The global economic and social changes have moved towards knowledge-based economy/society (KBE/KBS). This trend reflects the increasing importance of information technology, as it plays a crucial role in producing, accessing, storing and disseminating knowledge, the key production factor leading the country to KBE/KBS.

A knowledge-based economy/society is a target clearly linked with the strategies on IT applications use for developing economic and social sectors in the country. Not only for advanced information and telecommunication industries, the strategies also provide long-term impacts on the society emphasising the well-being of people in the country on the basis of sustainable development.

Presently, it is widely accepted that Electronic, Computing, Telecommunication, and Information (ECTI) technologies have played a major role as an important mechanism for increasing the countrys economic competitiveness. To strengthen the research and development of ECTI, NECTEC set up the Strategic Master Plan on ECTI (2000-2009) as a guidance for NECTEC's implementation as well as for transferring technology and products to the industrial sector.