A proposal for a new 100-hectare digital park was presented at an industry event yesterday, heralding a major step in Thailand's digital aspirations.
Digital Park Thailand, located in the Sri Racha district of Chon Buri, was unveiled at the Digital Thailand Big Bang Conference 2017. The site, aimed predominately at digital and technology industries, will welcome more than 58,000 people to live and work there.
The new district will be developed over the next 10-15 years and is within the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), a special economic zone. The project will include a range of science and education facilities, as well as a residential community.
Digital Park Thailand will also support and complement existing industries and people in the area, including schools, universities and sectors such as automotive and agriculture.
Thung Suk La Road runs alongside the site, and the proposal suggests a direct connection to the proposed high-speed rail link and new station in Sri Racha, providing further connectivity that will significantly boost the development.
The master plan was designed by an international consortium of Broadway Malyan, Savills and the Team Group, and will see the creation of various specialist clusters focused around a central park and retail and lifestyle hub. A hotel and Mice (meetings, incentives, conventions, exhibitions) facilities will support the business community within the Digital Park.
Modelled on a campus-style approach, the aspiration is to create a complete digital ecosystem with clusters for digital media and immersive content; applied digital, Internet of Things (IoT) and ICT; medical, healthcare and wellness; data centres; robotics; automotive and aviation; and a specialist Digital University.
The plan will be centred on a "digital boulevard" and green connector linking the different clusters, plus a sizeable living zone offering a range of quality housing designed within a lush, landscaped setting in proximity to community facilities.
The Digital Park will be pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly and have access to a public transport network of local buses connected to a wider transit system, including high-speed rail and major airports.
"While the project has been benchmarked against international best practice for planning technology parks and workplaces, we are aiming to create an urban campus which is truly unique to Thailand," said Ed Baker, director of Broadway Malyan.
"The design includes lots of greenery and community spaces, to provide an attractive environment for people and an interesting juxtaposition with the various technology and science based activities that will take place here. A connected network of shared, open spaces will promote a culture of collaboration across the campus and become a setting for events."
Mr Baker said the master plan will deliver a smart and sustainable campus. Operating systems will efficiently manage the surroundings, using technologies to improve transport connectivity and platforms to create a connected business community.
The goal is to offer a "living lab" environment with many technologies tested within the park after development by the companies situated there.
John Timms, regional director for development management at Savills, said the Digital Park presents a "huge opportunity" for Thailand to catch the wave of growth stimulated by the global tech boom, especially in the Internet of Everything and big data.
"For this project to be a success, it is essential we meet the ambitions of Thailand 4.0, leverage the enhanced regulations and incentives of the EEC and mesh with the national and regional upgrading of IT infrastructure," Mr Timms said.
"These challenges, whilst bringing new layers of complexity to the development model, nonetheless offer an exciting opportunity to create a vibrant world-class environment for end-users, entrepreneurs, corporate occupiers, investors and partners across the region and country."
The first phases will focus on building a data centre cluster and the IoT Institute. The institute will entail myriad uses, such as research, teaching, conferencing and offices. The institute will seek to attract anchor tenants representing key cluster industries within the Digital Park.
The development supports the Thailand 4.0 initiative and Thailand's Digital Government Plan for 2017-21. The plan details the government's desire to develop digital capabilities across sectors.