BANGKOK — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Yodchanan Wongsawat met with Michael Hurlston, CEO of global optical and laser technology leader Lumentum, to discuss strategic collaboration aimed at advancing Thailand’s semiconductor and photonics industries.
The meeting at the Ministry of Higher Education focused on strengthening Thailand’s position in the global value chain through support for advanced technologies, including AI, data centers, and modern digital infrastructure.
Both sides exchanged views on the country’s semiconductor sector, with the ministry highlighting policies to shift from traditional manufacturing toward higher-value activities such as design, research, and applied innovation—areas in which Lumentum holds global expertise.
An MOU was signed between Lumentum, Mahanakorn University of Technology (MUT), and the Thailand Microelectronics Center (TMEC) to establish a “Triple Helix” ecosystem linking government, academia, and industry. The agreement covers workforce development, short- and long-term courses in photonics and advanced communications, research lab upgrades, internships, and industry exposure programs.
Hurlston expressed confidence in Thailand’s potential, pledging long-term partnership to develop high-skilled talent and enhance the country’s competitiveness in AI, semiconductors, and related technologies globally.
