In response to shared challenges in Southeast Asia—such as climate change, infrastructure strain, and digital transformation—the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) recognized that technology alone cannot drive sustainable change. Instead, transformative progress depends on capable and visionary leadership. To address this, depa launched the ASEAN Chief Smart City Officer (ASEAN-CSCO) Smart City Leadership Engine, an initiative designed to build a regional, multi-level talent development framework that supports sustainable smart city growth in Thailand and across ASEAN member states.
The program features a distinctive multi-level leadership architecture, cultivating talent across the full spectrum—from senior decision-makers (SCL) to grassroots youth participants (Explorers). Its core innovation lies in its experiential pedagogy, where participants engage directly through field visits, community interaction, and hands-on prototyping. The program is modular in design, ensuring high replicability, and is supported by the development of a regional Smart City Handbook as a standardized implementation tool.
The initiative has already been implemented in several Thai cities, including Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, Chonburi, and Phuket, with applications spanning urban mobility, public health, and education. In addition, a regional learning center has been established in Nakhon Si Thammarat, serving as a pilot model for sustainable innovation in mid-sized cities.