NSTM and BTS Sign MoU to Advance Urban Rail Maintenance Research

Key summary

On October 19, 2026, the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (NSTM), under the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), and Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTSC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for research and development aimed at elevating maintenance and operation standards for urban mass transit electric trains. The agreement, signed at BTSC's building on Phahonyothin Road in Chatuchak District, Bangkok, will integrate NSTM's expertise in materials science, engineering, and digital technology with BTSC's operational experience to address real-world challenges. Key figures from both organizations, including Mr. Surapong Laohaniya (CEO of BTSC) and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Temsadek Sirakirin (Director of NSTM), attended the ceremony. The five-year collaboration focuses on studying aging infrastructure, developing databases, and creating innovations for rail maintenance to enhance safety, reliability, and cost-efficiency. During the event, researchers presented a monorail maintenance data management platform already trained for BTSC staff, along with models for future track inspection and research posters addressing component durability, damage analysis, and plastic degradation cases specific to BTS operations.