Infineon, TESA to create new AI platform

Bangkok Post

15-07-2025

Infineon Technologies, a global leader in semiconductor solutions, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Thai Embedded Systems Association (TESA) to establish a National Secure Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) platform.
This strategic partnership aims to help Thailand make significant strides, shifting its focus from traditional manufacturing to fostering innovation and intellectual property (IP), including AIoT startups.
The global semiconductor market is expected to be worth US$200 billion in 2025, with the compound annual growth rate for the next few years estimated at 11%.
"The global landscape is rapidly moving towards digitalisation, with a surge in demand for semiconductors driven by trends in artificial intelligence [AI] and Internet of Things [IoT] across various sectors, including manufacturing, consumer products, automotive, telecommunications, and even agriculture," CS Chua, president and managing director of Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific, told the Bangkok Post.
Thailand, with its large population and significant agricultural sector, is uniquely positioned to capitalise on these opportunities, he added.
For instance, modern technologies such as drones and AI are being explored for smart farming to address the decreasing human workforce in agriculture.
The National Secure AIoT platform will drive the development of high-value smart electronics with the latest cybersecurity standards, aimed at benefiting crucial industries in Thailand's digital transformation. These industries include national security, healthcare, agriculture, energy, smart cities, and Industry 4.0.
The partnership will also work closely with local startups and academia, fostering knowledge exchange and innovation that align with the national vision for a technologically advanced future.
"The secure AIoT platform is described as a 'mixture of everything', aiming to build an entire ecosystem that encourages startups and companies to leverage digital transformation for societal and economic improvement," said Mr Chua.
He added that the partnership with TESA will create a robust and scalable AIoT platform that will pave the way for innovative solutions in Thailand.
"This collaboration not only underscores our dedication to driving digitalisation and decarbonisation, but also supports the Thai government's investments in the AI, IoT and semiconductor sectors," he said.
This partnership will also enable Thai engineers and developers to create innovative products from the ground up -- from hardware and firmware to complete AIoT platforms, said Wiroon Sriborrirux, the president of TESA.
Mr Wiroon added that the collaboration addresses three critical impact pillars, including security-first design, aligning with international cybersecurity standards.
The National Secure AIoT platform will serve as the foundational infrastructure for various platform services. This will directly benefit key industries that have a significant impact on Thailand, Asean, and the global market, he added.
Mr Chua added that a significant benefit of the platform is its ability to shortcut the hardware development phase. Recognising that many new-generation engineers tend to focus on software and application development, the platform provides a standardised hardware solution.
"This allows developers to concentrate on programming, algorithms, and AI features to create proof-of-concept solutions much faster -- reducing development time from weeks to days," he said.
Once an idea is proven, hardware can be optimised for cost-effectiveness. While not necessarily leading to vendor lock-in, the primary goal is to enable and speed up the development of new ideas, said Mr Chua.
The initiative also aims to educate students and make universities aware of the platform. There are plans to hold competitions and hackathons to encourage startups to innovate within the digital economy, focusing on solving specific Thai problems in areas like agriculture, tourism, and smart homes.
This approach cultivates hundreds of companies focused on software development and novel ideas, Mr Chua said.
The IoT solutions often address niche, localised problems that large international companies may not find economically viable. For example, solutions for Thai agriculture might be unique to the region, making local innovation essential.
This fosters self-resilience in technology capability within Thailand's industries.
"Thailand can build its own IP and AIoT startups with proven solutions we can export to neighbouring countries in the region which have the same problem," Mr Chua said.
While the National Secure AIoT platform is expected to create demand for semiconductors, the focus is on developing high-value intellectual property rather than just physical production.
The goal is to empower Thai companies to create their own products, which can then be exported to neighbouring countries facing similar challenges.