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Deputy Minister Leads Thailand’s First Major Step Toward the Quantum Future
BANGKOK, 24 July 2026 – H.E. Miss Nan Boontida Somchai, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy and Society of Thailand, presided over the opening of the Thailand Quantum Readiness Workshop, marking Thailand’s first major step toward preparing for the quantum era. Jointly organized by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) and IBM Thailand, the workshop brought together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and technology experts to begin shaping Thailand’s quantum future.
The workshop was held with the support of key national partners, including the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA), the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), the Big Data Institute (BDI), Chiang Mai University (CMU), the Quantum Technology Research Initiative Consortium (QTRiC), and Siam Quantum Valley (SQV). Together, these organizations represent Thailand’s growing quantum ecosystem and its shared commitment to advancing quantum readiness.
The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Supakorn Siddhichai, Acting President and CEO of depa; Mr. Anothai Wettayakorn, Managing Director of IBM Thailand; Dr. Peeradech Na Nan, Advisor to the Secretary-General of NCSA; Dr. Preesan Rakwatin, Acting Executive Vice President of depa; and representatives from government, academia, industry, and the wider innovation community.
In her opening remarks, H.E. Miss Nan Boontida emphasized that as countries around the world accelerate investments in quantum technologies, Thailand must prepare today to capture tomorrow’s opportunities.
“Today’s workshop is more than a forum for discussion—it marks the beginning of Thailand’s quantum readiness journey. By bringing together government, industry, academia, and technology leaders, we are laying the foundation for future innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable economic growth. By preparing early and working together, Thailand can transform technological change into new opportunities for our people, our industries, and our nation.”
Dr. Supakorn Siddhichai noted that quantum technology is rapidly moving from research into practical applications across industries worldwide. He stressed that Thailand has an opportunity to prepare early by investing in talent, research, partnerships, and innovation.
“At depa, our mission is to strengthen Thailand’s digital industry and accelerate digital transformation. We believe quantum technology will become one of the defining technologies of the next decade. Today’s workshop is the starting point for building Thailand’s quantum ecosystem—from developing talent and supporting research to identifying practical use cases and preparing businesses for the future.”
Mr. Anothai Wettayakorn highlighted IBM’s commitment to advancing quantum innovation and supporting Thailand’s scientific and technological capabilities.
“This workshop represents an important milestone in bringing together Thailand’s quantum ecosystem. By starting today, Thailand is positioning itself to participate in the next wave of global technological transformation.”
A key highlight of the workshop was a series of breakout discussions covering four strategic themes: Finance and Digital Commerce; Infrastructure and Utilities; Data and Smart Systems; and Advanced Technologies and Research. Participants explored practical applications of quantum technology while identifying the capabilities, partnerships, and policy frameworks needed to support future adoption.
The recommendations from the workshop will be consolidated into the Thailand Quantum Readiness White Paper and contribute to the development of Thailand’s Quantum Technology Roadmap. Together, these initiatives mark the beginning of a long-term national effort to prepare Thailand for the quantum era. Through the collective commitment of depa, IBM Thailand, NCSA, ETDA, BDI, CMU, QTRiC, SQV, and the broader quantum ecosystem, Thailand is laying the foundation for a resilient quantum ecosystem that will enable the country to innovate, compete, and thrive in the technologies of tomorrow.
