Issued by: Department of Planning
From December 3 to 4 (local time), the Yunlin County Government delegation, led by Director Li Ming-Yue of the Department of Planning, conducted an in-depth visit and exchange in Binh Duong, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The first stop was Eastern International University (EIU), founded by Becamex Group. EIU serves as a key talent base supporting the development of Binh Duong’s industrial zones, aiming to cultivate professionals meeting international industry demands, support industrial and high-tech development, and promote academia-industry collaboration and local enterprise R&D capacity, thereby providing stable manpower and technical support for Binh Duong’s rapidly growing manufacturing and technology sectors.
During the visit, the delegation gained insights into how EIU builds a comprehensive academia-industry ecosystem through curriculum design, internship programs, and corporate partnerships. Director Li emphasized that Yunlin County is equally committed to fostering academia-industry linkages, collaborating with National Yunlin University of Science and Technology and National Formosa University’s incubation centers to transform innovative ideas into real opportunities for local employment and entrepreneurship. Observing Becamex’s practical experience in corporate-led education offers valuable lessons for Taiwan’s advancement in academia-industry cooperation models.
The delegation then visited Bloom Innovation Park, Tetra Pak’s Binh Duong facility, and DenEast, exploring their roles within the regional innovation ecosystem and the food and beverage supply chain. Bloom serves as a critical platform for innovation and industrial integration in Binh Duong, facilitating collaboration between startups and manufacturers through park planning, enterprise networking, and technology matchmaking. It demonstrates how governments can systematically harness and amplify corporate momentum, providing important insights for industrial innovation.
Tetra Pak, one of the key international enterprises in the park, has established an advanced manufacturing base in Binh Duong, promoting sustainable packaging, circular materials, and smart manufacturing. The visit focused on its collaboration with Bloom and regional enterprises to build an innovative and eco-friendly industrial chain, observing practical approaches to integrating smart technologies into food processing and packaging—valuable references for upgrading food processing technology and advancing low-carbon transformation.
DenEast, a major partner in Vietnam’s food and beverage supply chain, maintains business and technical cooperation with both the park and Tetra Pak. Its production processes, automation capabilities, and supply chain operations with international firms provided the delegation with a comprehensive understanding of the food processing and packaging industry, inspiring Yunlin—an agricultural county—to explore combining smart agriculture with value-added food processing to create a more competitive industrial layout.
On the evening of December 3, the 2025 ICF Top1 Global Smart City Award was announced, with Canada’s Durham Region emerging as the winner. The Yunlin delegation extended sincere congratulations to Durham’s representatives and shared in the joy of their achievement. Durham has been listed in Smart21 for five consecutive years and Top7 for four years, finally securing the global top honor in 2025—a testament to its long-term efforts.
Durham Region, located east of Toronto in Ontario, Canada, combines urban vitality with rural charm. Comprising eight municipalities, it has long been considered Toronto’s “quiet neighbor,” with many residents commuting to Toronto for work. Governed under a unique regional model by 29 elected officials, including mayors and councilors, Durham has actively pursued economic diversification to address population growth and industrial transformation pressures, focusing on clean energy, advanced manufacturing, technology, and agri-food sectors while preserving rural landscapes.
Durham leverages long-standing partnerships and shared visions to tackle transformation challenges, such as those posed by automotive industry changes, emphasizing “shared glory over individual ego.” Energy innovation is a cornerstone of Durham’s smart city strategy: Canada’s first grid-scale Small Modular Reactor (SMR) will be located in Durham—the first among G7 nations—and is one of Canada’s five major “nation-building projects.” It promises low-carbon, stable power with global export potential. The region also hosts energy enterprises, innovation institutions, and talent development resources, including Ontario Power Generation (OPG) headquarters and the SMR project, forming a complete clean energy ecosystem.
Durham is also advancing the creative economy. Since establishing its Film Office in 2012 as a one-stop service for film permits, production volume has grown by 300%, showcasing strong appeal despite proximity to Toronto. Its diverse landscapes—from quaint towns and lakeshores to nature trails—make it an ideal filming location, with similar success models now extending to the music industry, fostering cultural and creative clusters.
In higher education and academia-industry collaboration, Durham brings together Ontario Tech, Durham College, and Trent University GTA, deeply integrating with local government and businesses. Examples include Project Arrow, Canada’s first all-domestically produced zero-emission concept car, now a global showcase; CityStudio Durham, enabling students to work on municipal projects to solve real urban challenges and commercialize results; and Bistro 67, a student-run initiative combining horticulture, agriculture, and culinary education, serving as a model for local food and talent development.
Durham also promotes the “Proud to call Durham home” campaign, sharing stories of innovation, sustainability, talent, technology, and community to strengthen residents’ understanding and pride in local transformation. With these strategies, Durham’s population is projected to reach 1.3 million by 2051, making it one of Canada’s fastest-growing regions. Winning the 2025 ICF Top1 Global Smart City Award is well-deserved.
The Yunlin delegation also held a dinner meeting with the President, Vice President, Supervisors, and Directors of the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce in Binh Duong. Director Li shared insights from attending the International Smart City Summit and introduced observations from city visits arranged by Ho Chi Minh City Government, Becamex, and ICF. Chamber representatives shared their entrepreneurial and investment journeys in Binh Duong, reflecting the resilient and pragmatic spirit of Taiwan—thriving in challenging environments and excelling in diverse industries. Director Li expressed deep respect and gratitude for the Chamber’s warm hospitality, emphasizing that Yunlin County Government, though local, strives to be a strong support for overseas Taiwanese, fostering mutual encouragement and care—a true embodiment of Taiwan’s collective strength.
Director Li concluded that the visit to Binh Duong was highly rewarding. The Yunlin delegation not only witnessed Durham’s global recognition but also gained valuable insights from Binh Duong’s success in academia-industry collaboration, innovation parks, and supply chain integration, broadening Yunlin’s international perspective. Durham exemplifies how traditional industrial cities can transition toward sustainability and innovation through infrastructure investment, clean energy innovation, cross-sector R&D integration, and community engagement; while Binh Duong demonstrates how emerging economies can rapidly build competitive industrial ecosystems through academia-industry partnerships, innovation parks, and global enterprise linkages. Both experiences provide significant inspiration and reference for Yunlin’s future smart city strategies.
SDG 17: Global Partnerships – Building Diverse Collaborations to Advance Sustainable Goals