About SEACOM

SEACOM southeast asia communication centre Berlin was founded in 1993 by scholars and researchers in the field of SEA Studies,  pedagogues and  professional interpreters/linguists. The organisation has been registered as Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts since 1994. The objectives and aims of SEACOM are to enhance intercultural communication and academic co-operation between Europe and Asia through building international networks, to cooperate with Asian and Southeast Asian institutions in the fields of SEA Studies and culture, and to accomplish own and collaborative research projects. SEACOM is a non-profit organisation. All resources are exclusively used for the aims mentioned above.

SEACOM is organised in three departments:
1) Research and Publications
2) Culture and Intercultural Communication 
3) Translation Services.

The centre has a small research library with approximately 2000 books, journals and AV media, especially on Southeast Asia. The library is not open to the public, but visiting scholars are being given access.  The centre owns a collection of 200 high quality photographs for exhibitions, 70.000 diapositives and digital photographs, and a collection of about 70 finest textiles and art works from SEA.

SEACOM is not financed by the German state or by public grants. Financial resources mainly come from collaborative projects, sponsoring, private donations, but also from the distribution of publications, research on request, and from translation services.

SEACOM cooperates with cultural organisations and NGOs of Southeast Asian poeple in Germany, and with research and cultural institutions in Southeast Asia. Since June 1996, SEACOM regularly has been publishing the series “SEACOM Studies on Southeast Asia”, “literAsia” (Southeast Asian Literatures in Western Languages), and “Tai Culture – Interdisciplinary Tai Studies Series”. The series “Tai Culture” represent Tai and Thai Studies in Germany and internationally.

SEACOM carries out short- and mid-term research projects in the fields of Southeast Asian Studies in co-operation with universities and research institutions in various countries, most recently Thailand and Assam. Short-term cultural projects include exhibitions, public lectures, cultural events (dance, music, martial arts), and workshops for children.