The School of Engineering and Technology (SET), Walailak University, in collaboration with four Centers of Excellence, organized an academic forum entitled “Policy Mechanisms and Innovation for Sustainable Smart City Development in Southern Thailand: Fostering Cross-Sector Collaboration to Address Future Challenges” on March 27, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The forum aimed to create a platform for knowledge exchange and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders from academia, government agencies, industry, and civil society in advancing sustainable smart city development across Southern Thailand.
The event was divided into two key sessions. The morning session focused on identifying and reflecting on future crises and challenges through perspectives shared by experts from various sectors. The program commenced with an opening ceremony from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m., presided over by the Vice President for Research or the Dean.
This was followed by the Invited Speakers Session from 10:00 to 11:20 a.m., featuring representatives from four major groups:
- Smart Engineering – Civil society and community network representatives
- Smart Factory – Innovation-driven city management leaders
- Smart City – Academic researchers
- Smart Materials – Government funding agencies
The morning program concluded with SET Talks from 11:20 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., where experts from each sector shared their experiences and insights. Speakers included Dr. Pijit (Smart Engineering), Ajarn Narongsak (Smart Factory), Mr. Sanchai (Smart City), and a representative from the Program Management Unit on Area-Based Development (PMU-A) under the Smart Materials theme.
The afternoon session, from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m., highlighted “Research-Driven Solutions for Future Challenges” presented by research centers within Walailak University, demonstrating how engineering and technology can be applied to address pressing societal issues. Featured presentations included:
- Disaster Research Center
“When Nature Pushes Back: Disaster Preparedness and Resilience in the Age of Climate Extremes” - Palm Oil Research Center
“Biomass Technology for Sustainable Industrial Development” - AIoT Research Center
“Intelligent Technology for Carbon Neutrality and Sustainability” - Wood and Advanced Materials Research Center
“Green Engineering and Smart Materials for Future Industries”
This forum represents another significant step in Walailak University’s commitment to advancing research and innovation that support smart city development in Southern Thailand. By integrating expertise and collaboration across academia, government, industry, and community sectors, the initiative aims to develop practical and sustainable solutions to increasingly complex future challenges.
