The National Innovation Agency (Public Organization), or NIA, is now accepting participants for the 6th Chief City Innovation Officer (CCIO) program, targeting executives from government agencies, educational institutions, related development organizations, investors, and organizations involved in infrastructure development and civil society. The goal is to cultivate urban developers to propel Thailand towards becoming an 'Innovation Nation' in the near future. The program also introduces a key partner, the Creative Economy Agency (CEA), to enhance knowledge in creative urban development, with training scheduled from May to July 2023.

Dr. Phanachart Chairat, Director of the National Innovation Agency, stated, "NIA recognizes the importance of developing the country's workforce to possess knowledge in innovative management. We aim for NIA to act as a focal facilitator in coordinating collaboration among various sectors. Thus, we have developed the Chief City Innovation Officer program, now in its 6th iteration, aimed at enhancing the capabilities of urban executives in developing and managing innovative cities based on knowledge in science, technology, and innovation. This will help develop skills in strategic planning and city management according to international standards, adapting the principles of model cities to local contexts for effective and sustainable development."

"The Chief City Innovation Officer program serves as a vital platform for urban development, bringing together urban developers from across Thailand to create a network of city managers for collaboration through various processes within the program. It provides a space for knowledge exchange to enhance the capabilities of participants in managing innovative cities, as well as developing their understanding of urban and local development contexts based on innovation," Dr. Phanachart added.

Dr. Chakrit Pichayangkoon, Director of the Creative Economy Agency (CEA), discussed the agency's involvement in this program, emphasizing the importance of developing knowledge among city executives to recognize local potential and harness creativity, integrating local wisdom with innovation to drive economic development and serve as a key issue in urban development. Participants will learn how to drive 'creative cities' using foundational tools for area development, such as 'Creative Economy Districts' that enhance assets, people, and spaces, blending creativity and design to improve the quality of life through design and innovation, aligning with the CCIO program's goal of fostering self-sustaining economic development in each area and elevating the national economy.

Dr. Kritphak Boonfueng, Deputy Director of NIA, stated, "The 6th CCIO program, under the concept of 'Good Living, Innovation, Sustainable Economy,' will focus on balancing urban innovation, establishing financial centers, creating and utilizing innovations, and fostering startups, among other aspects. The training will cover eight topics across three main modules: the Foundation Module, which includes topics like 'City of The Future,' 'New Paradigm of City Economy,' and 'UrbanTech Innovation'; the Contemporary Issues Module, covering 'Innovative Talent' and 'Public Private Partnership'; and the Tools Module, which includes 'Data Science for City Management,' 'City Branding,' and a special topic this year on 'Creative City as the Key Driver of Innovation,' in collaboration with the Creative Economy Agency, which specializes in creative urban development, alongside knowledge and experience from experts both domestically and internationally."

 

Last year's CCIO program resulted in the development of a network of over 160 city executives and related agencies, leading to projects under collaborative urban innovation development that have been continuously applied in planning, management, problem-solving, and urban revitalization at the local level. This addresses the goal of strengthening the innovation system at the local level, aiming to develop personnel and workforce in innovation, especially at the local and regional levels, while promoting, supporting, and linking the use of innovation to drive economic growth and improve quality of life in regional areas of Thailand, alongside creating a brand for areas with unique identities. This year, the goal for the 6th Chief City Innovation Officer program is to establish a network of at least 60 urban developers, aiming to develop personnel and workforce in innovation, as well as to create plans or project proposals for at least three urban development projects, enhancing innovation capabilities in regions, cities, and districts in the near future.

Interested individuals can inquire about participation in the training at [email protected] or visit http://ccio.nia.or.th.