At the invitation of the Thai–Chinese Friendship Association, Assistant Prof. Dr. Rujira Ouncharoen, Dean of the International College of Digital Innovation (ICDI) at Chiang Mai University participated in an academic and industrial visit Xingtai, Hebei Province, China, from October 27 to November 1, 2025.

This visit marked a significant step in promoting educational collaboration, digital innovation, and smart manufacturing exchange between Thailand and China.

The visit aimed to strengthen academic and industrial partnerships through mutual learning and technology exchange. The delegation visited several key educational institutions and enterprises in Hebei, engaging in discussions on innovation-oriented education, smart industrial transformation, and cross-border research collaboration.

A key part of the visit was the academic exchange at Xingtai University, where ICDI representatives met with university leaders to discuss future cooperation in digital innovation curricula, student mobility programs, and collaborative research.
The delegation also visited the Hebei College of Industry and Technology, participating in a workshop on smart agriculture and IoT-based water infiltration systems, which demonstrated practical applications of intelligent technology in both education and agricultural innovation.

On the industrial side, the ICDI delegation visited JA Solar (Xingtai) Co., Ltd., a global leader in photovoltaic energy technology, to explore robotic automation and IoT-driven manufacturing that define Hebei’s new generation of industrial ecosystems.
Asst.Prof.Dr. Rujira Ouncharoen observed that most major factories in Hebei are now highly automated, integrating intelligent robotic systems and real-time digital control networks, reflecting China’s rapid progress in Industry 4.0.

The delegation also visited Huaxing Pet Food Co., Ltd., a fully automated enterprise specializing in intelligent pet food production, where discussions revealed that much of its key raw material—tapioca starch—is imported from Thailand, illustrating a strong supply chain linkage between Thai agriculture and Chinese manufacturing.

These findings contribute to ICDI’s ongoing China–Thailand Railway Industrial Corridor Layout Study, commissioned by the Rail Technology Research and Development Agency (Public Organization) RTRDA, which explores strategic industrial layouts, logistics coordination, and investment opportunities along the China–Thailand Railway.

Huaxing also expressed interest in establishing production facilities in Khon Kaen and Nakhon Ratchasima, key tapioca production hubs strategically located along the planned China–Thailand Railway economic corridor.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Rujira Ouncharoen emphasized that the visit not only deepened academic and industrial ties, but also provided new perspectives on AI-driven education, intelligent manufacturing ecosystems, and cross-border innovation. The insights gained will be integrated into ICDI’s future research, educational programs, and policy initiatives, further advancing Sino–Thai collaboration in digital innovation.