At the request of the AIT President, Dr. Manukid Parnichkun, a faculty member from the Mechatronics field of study, School of Engineering and Technology, recently travelled to Sweden and visited Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) on 13-14 September 2007, to explore areas in which there could be collaboration. In Sweden, he also made a presentation to FOI officials on advanced robotics and mechatronics research work being conducted at AIT.
A concept paper has been developed on the offering of an "Underwater Technology Program" at the master's and doctoral levels jointly by AIT and FOI. The target students would be from Asian countries working as government officers at environmental, meteorological, metrological, naval departments or working as private company employees in the petroleum, ship building, fishery and tourism sectors. The research topics would be in the field of applications-oriented underwater technology; underwater robot / vehicle; underwater communications; and environmental / meteorological sensors on underwater platforms.
AIT will be approaching the Swedish Embassy in Thailand and also discussing with FOI on the Institute could mobilize support for this program. AIT administration officials discussed the proposal with Ambassador Jan Axel Nordlander, when he visited AIT on 25 September 2007, and have sought his advice and support as well. FOI is very keen and interested in working with AIT, wherein AIT could serve as a platform for technological knowledge transfer for FOI in the region.