ADJ
DRONTECH Asia 2026 officially opened yesterday, at the IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok. The opening ceremony was presided over by Deputy Minister of Digital Economy and Society Boonthida Somchai and attended by senior representatives from government agencies including THE Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), Defence Technology Institute (DTI), Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and the private sector.
Now in its third iteration, this year’s event brings together more than 150 leading companies and brands from 15 countries, featuring indoor and outdoor technology demonstrations, alongside international conferences and expert-led sessions. Key exhibitors included Turkiye’s STM, KNDS, DJI Enterprise, Special Technology Center (STC) and more, all highlighting the newest industry products, technology and solutions.
“Driving the digital economy is not simply about adopting new technologies. It also requires building Thailand’s capacity to develop, further advance and make practical use of these technologies. DronTech Asia 2026 provides an important opportunity for Thai businesses to learn about technological advancements from leading developers worldwide, explore real-world applications and build collaborative networks with industry players and relevant organisations. This will help stimulate innovation, enhance workforce skills and create new business opportunities to support the digital economy and future industries,” said the deputy minister.
Following the ceremony, the Deputy Minister and accompanying delegation toured the exhibition, exploring the latest innovations in drones, AI, robotics and unmanned systems for defence, industrial and civilian applications. The delegation also attended the Outdoor Live Demonstration, organised by DEPA, showcasing the practical capabilities of drones in emergency response, search and rescue (SAR), and other real-world missions.
“Drone technology and unmanned systems are playing an increasingly important role in economic and social development across various sectors, including agriculture, industry, transportation, surveying, disaster relief, security and national defence,” said Chairman of DronTech Asia organisers, GML Exhibition Manu Leopairote.
The chairman continued, adding that “DronTech Asia was established as a platform connecting manufacturers, technology developers, users and relevant organisations from Thailand and abroad, enabling them to gain a better understanding of rapidly evolving technologies and their applications. Through innovation showcases, live demonstrations and knowledge exchange with experts, visitors can explore how different technologies can address their specific operational needs and requirements. This will help strengthen connections between technology developers and end users, leading to collaboration, investment and new business opportunities in the future,”
In addition, the three-day event includes international conferences and more than 15 technical sessions. Highlights include the World Drone Congress (WDC) Bangkok Edition, under the theme “Low Altitude Economy, Soaring into the Future”, followed by the panel discussion “Thailand: Where ASEAN and the International Drone Ecosystem Converge” that would gather perspectives from government agencies and technology experts. After that, “Next-Generation Military Unmanned Systems: Lessons, Requirements and Future Capabilities”, focusing on lessons learned, operational requirements and future developments in military unmanned systems. Other sessions will cover cloud technology, AI, manufacturing and drone navigation technologies. To enhance the experience for international attendees, AI-powered real-time translation will be available in both text and audio formats across all conference and technical sessions, making knowledge sharing more accessible and enabling participants from around the world to engage beyond language barriers.
DTI Director-General General Charat Oumsomrit also added that the DTI places importance on research and development (R&D) in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, as well as developing personnel and technical expertise to support technological self-reliance. Its initiatives include research into unmanned aerial systems and the establishment of the DTI-UTC training centre, which has been certified by CAAT.
DronTech Asia 2026 serves as a platform connecting research with end-user requirements, creating opportunities for technology exchange and collaboration to support the development of Thailand’s defence industry.–-shp/adj/dl (Pix:DRONTECH)
