NECTEC provides linkage between research communities and industries through the established industrial clusters. Research funding to the industrial clusters is made through joint proposals. These proposals aim to share core technologies and human resource development programs among industrial members. NECTEC conducts nine cluster programs which are categorized into two main groups as follows:

Software, Microchip and Electronics (SME) Cluster and Strategic Programs

SME Cluster:

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

Hard Disk Drive (HDD) program aims to enhance and promote Thailandีs international competitiveness to be าthe world number one HDD manufacturerำ through the next decade. To strengthen the HDD industry in Thailand, the program focuses on 4 areas of research and development. They are (1) Design and Simulation (2) Materials and Metrology (3) Automation and (4) Electrostatic Discharge and Contamination.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a R&D program to capture new opportunities from new devices which can be applied for several scenarios. RFID is positioned as a hot emerging technology which can be used to supplement the production and export of consumer products, logistics and traceability of food export. The program aims to research and develop into 4 areas which are (1) Chip and Card (2) Application Software (3) Terminal and Reader and (4) System and Solution.

Information and Mobile Applications (IMA)

Information and Mobile Applications (IMA) program aims to develop 4 core technologies which are (1) Data (2) Network (3) Intelligent Information System and (4) Application. These technologies will be transferred to service providers for their further development of products that will add value to the software and mobile industries. The specific areas of research and development include Language Processing; Image Processing; Knowledge Management; Communication and Network; Content Development and Management; and Information and Mobile Application Framework.

Embedded Systems (ES)

Embedded Systems program is a R&D program to supplement the design and construction of solutions for precision automation, factory automation, electronic terminals for RFID and smart card, automotive electronics and general household gadgets. This program focuses on 3 areas of research and development which are (1) Embedded Systems in Agritronics (2) Embedded Systems for Energy Management and (3) Embedded Systems in Consumer Electronics.

Strategic Programs:

Intelligent Medical Systems (IMS)

Intelligent Medical Systems (IMS) program emphasizes the use of engineering principles and techniques to solve medical problems for the progress of health care in Thailand. It is the discipline concerned with the development and manufacturing of intelligent medical devices, diagnostic devices and other therapies. IMS focuses on areas of (1) Medical Imaging (2) Computation Modeling and Simulation (3) Signal Process; Devices, Instruments and Systems for Medical Usage and (4) ICT for Medical System.

Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)

Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) program focuses on 3 platform technologies which are (1) Smart Sensing Technology (2) Information Processing Technology and (3) Communication Technology. These platforms aim to build 2 infrastructures; Data Center and Base Map. The recent projects aligned on the platforms include Image Processing for Detecting Car-Speed; Optical Sensing for Car Detection; Vehicle Classification; Digital Base Map Standard; Traffic Data Exchange Center; FM Broadcasting for Traffic Information; and License Plate Recognition.

Platform Technology Cluster

Sensors Technology (SST)

Sensor Technology (SST) program aims to develop sensors for application use in medical, agricultural, automotive, transportation and electronics industries. The targeted products will be Pressure Sensor; Blood Pressure Sensor; Mask Set; Alcohol Screening; and IC and CMOS Design.

Security Technology (SCT)

Security Technology (SCT) is a program to respond to and handle incidents concerning computer security on the Internet to ensure safety of information on computer systems and reduce its constituent risks from cyber crime. The main responsibilities of this program are (1) to respond to the computer security incidents; (2) to issue advisories on computer security practices, security tools and policies development, and security audits; and (3) to promote public awareness on computer security in Thailand.

Knowledge Engineering Technology (KET)

Knowledge Engineering Technology (KET) program is a research and development program based on engineering discipline that involves computational knowledge processing. It aims to solve industrial problems and serve a societyีs needs. KET program focuses on technology areas related to the acquisition, collection, access, processing, sharing and integration, and services, of knowledge. The research interests are, for example, Natural Language Processing; Data Mining; Data Warehouse; Data Standard; Machine Learning; Intelligent Search; Ontology; Network Engineering; Grid Computing; Open Standard; Computational Science and Engineering; Multimedia Processing; and Web Services.