasesth, President of KMITL
Distinguished guests,
Researchers,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is both an honour and a pleasure for me to be here today at the
HDD EXPO 2010.
First of all, let me take this opportunity to extend my greetings and
a very warm welcome to all participants, especially those who have kindly
taken the time to travel from abroad. I hope that you enjoy the touch of
Thai hospitality and the refinement of our culture.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As we all know, the demand for data storage is now unstoppable
due to the rapid rise of computer usage. Therefore, the HDD Expo is an
extremely important one for this era, especially, as it brings together
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various agencies inthe HDD industry including the research community,
government agencies, local SMEs as well as interested public. Many
special activities are offered at this EXPO such as academic conference
sessions, business matching activities, trade exhibitions and also a job fair.
This year’s EXPO reflects part of the on-going collaborations between
universities and the industry. It shows how impressively the community of
HDD cluster in Thailand has developed and also that it will continue to
flourish in the future.
Having been in Thailand for more than 30 years, today, the HDD
industry has grown to become a crucial part of the country’s economic and
social development with currently more than 200,000 workers employed in
the industry.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Royal Thai government has a determined vision to make
Thailand the global hub of Hard Disk Drive industry in both production and
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research and development(R&D).
As Thailand now produces roughly
half of the total global HDD
production, it is already being
recognized as the key spot in the
global HDD supply chain.
In order to be a hub for R&D in HDD technology, Thailand has
established the Hard Disk Drive Institute (HDDI) under the National Science
and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) since 2005 with the aim to
strategically provide support and facilitate intellectual capital development
within the cluster.
To achieve this goal, the HDDI created a network of more than
200 researchers in more than 15 universities. To date, the institute has
provided financial supports to more than 100 research projects. These are
all university-industry collaborative
projects. In fact, roughly 50 percent
of them are co-funded by the
industry. Some have created a great
impact on the industry, for example,
a project between Khon Khan
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University and WesternDigital has saved the company more than 7,500
million baht in production cost.
As regards, the development of intellectual capital, the HDDI
prepares the future generation of researchers in technology by giving
scholarships at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Since the start of
this program, more than 224 scholarships have been awarded to
undergraduate students, another 220 to master students and 21 more to
PhD students who are currently conducting research on various topics from
Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) to Logistics simulation.
Part of the current research activities in Thailand will be reflected
in the Third International Data Storage Technology Conference, or DST-
CON 2010. The conference will clearly show the eagerness, the
determination, and the capability of local research community to address
the real problems raised in the industry. It will also reflect years of
continuous commitment by the Royal Thai Government to prepare local
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intellectual capital forlong term technological development.
Apart from this, the strength, the depth and the dynamic of the
HDD industry in Thailand will be shown in the trade exhibitions and
business matching activities during the Expo. Through government-
industry-university partnerships, many local Thai SMEs have gradually
grown to become an integral part of the HDD industry. For example, a
project funded by the government and led by a team of researchers at
Suranaree University has helped a group of more than 12 Thai SMEs
successfully design and build a prototype of a Hard Disk production line.
I am very pleased to see that more and more multi-partner projects like this
one are taking place in the industry.
Last but not least, the job fair activity during the EXPO will reflect
the growing job market in the HDD industry and how this industry has
contributed remarkably to the Thai economy and social development. This
year, in particular, the HDD industry has been projected to grow
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significantly and isactively looking to
fill up more than 10,000 positions.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Let me once again assure
you that the Royal Thai government
is committed to provide every necessary infrastructure to make Thailand as
the global hub of HDD industry. To this end, the government will continue
its financial support to the industry, while the HDDI and NSTDA will not
cease to play a crucial part in the local HDD industry just like they have
always played since its inception.
I sincerely believe that the
HDD EXPO 2010 will be greatly
beneficial to not just the HDD
industry and research community
here, but also to other interested
public.
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In closing, Iwould like to thank the organizing bodies who have
pooled their efforts in gathering altogether many experts from the private,
government and academic circles; from Thailand and from abroad. Once
again a very warm welcome to you all to this historical milestone of the
HDD industry.
I wish every success to the HDD EXPO 2010, and an enjoyable
stay in Bangkok to all of you.
Thank you very much for your kind attention.
Sawasdee Krub.
เรียบเรียงโดย : คณะทางาน รมว.วท.
อารีวัลย์ สินธุคา
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