Technology Leapfrogging in Thailand

Abstract

Thailand has had an ICT leapfrogging initiative under consideration and development for a number of years. The guiding principle behind the initiative was/is pluralistic, intending to drive the nation along a modernisation curve (across as many sectors as possible) towards a knowledge based economy and thus achieve an economic leapfrog that would put the nation on the world stage with the intent of keeping it there. For reasons alluded to in the text that follows, the initial impetus appears to have stalled somewhat, so some parallels are briefly drawn with the successful advancements in technology leapfrogging enjoyed by South Korea in the hope that this will highlight opportunities for Thailand. In particular, we mention the success that South Korea has had with "pilot agencies" and make comparisons with Thailand's own similar initiatives in an effort to understand why Thailand's leapfrog seems to be stalling.