MTEC is a public organization operating under the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) which is attached to Ministry of Science and Technology (MOSTE), Thailand. MTEC is a governmental organization, publicly funded but more flexible in its operation than the usual governmental bodies.

Major objectives of MTEC are

• to promote, support as well as perform and coordinate research and development in polymers, metals, ceramics, and related technologies including design and manufacturing, and
• to encourage the formation of strategic alliances and 'networking' with various research units, educational institutions and technological organizations, worldwide as well as with industry. Current MTEC key activities are funding of extramural research projects and performing in-house R&D work.

One of the current MTEC in-house R&D programs include 'plastics packaging for food and agricultural products', based on a rapid growth of packaging industry and its significant economic impact to the country.