Students from KMITL Win First Place at MECA Thailand 2025

Part 2: Thailand Takes GHG Emissions Seriously

Thailand is one of the industrial powers in the Southeast Asia region. Like most developing countries, Thailand is facing various environmental problems from pollution to national disasters, especially in its major cities like Bangkok. The National Environment Board (NEB) of Thailand addresses climate change through national policies, initiatives, and regulations, including developing a national Climate Change Act and implementing projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE) has come out with the Climate Change Bill, which aims to increase efforts to fulfil Thailand's commitments under the Paris Agreement, to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30% to 40% in 2030, move towards carbon neutrality by 2050, and net zero GHG emissions by 2065.

Mitsubishi Electric believes that to achieve these goals, all stakeholders in society must take part. As a major global provider of automation solutions, Mitsubishi organized the MECA Thailand 2025 competition and supported participating teams with technical training and relevant equipment, including SCADA software GENESIS™, 3D Simulator MELSOFT Gemini, MELSOFT MaiLab, MELHMI-GOT2000, GT Designer3, and Engineering software GX Works3.

Mitsubishi Commits to Automating Thailand’s Industry

"At Mitsubishi Electric, we believe that industry is a foundation for job creation and economic growth. Therefore, our goal is to create a "national forum" to provide students with opportunities to showcase their industrial and technological capabilities. We aim to connect three key sectors: the public sector, education, and the private sector, which are the drivers of the country's economic and industrial growth," said Chalermchai Chompoopeun, Department Manager of FA Specific Industrial, Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation Thailand, when explaining the objective of the event.

Chalermchai then added that MECA Thailand is not just a competition platform but also a "convergence point," as it provides students with real-world experience in the industrial sector and enables entrepreneurs to explore the potential of the next generation and their ideas, which may challenge traditional factory frameworks.

As an expert in automation, Chalermchai also noted that Mitsubishi Electric was promoting automation technologies to help factories reduce costs, improve production efficiency, and, at the same time, reduce CO2 emissions. For Thai entrepreneurs, running their business more efficiently helps to improve their global competitiveness, directly benefiting the Thai economy.

Both organizers and participants learned from the event

"What I've seen is that the competitions have become a shared learning platform for students, teachers, and the private sector. Many entrepreneurs are beginning to become aware that projects like this, even with minimal investment, can have a positive impact on both their organizations and society. In addition to experiencing new ideas and solutions, they also find young people with talent and potential to become a prominent workforce for business and industry in the future —a true win-win situation,” said Chalermchai.

For the coming years, the competition will focus on industry trends and global issues, such as energy efficiency, carbon footprint reduction, and new technologies like AI and Smart Manufacturing, which are in line with the priorities of entrepreneurs across the globe. Therefore, the message is that this event is not just an "engineering competition," but a "human resource development platform" that connects industry and education to create a sustainable future for the country.

Pithoon Wattakapast, Executive Director RoboCloud Co., Ltd, and a member of the MECA Thailand 2025 committee, explained how his organization approached decarbonization. "We serve as both a systems integrator and a machine builder, helping industrial organizations design automation systems to reduce carbon emissions by providing consulting and training to enable factories to operate efficiently.

He also talked about MECA Thailand 2025, "This competition is more than a contest; it's also about 'laying the foundation for the future of Thai industry. With great support from Mitsubishi Electric, this project is now in its second year, fostering a tangible understanding of automation technology and carbon reduction concepts among young people. The participants not only acquired valuable experience but also became key players in driving Thai industry toward sustainability and international competitiveness. This activity truly "plants the seeds of knowledge" that will grow into a driving force for the country in the future.

Bright Future Lies Ahead for the Young Winners

Asking the winners about their goals and future, and what they hope to achieve in the next 10 years.

"After graduation, I plan to start my own company engaging in education or become a lecturer/professor. Before that, I might land a job in a factory as an engineer to learn and gain experience. Once I have an idea, I'll gradually develop it into my own business. In the next 10 years, I expect to be able to fulfill my passions, though it would take a lot of effort and time," said Weerasit Surin-aporn.

Phanthakorn Wongwat talked about his future, "I would like to see myself working in the instrumentation field because I enjoy installing and inspecting equipment very much. First, I'll work according to the company workflow and learn new things to develop my potential. In the next 10 years, I see that success is not just about completing the job at hand, but also enjoying it while creating value for my organization and family as well."

Mr. Aphisit Lakhonkhet also shared his vision, "After graduation, I'd like to try new things to develop myself and enhance my skills by working with new people and opening up to new perspectives. Over the next 10 years, I envision using all of this experience to pursue a career as an engineer in a company. Or perhaps even to start my own small company that allows me to pursue my passion and create value to the fullest, adhering to continuous learning and self-improvement.

Conclusion

MECA Thailand 2025 was a great success, with all stakeholders showing a growing awareness and positive attitudes toward ecological challenges affecting our lives and futures. Mitsubishi Electric places great importance on collaboration between the private sector and educational institutions by creating an engaging platform for students to learn, practice, and visualize how their knowledge and skills can be translated into real-world work. The event inspired both students and teachers, leading to the development of knowledge that aligns with real-world industry needs over the long term.