The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry has moved forward with its plans to establish the National Big Data Institute (NBDi) as a major provider of data analytics, and is now seeking approval for the venture at the next cabinet meeting.
When approval is received and announced in the Royal Gazette, the NBDi is expected to be established within 180 days.
The NBDi will be developed from the existing Government Big Data Institute (GBDi), which is overseen by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa).
All GBDi staff and assets will be transferred to the NBDi, said DES Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn.
"The DES Ministry plans to submit the proposal to the cabinet at its next meeting," he said.
The proposal was approved by the National Digital Economy and Society Commission late last year. It was also approved by the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission.
The NBDi is expected to handle a large pool of data analytics for the public and all state agencies.
"Data analytics and cybersecurity are in high demand in the economy and at enterprises in the digital transformation ecosystem," said Mr Chaiwut.
He said big data analysis is a core driver of the government's flagship digital roadmap policy.
Depa president and chief executive Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin said the GBDi was established in 2019 as an operational unit to coordinate with other agencies on big data.
The GBDi is one of three core agencies under Depa to drive digital transformation in the country, along with the Internet of Things (IoT) Institute and the Digital Startup Institute.
The IoT Institute plays a key role in providing tech innovation to startups, while the GBDi serves as a data resource provider in the ecosystem.
The number of NBDi staff is expected to reach 117 in three years, said Mr Nuttapon.
The GBDi has around 70 staff, mainly those who received government study scholarships, university researchers, and those from the private sector.
The NBDi will initially operate at Depa's building in the Lat Phrao area of Bangkok.
The institute will serve several objectives in the big data ecosystem, supported by artificial intelligence and cloud technology, he said. They include a pool of data and resources, solutions and knowledge transfers to other agencies, an open data platform and a consulting role.
Mr Nuttapon said the government could dissolve the NBDi later if it is found to be ineffective.
"The scope of big data analytics will be enormous in the future, but the operations and projects under Depa's structure cannot match the GBDi's future growth," he said.