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DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Booth no. D19  | Country : Thailand

DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT


SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ARE KEY PILLARS IN THE OVERALL PROWESS OF A NATION AND ITS ARMED FORCES. THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE MUST THEREFORE ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITIES IN ORDER TO ENHANCE THE COMBAT READINESS AND NATIONAL DEFENCE CAPABILITIES OF THE ARMED FORCES.


THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE HAS ENGAGED IN THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR OVER HALF A CENTURY. IN THE EARLY STAGES, R&D CAME UNDER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MILITARY SUPREME COMMAND HEADQUARTERS BUT DUE TO ITS INCREASING IMPORTANCE, THE MATTER OF R&D WAS LATER PROMOTED TO A HIGHER LEVEL SO THAT R&D POLICY AND BUDGETARY CONTROL BECAME THE DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE. HOWEVER, R&D OPERATIONAL CONTROL IS STILL MAINTAINED BY EACH OF THE THREE SERVICE BRANCHES VIA THE DEFENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED ON THE 12TH OF FEBRUARY 1991 UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE OFFICE OF PERMANENT SECRETARY FOR DEFENCE.


IN 2007 THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE UNDERWENT MAJOR REFORMS; THE DEFENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE WAS RENAMED THE DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OFFICE AND THEN REDESIGNATED AGAIN AS THE DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ROYAL DECREE OF 2009, WHICH REORGANIZED THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE OFFICE OF PERMANENT SECRETARY FOR DEFENCE UP TO THE PRESENT DAY.


VISION: TO BE THE CENTER FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND NATIONAL SECURITY PURPOSES.

MISSION: TO ADMINISTRATIVELY AND OPERATIONALLY SUPPORT THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT, WHICH INCLUDES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT, KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER, STANDARDIZATION ON MILITARY AND SECURITY OPERATIONS, NETWORKING AND ALSO TO CONDUCT EXTENSIVE RESEARCH WITH THE AIM OF TURNING THE RESULTS INTO EFFECTIVE AND WELL RECOGNISED CAPABILITIES.


DUTIES THE DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENTS DUTIES ARE TO ADVISE, PLAN, FACILITATE, COORDINATE, LEAD AND CONDUCT MATTERS PERTAINING TO DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POLICIES AND DIRECTIVES OF THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE. THE DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT IS COMMANDED BY A DIRECTOR GENERAL. THE DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT CONSISTS OF TWO MAIN BRANCHES; THE ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH AND THE OPERATIONAL BRANCH. THE ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH CONSISTS OF ONE OFFICE, FOUR DIVISIONS AND ONE BUREAU. THE OPERATIONAL BRANCH OVERSEES THE MILITARY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER OF THE DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFENCE RESEARCH OPERATIONS TO SUPPORT THE ARMED FORCES. THIS CENTER IS COMPRISED OF 5 DIVISIONS. IN ORDER THAT THERE BE CLEAR GOALS AND DIRECTION FOR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT, THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE HAS FORMULATED THE DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH IS COMPRISED OF SIX MAIN MEASURES :


ADMINISTRATION IS CONDUCTED WITH POLICY AND BUDGETARY OVERSIGHT FROM THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE AND IS OPERATIONALLY FACILITATED BY ALL OF SERVICE BRANCHES. THE DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL COMPETENT AUTHORITY. THE COMMITTEE IS CHAIRED BY THE DEPUTY PERMANENT SECRETARY FOR DEFENCE. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT IS THE COMMITTEE SECRETARY AND THE REMAINING COMMITTEE MEMBERS CONSIST OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ARMED FORCES AS WELL AS OTHER RELEVANT UNITS AND THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE. THIS COMMITTEE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE POLICY, STRATEGIC, OBJECTIVE, PROJECT AND BUDGETARY OVERSIGHT FOR THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.


RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS MAY INITIATED BY THE RELEVANT RESEARCH UNITS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MILITARY DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND DIRECTIVES OF THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE WHICH ARE AS FOLLOWS : R&D CONCERNING EQUIPMENT AND MILITARY DOCTRINE WHICH MAY REPLACE FOREIGN EQUIPMENT AND MILITARY SOLUTIONS IN ENHANCING THE COMBAT READINESS AND CAPABILITIES OF THE ARMED FORCES. R&D FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADDRESSING THE UNREST IN THE THREE SOUTHERN-MOST PROVINCES. R&D FOR THE MAINTENANCE, SERVICE-LIFE MAXIMISATION AND CAPABILITY ENHANCEMENT OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT. R&D PROJECT PROPOSALS MAY BE SUBMITTED FROM THE RESEARCH UNIT LEVEL VIA THE RESEARCH LIAISON UNIT OF THE RELEVANT SERVICE BRANCH TO THE DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE RELEVANT SUB-COMMITTEE. THE PERFORMANCE OF THE R&D PROJECTS ARE UNDER CONSTANT EVALUATION FROM START TO FINISH, WITH THE RESULTS OBJECTIVELY EVALUATED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE MATTERS CONCERNING PRACTICAL APPLICATION, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND STANDARDIZATION FOR PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION BY THE ARMED FORCES.


PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT INVOLVES THE CONTINUOUS EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF PERSONNEL IN ORDER TO CREATE EFFECTIVE AND CAPABLE STAFF FOR THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. THIS ENTAILS EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN RESEARCH MANAGEMENT, SENDING PERSONNEL TO ACQUIRE FURTHER KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AS NECESSARY AND SPONSORSHIP FOR FURTHER EDUCATION AT MASTERS DEGREE LEVEL AND DOCTORATE LEVEL BOTH AT DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. FURTHERMORE, MORALE AND MOTIVATION BOOSTING INCENTIVES ARE OFFERED IN THE FORM OF PRIZES AND OFFICIAL RECOGNITION FOR OUTSTANDING RESEARCH.


BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT INVOLVES THE DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF EQUIPMENT, OPERATIONAL FACILITIES AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS. THIS INVOLVES THE MAINTENANCE OF A CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED DATABASE FOR THE BENEFIT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY R&D PERSONNEL.


KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER IS CONDUCTED FOR BENEFIT OF BOTH RESEARCH PERSONNEL AND THE END-USERS OF THE RESEARCH IN THE REST OF THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE THROUGH SEMINARS, TRAINING PROGRAMMES, CAPABILITY DEMONSTRATIONS AND OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES. THE KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER MAY COME FROM OTHER INSTITUTIONS, UNITS AND AGENCIES BASED IN THAILAND OR ABROAD.


MILITARY STANDARDIZATION ENTAILS THE POLICY, PLANNING, PROCEDURES AND BEST-PRACTICE FOR EQUIPMENT AND MATERIEL USED BY 2 OR MORE SERVICES BRANCHES. TO ENSURE THAT THE EQUIPMENT AND MATERIEL IN QUESTION ARE SUITABLE FOR USE WITHIN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE. EQUIPMENT THAT HAS PASSED SUCH PROCESSES INCLUDE THE ANTI-BALLISTIC ARMOUR VESTS AND PADDING. THE MATERIEL STANDARDIZATION COMMITTEE IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL COMMITTEE FOR MILITARY STANDARDIZATION AND IS CHAIRED BY THE DEPUTY PERMANENT SECRETARY FOR DEFENCE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.


THE MATTER OF MILITARY STANDARDIZATION IS OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE TO THE DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE. THE REMAINING COMMITTEE MEMBERS CONSIST OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ARMED FORCES AS WELL AS OTHER RELEVANT UNITS AND THE COMMITTEE SECRETARY IS THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT.


THE DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT STRIVES TO USE ALL AVAILABLE NATIONAL RESOURCES TO ENSURE THE BEST POSSIBLE CAPABILITY FOR THE ROYAL THAI ARMED FORCES. THE DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT HAS STEADILY EXPANDED ITS COLLABORATION DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS FROM BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS.


IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE EFFECTIVE USE OF RESOURCES AND FURTHER THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WITHIN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, THE DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT IS IN COOPERATION WITH VARIOUS OTHER AGENCIES SUCH AS THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF THAILAND, THE THAILAND RESEARCH FUND, THE NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND MANY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS BELONGING TO BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION EXISTS WITH THE RESPECTIVE MINISTRIES OF DEFENCE OF MANY ALLIED NATIONS, SUCH AS AUSTRALIA, THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AT PRESENT THERE IS ALSO A DRIVE TO INCREASE COOPERATION WITH THE MINISTRIES OF DEFENCE OF ASEAN NATIONS TO FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITIES TO AN INTERNATIONAL STANDARD.


