National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) has played an important role in supporting Thai industry by providing both technical and financial assistance to promote the upgrading of technology, to promote the research and development of new products and processes, and to raise production standards for competitiveness and sustainable development. A private sector support program has delivered the Industrial Technology Assistance Program (iTAP) the Intellectual Property Service (IPS), the Company Directed Technology Development Program (CD); the NSTDA’s Investment Center (NIC); the Research and Development Certification Committee (RDC) and the Technology Licensing office (TLO)
NSTDA is well aware of the fact that most economic growth comes from small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and that in order to accelerate the technology development of Thai SMEs it is necessary to improve its own capability in supporting those organizations. To achieve this, NSTDA has set out to be much more accessible to SMEs in terms of geography and relative levels of science and technology.
In achieving this accessibility, NSTDA has established the Industrial Technology Assistance Program (iTAP) as an integral part of, and a core element within, its mandate and strategic directions. As an integrated organization, NSTDA’s research centers, iTAP, and other support groups, act in concert in formulating strategic priorities that serve the needs of SMEs.
Mandate:
To stimulate the economic growth of Thailand through technological innovation.
Vision:
iTAP will become the national technology support program for SMEs to help them meet the challenges they face in introducing technology-based products and processes.
