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Depa has signed a MoU with Silpakorn University and Dassault Systèmes to foster smart city development and enhance the digital skills of the Thai workforce.
The MoU is designed to help position Thailand as the smart city hub of the Asean region
Thailand’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa), Silpakorn University in Bangkok and technology company and digital twin platform specialist Dassault Systèmes have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to foster smart city development and enhance the digital skills of the Thai workforce over the next three years.
The collaboration will establish a comprehensive ecosystem to support urban planning, design consulting, and research and development (R&D). It will include the use of Dassault Systèmes’ 3DExperience platform courses to upskill more than 500 workers.
Smart city skills
The initiative, which claims to be the first of its kind in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) region, addresses Thailand’s need for over 100,000 digitally skilled personnel annually, with educational institutions currently producing only 30,000 specialists.
This partnership will focus on promoting innovation, developing specialised skills, accelerating smart city projects, and establishing modern urban planning services.
“Our commitment to digital innovation and personnel development showcases our support for smart city ecosystems,” said assistant professor Dr Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, president and CEO, Depa.
“While Thailand boasts strong technological foundations, there is a critical need to upskill our people, which is pivotal to smart city success. Through our collaboration, Depa will engage with diverse sectors to enhance smart city skills, aiming to position Thailand as the smart city hub of Asean.”
The MoU outlines a four-phase project starting with an Industry Training Centre launching in September 2024, offering courses on smart city development and providing certifications jointly awarded by Silpakorn University, Depa, and Dassault Systèmes. This will be followed by an Incubation Centre for expertise exchange among agencies, businesses, and startups, a Research Centre for urban planning and design consulting services using advanced technologies, and a Digital Showroom to showcase smart city solutions to the public.
“The MoU represents a significant milestone in Asean, marking an important step in the learning ecosystem to support smart cities through the 3DExperience Industry Training Centre project,” said Samson Khaou, executive vice president, Asia Pacific, Dassault Systèmes.
“This initiative aims to cultivate skilled professionals in urban design and planning for smart cities, while integrating technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Everything (IoE), and virtual twins to foster innovative business models for future cities. Through this collaboration, we aim to nurture a skilled workforce prepared to address evolving social and economic demands using advanced 3D technology.”
Associate Prof Dr Suchada Piriyaprasarth, vice president for organisation quality development, Silpakorn University, added: “With the support of Depa and Dassault Systèmes, Silpakorn University is poised to become a centre for developing essential digital skills for smart cities.
“We emphasise our expertise in urban planning and environmental design, and are confident in launching the 3DExperience Smart City Industrial Training Centre and its associated courses. This initiative, open to graduate students and the public, aims to train over 500 smart city professionals within three years.”
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Quelle/Source: Smart Cities World, 10.07.2024