“Wangchan Valley,” a new smart city

       Thailand has developed an area into a “smart city” called Wangchan Valley. Located in Wangchan District, Rayong Province, on an area of 3,454 rai (552.6 hectares), Wangchan Valley was developed as an important base for the Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECi) under the EEC development plan to support economic growth in line with the Thailand 4.0 policy. 

       Wangchan Valley has been announced as a smart city promotion zone by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency and is considered an area that is ready for the development into a smart city, with its innovation ecosystem and complete intelligent system development plan in all seven aspects, consisting of the following:

1. Smart Environment; 
2. Smart Energy;
3. Smart Economy; 
4. Smart Governance;
5. Smart Mobility; 
6. Smart People; 
7. Smart Living.

       Wangchan Valley was developed as a Smart Natural Innovation Platform, divided into three zones:

       1.  Education and learning zone, consisting of Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science (VISTEC), Kamnoetvidya Science School (KVIS), and Wangchan Forest Learning Center;

       2.  Innovation research and development zone, with the aim of enhancing the capabilities of science, technology, and innovation through the design of infrastructure and services;

       3.  Facilities zone: Residential and recreational areas are surrounded by international schools, hotels and residences, shopping centers, and recreational facilities to support the lives of researchers and their families, students, and entrepreneurs. 

       For the above reasons, Wangchan Valley is comparable to a small city whose infrastructure is dedicated to technology companies.