{"id":49165,"date":"2026-08-20T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T02:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/?p=49165"},"modified":"2026-08-27T11:23:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T04:23:44","slug":"siam-silica-framework-sets-out-strategy-to-build-thailands-semiconductor-workforce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/en\/49165\/","title":{"rendered":"Siam Silica Framework sets out strategy to build Thailand\u2019s semiconductor workforce"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NXPO has unveiled the \u201cSiam Silica Framework,\u201d a strategic framework for developing the workforce needed to support Thailand\u2019s semiconductor industry, attract advanced technologies, investment, and global companies, and upgrade the country\u2019s existing manufacturing base toward a high-value-added economy.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Prof. Dr. Surin Khomfoi, Vice President of NXPO, said the core of the \u201cSiam Silica Framework\u201d is workforce development to support Thailand\u2019s semiconductor industry ecosystem. NXPO\u2019s studies have found that the semiconductor industry has a large and complex supply chain interconnected with numerous economic activities. Developing every segment simultaneously would be challenging and require substantial investment. Thailand must therefore focus on areas where it has the greatest potential to generate high value added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Surin said IC design, sensor\/photonics devices, and power devices have been identified as areas with strong growth potential, while advanced packaging is an area in which Thailand already has a solid foundation. Thailand also has an established downstream supply chain, including a strong position in printed circuit board (PCB) assembly and system integration. These existing capabilities provide a foundation for moving beyond the country\u2019s current industrial base toward higher-value-added activities.<\/p>\n\n\n

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In the global semiconductor value chain, ASEAN accounts for approximately 20% of the global semiconductor industry, while Thailand accounts for only 1.37%. Thailand also remains relatively dependent on foreign value added. To strengthen its position in the semiconductor value chain, Thailand must therefore increase its domestic value added, with a target of raising its share of the regional semiconductor industry to approximately 8%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Siam Silica Framework places workforce development at the center of the strategy because the shortage of semiconductor talent is not unique to Thailand; it is a global challenge. One of the key factors companies consider before deciding where to invest is whether a country has sufficient skilled personnel. We therefore need to accelerate workforce development across the entire supply chain. If we have the people, the necessary infrastructure will follow, companies will follow, and the ecosystem will emerge,\u201d Prof. Surin said.<\/p>\n\n\n

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He explained that NXPO has linked national investment targets with workforce planning through a mission-oriented approach. If Thailand aims to establish eight IC design companies or startups, one fabrication facility, and two advanced packaging facilities, the country would need approximately 1,330 technicians with vocational diploma or associate degree qualifications, 553 high-skilled workers at the bachelor\u2019s degree level, 950 researchers, specialists, and senior engineers, and 152 mentors and principal engineers. These figures represent workforce targets directly linked to the development and upgrading of businesses under the framework and can be expanded in line with future investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Prof. Surin emphasized that Thailand is not starting from zero. The country already has a relatively strong engineering and science workforce base compared with other countries in the region. Approximately 22,000 bachelor\u2019s degree graduates each year are in fields that could potentially enter the semiconductor industry, while around 1,800 master\u2019s and doctoral graduates are produced annually. At the same time, overall workforce demand associated with the semiconductor industry could reach approximately 100,000 people, with an additional 30,000 research and advanced-skilled personnel potentially required over the next five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another major challenge is transforming the workforce development system so that graduates acquire skills aligned with the technologies and job positions required by industry. In the past, although universities produced graduates who were able to find employment, they did not always have a clear understanding of industry needs at the sectoral level\u2014particularly which positions were experiencing shortages, what skills were required, and how many workers were needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NXPO has therefore established a system to connect industry demand with graduate production in the higher education system, as well as a \u201cNational Semiconductor Curriculum Framework\u201d that universities can adapt for workforce development, while fostering collaboration among engineering and science universities nationwide. In some fields, Thailand can build on existing capabilities, such as advanced packaging and IC design, while emerging technologies such as photonics require further work to define the specific skills and curricula needed to keep pace with technological change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Surin specifically highlighted photonics for its growing importance in data centers and AI-era digital infrastructure. Thailand already possesses several components of the relevant supply chain but lacks fabrication capabilities in certain technologies. This creates an opportunity to attract investment to fill gaps in the ecosystem rather than attempting to compete across every technology with countries that already have strong capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Surin noted that attracting major semiconductor manufacturers is important because when a major company establishes operations, its suppliers and related businesses are likely to follow. Japan\u2019s experience in attracting global manufacturers to invest in fabrication facilities demonstrates how such investments can stimulate the expansion of supply chains around investment locations. However, semiconductor fabrication facilities require investments on the order of billions of dollars. Investment incentives must therefore be carefully designed, with particular attention to selecting technologies that are appropriate for Thailand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe implementation of Siam Silica will build from workforce development toward human capital development infrastructure, beginning with the establishment of a National Training Center, before expanding to research infrastructure and mechanisms to support research. At the same time, the government\u2019s economic agencies must work in parallel to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), support startups, and create new economic activities so that Thailand can develop a comprehensive semiconductor industry ecosystem,\u201d Prof. Surin said.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The proposed mechanisms for semiconductor workforce development are divided into three categories: existing mechanisms that can continue to be utilized, existing mechanisms that need to be scaled up, and new mechanisms that need to be established. The framework also defines the roles of policy, education, research, startup funding, and investment-promotion agencies, with all parties working toward common objectives. Following presentation of the plan to the NXPO Executive Board, it will be linked to relevant policy mechanisms and committees to ensure that workforce development, investment, and the creation of new economic opportunities advance in parallel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Surin said the key is to ensure that all agencies share a common vision. Existing mechanisms can then be mobilized, successful initiatives can be scaled up, and new mechanisms can be created to address remaining gaps. With clearly defined objectives under the Siam Silica Framework, universities will know how to adjust their curricula and develop the required workforce; researchers will better understand the challenges and priorities facing the country; funding agencies will be able to establish clearer directions for research support; and the private sector will have greater confidence in Thailand\u2019s investment readiness.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cThe Siam Silica workforce development framework provides a clear path forward for driving the growth of Thailand\u2019s economy,\u201d Prof. Surin concluded.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NXPO has unveiled the \u201cSiam Silica Framework,\u201d a strate […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":49166,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49165","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-en"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Siam-Silica-Framework-sets-out-strategy-to-build-Thailands-semiconductor-workforce.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/author\/adminsti\/"},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Siam-Silica-Framework-sets-out-strategy-to-build-Thailands-semiconductor-workforce.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49165","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49165"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49165\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49173,"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49165\/revisions\/49173"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49166"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49165"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49165"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nxpo.or.th\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49165"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}