Flexible Thinking: Designing Flex Circuits for Dynamic Reliability
Global PCB Connections: Rigid-flex and Flexible PCBs—The Backbone of Modern Electronics
Happy’s Tech Talk #29: Bend-to-Install Semi-flex FR-4
At a critical juncture of global supply chain restructuring and the explosive growth in demand for AI computing power, Thailand is becoming a crucial hub for the next wave of high-end manufacturing in the electronics and circuit industry. The Taiwan Printed Circuit Association (TPCA) and the Thai Printed Circuit Association (THPCA) co-hosted the "2026 Thailand PCB Industry Summit" in Bangkok on April 27, releasing the industry survey report "Opportunities for the Thai PCB Industry Under the Intersection of the AI Wave and Geopolitics," and focusing on key implementation issues such as work permit applications, talent cultivation, infrastructure, and industrial policies.
This summit, positioned as a "strategic dialogue platform at the highest levels," was supported by the Hong Kong Printed Circuit Association (HKPCA) and the China Circuit Industry Association (CPCA), bringing together nearly 60 industry leaders and representatives from Taiwan, China, and Thailand for exchange. Representatives from official organizations including BOI, IEAT, NXPO, and the Thai Ministry of Labor also attended, demonstrating the Thai government's high regard for the development of the PCB industry and international cooperation. A key highlight of the summit was the cross-regional survey report, "Opportunities for the Thai PCB Industry at the Intersection of AI and Geopolitics," jointly completed by TPCA, THPCA, and HKPCA. Through cross-regional questionnaires and industry opinion summaries, the report reveals the shared concerns of the PCB industries in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Thailand regarding investment strategies, supply chain localization, and talent development in Thailand. This not only enhances the report's representativeness but also highlights the trend of closer regional cooperation within the Asian PCB industry amidst global industrial restructuring.
AI propels the global PCB market to a multi-billion dollar level, creating opportunities for high-value development in Thailand.
According to the report, the global PCB market continues to grow, driven by investment in AI infrastructure, and is projected to reach $92.4 billion in 2025. Looking ahead to 2026, it is expected to further climb to $113.7 billion, representing an annual growth rate of 23.1%. The report points out that the demand for AI computing power is becoming a major driving force for the growth of the global PCB industry, accelerating high-end manufacturing and supply chain restructuring, bringing a new wave of growth opportunities to Thailand's industry and economy.
Facing talent bottlenecks, TPCA continued its "Taiwan-Thailand HR Industry Networking and Industry-Academia Exchange Meeting" that afternoon, further exchanging views on industry-academia cooperation, talent training, and local supply mechanisms. This exchange also focused on how to address the current talent shortage in key functions such as engineering/process, equipment maintenance, and R&D, strengthening the long-term development foundation of Thailand's PCB industry.
Looking at the development trajectory of Thailand's PCB industry, more than 60 PCB manufacturers have established a presence in recent years, and the region is gradually moving towards becoming a high-value manufacturing hub, continuously undertaking application demands such as AI servers, high-end communications, and automotive electronics. Among these applications, automotive electronics accounted for 31%, ranking first among all application areas, demonstrating the continued strength of Thailand's existing automotive industry cluster. On the other hand, with the gradual implementation of investments from over 100 PCB supply chain companies in recent years, the demand for AI servers and communications has increased, driving the development of Thailand's PCB product structure towards higher value-added directions such as high-end multilayer boards (47%) and high-density interconnect boards (HDI, 23%). The report, highlighting PCBs as the cornerstone of the semiconductor industry, calls for increased government support for localized PCB operations. It points out that while Thailand's PCB industry is expanding rapidly, its overall ecosystem still needs improvement. Currently, 46% of companies have a local sourcing ratio of less than 20%, indicating that local supply chain integration needs strengthening. During the industry-government dialogue at the summit, industry representatives focused on four key issues. First, regarding mechanism optimization, they suggested extending the validity period of urgent work permits to 60-90 days and allowing applications to be made in Taiwan before arrival in Thailand to facilitate smooth production of key processes. Second, addressing the talent shortage, they urged the government to support industry-academia collaboration programs and internship systems, and subsidize corporate training programs. Third, in terms of infrastructure, with the increasing demand for high-end manufacturing, stable power, green energy, and water resource processing capabilities are crucial for ensuring stable operations. Finally, the industry has pointed out that under Thailand's policy direction for developing the semiconductor industry, ensuring the sound development of the PCB supply chain is essential to laying a solid foundation for Thailand's technological development. Therefore, there is a strong call for the Thai government to include PCBs in the national key development industries and strengthen policy support for the PCB industry to further enhance Thailand's competitiveness in the global AI supply chain.
Talent bottlenecks are key to industry development. The TPCA's report on promoting professional talent cultivation in Thailand further shows that the most significant shortage currently lies in local material supply (35%), followed by operators and engineering technicians (22%), and equipment parts logistics and maintenance services (21%). From the multiple challenges of material and equipment supply to talent supply, it is clear that if Thailand's PCB industry is to support its next stage of development, it must simultaneously strengthen its supply chain support and talent cultivation foundation. It is estimated that by 2030, the demand for related talent will further increase to 74,200.
As the industry layout gradually takes shape, the focus of Thailand's PCB industry in the next stage is no longer just on expanding production capacity, but on accelerating the construction of a high-end manufacturing ecosystem. Future competitiveness will depend on the localization of the supply chain, the continuous improvement of talent development and related support. TPCA will also continue to collaborate with THPCA, BOI, IEAT, NXPO, TECO, and others to plan more diverse professional talent development platforms, helping to channel government resources into enterprises, jointly supporting the PCB industry chain, enhancing the professional capabilities of Thai talent, and ultimately making a significant contribution to the overall Thai socio-economic development.
The Taiwan Printed Circuit Association (TPCA) and the Thai Printed Circuit Association (THPCA), together with the Hong Kong Printed Circuit Association (HKPCA) and the China Circuit Industry Association (CPCA), co-hosted the "2026 Thailand PCB Industry Summit" in Bangkok on April 27, bringing together nearly 60 industry leaders and representatives from Taiwan, China, and Thailand to exchange ideas.
