Khon Kaen cashes in on IBM's 'Smarter Cities Challenge' programme

Under the IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grant, a team of executives from the information-technology giant will work with city officials to develop strategies for “Smarter Traffic” and “Smarter Public Safety Management”, and to be the country’s hub for data-analytics education. 

The Smarter Cities Challenge is a three-year, 100-city US$50-million (Bt1.55-million) programme. Khon Kaen was one of the cities to receive the grant this year.

Khon Kaen Governor Somsak Suwansucharit said his province had long been a business hub of the Northeastern region. As Thailand is entering a new era through international economic integration, it has to address technological changes, and cope with the challenges of globalisation. Officials and private organisations have been supporting the move to make Khon Kaen one of the leading cities in Asean within the decade.

IBM Thailand managing director Parnsiree Amatayakul said Khon Kaen was considered one of the key strategic cities in the Kingdom. The city’s commitment to improving the quality of living and education is well aligned to IBM’s “Smarter Planet” vision. 

IBM will work with Khon Kaen University to deliver a strategic road map to build a centre for education and research in big data and analytics, as well as mobile technologies. This centre will lead the local and international academic institutions from Khon Kaen University’s network in providing IBM coursework and knowledge sharing opportunities. 

Moreover, this learning centre will provide consulting services on data analytics to government agencies and private organisations for social development and business purposes. 

 

Chon Buri, Chiang Mai past beneficiaries

 

Other cities in Thailand have benefited from the IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grant.

In 2012 in Chon Buri, IBM outlined a traffic-management and public-safety plan for Pattaya and suggested ways for the province’s Laem Chabang port to become a major logistics hub and gateway to countries in the Mekong Subregion.

In 2011, and IBM team focused on “Smarter Healthcare” and “Smarter Food” in Chiang Mai. The first was aimed at making both the city and Chiang Mai University’s clinic a medical hub as well as improving hospital efficiencies. The second programme was aimed at creating insight on agriculture data for farmers, helping with pricing, weather forecasting, crop supply and demand, and the branding of Chiang Mai produce.