A group of IT pioneers has opened what it calls the country's first Thai-owned research centre for information and communication technology (ICT).
The IMC Institute is aimed at reorganising the country's data storage system to meet international standards, said director Thanachart Numnonda, who led the formation of the centre.
He said Thailand was lacking a quality ICT database centre to help policymakers develop the country's IT master plan.
The IMC Institute yesterday signed a two-year deal with the Association of Thai ICT Industry (ATCI) to conduct ICT market research and provide training in areas like cloud computing and mobile development.
"We aim to train at least 1,000 people in the first year of operation," said Mr Thanachart, a former director of Software Park Thailand.
He said the IMC Institute is positioned as a brain sharpener, aiming to hone IT skills, support start-up firms and improve the country's competitiveness.
The institute also hopes to provide a matching service to help new companies and smaller firms find partners.
Mr Thanachart acknowledged that few Thai software firms are using cloud technologies when compared with other countries in Asean.
The institute will seek partnerships with venture capital firms in Japan.
ATCI president Adirek Patithat said the government could improve the country's competitiveness by prodding universities to offer ICT courses and urging more support from tech vendors.