THE DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE CONTINUES TO STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE, PROGRESS AND STRENGTH IN THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE ULTIMATE AIM OF PROVIDING THE ARMED FORCES WITH SUSTAINABLE AND SELF-RELIANT CAPABILITIES FOR NATIONAL SELF DEFENCE


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Product Highlight

RESEARCH FUNDING ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT BY THE DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT AS A PROGRAM MANAGEMENT UNIT (PMU) FOR RESEARCH FUNDING WITHIN THE NATIONAL SECURITY RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM

1. BACKGROUND THE PMU WAS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THE RESOLUTION OF THE 2/2025 MEETING OF THE NATIONAL HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION POLICY COUNCIL ON 21 OCTOBER 2025, FOLLOWED BY A MEETING ON 11 NOVEMBER 2025.

2. SCOPE OF RESEARCH FUNDING GREEN: SECURITY RESEARCH WITH DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS (DUAL USE). YELLOW: RESEARCH ON DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND NATIONAL SECURITY THAT IS NOT CLASSIFIED.

3. ANNUAL RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL CALL FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 (B.E. 2570) RESEARCH FRAMEWORK 1: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT FOR THE SECURITY AND DEFENCE INDUSTRY KEY RESEARCH PRIORITIES TO CONDUCT RESEARCH AND DEVELOP MILITARY EQUIPMENT FOR THE SECURITY AND DEFENCE INDUSTRY. TO CONDUCT RESEARCH AND DEVELOP SOLUTIONS TO ALL FORMS OF SECURITY THREATS, INCLUDING FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH, SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH, AND POLICY RESEARCH FOR NATIONAL SECURITY. TO ADVANCE RESEARCH OUTCOMES, TECHNOLOGIES, AND INNOVATIONS TOWARD STANDARDS CERTIFICATION AND PROMOTE THEIR ADOPTION BY THE DOMESTIC DEFENCE INDUSTRY.


RESEARCH FRAMEWORK 2: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS AND NATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES KEY RESEARCH PRIORITIES TO CONDUCT RESEARCH AND DEVELOP ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, INCLUDING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI), QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY, CYBER TECHNOLOGY, AND SPACE TECHNOLOGY, FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND TO ADDRESS COMPLEX CHALLENGES IN NATIONAL SECURITY AND NATIONAL DEFENCE. TO ADVANCE RESEARCH OUTCOMES IN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES TOWARD STANDARDS CERTIFICATION AND PROMOTE THEIR ADOPTION BY THE DEFENCE INDUSTRY.

4. (DRAFT) NATIONAL SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION PLAN, B.E. 25712575 (20282032) STRATEGY 3: PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE, STRENGTHENING NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ENHANCING COMPETITIVENESS PLAN 1: PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE THROUGH ADVANCED RESEARCH. PLAN 2: STRENGTHENING NATIONAL SECURITY, SAFEGUARDING SOVEREIGNTY, AND ENHANCING THE CAPACITY TO RESPOND TO GLOBAL THREATS AND CHANGES.

5. RESEARCH FOCUS AREAS, B.E. 25702575 (20272032) UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (UAS) AND COUNTER-UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (C-UAS) BORDER SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS (GROUND-BASED AND AERIAL SURVEILLANCE) WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION COMMUNICATION AND CYBER SYSTEMS MILITARY EQUIPMENT SUSTAINMENT OTHER RESEARCH AREAS

6. RESEARCH FUNDING TIMELINE PERIOD ACTIVITY CALL FOR RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSALS 130 MAY 2026 PROPOSAL SCREENING AND EVALUATION 1 JUNE30 JULY 2026 ANNOUNCEMENT OF PRELIMINARY EVALUATION RESULTS 1 AUGUST 2026 SUBMISSION OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE SUBCOMMITTEES AND COMMITTEES AUGUSTSEPTEMBER 2026 ANNOUNCEMENT OF FINAL RESULTS AND PREPARATION OF RESEARCH FUNDING AGREEMENTS OCTOBERDECEMBER 2026

7. ADDITIONAL NOTES THE TIMELINE MAY BE ADJUSTED AS APPROPRIATE. IF FUNDING REMAINS AVAILABLE, ADDITIONAL RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSALS MAY BE INVITED. THE DRAFT REGULATIONS GOVERNING RESEARCH FUNDING ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT ARE CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT. ONCE APPROVED, THESE REGULATIONS WILL ENABLE RESEARCH FUNDING TO BE ALLOCATED TO ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE NATIONAL SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION (SRI) SYSTEM THROUGH THE RELEVANT FUNDING MECHANISMS.

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