DEPA promotes the concept of improving quality of life with the Smart Living, Better Living project.
DEPA launches the Smart Living, Better Living project, building upon the foundation of smart cities to enhance safety and quality of life in communities nationwide.
March 7, 2569 – Good aunt walk on Smart Living Better Living Project To promote the application of digital technology at the community level, aiming to enhance smart living dimensions, including community safety and improving the quality of life for citizens, through digital technologies for security and smart agriculture.
Aiming to promote the program in 40 more communities nationwide, it is expected that continuous implementation over 2 years will help upgrade the digital skills of at least 5,400 people from 1,800 households across the country, generating an economic impact of more than 210 million baht. This will also serve as a key mechanism for concretely developing smart cities from the grassroots level.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Nattapol Nimmanphatcharin, Director-General of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) He presided over the opening ceremony of the Smart Living, Better Living project.
The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Somsak Karncharoenkulwong, Chief Inspector of the Department of Land Reform for Agriculture, along with executives and representatives from government and private sector partners involved in the project, at the Komsorn Plaza, 1st floor, DEPA Building (Headquarters), Soi Ladprao 10, Chatuchak District.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Natthaphol Gave a special lecture on the topic 'Digital Communities and the Transformation of Thailand' It was stated that the development of smart cities in Thailand needs to begin with building the capacity for applying digital technology among people at the local level. This is because a smart city is not just about installing technology in a city, but about enabling people to access, understand, and use technology in their daily lives, especially at the community and local levels, which is a crucial foundation for the sustainable development of smart cities.
“Currently, Thailand has over 30 million people involved in the agricultural sector, a crucial group for the country. If we can enhance the capabilities of this group to truly apply digital technology, it means elevating the potential of the grassroots economy and creating new opportunities for communities nationwide. The Smart Living Better Living project aims to elevate the dimension of smart living, which will not just be about installing technology in a particular area, but will be a key mechanism that helps communities learn, understand, and see the benefits of technology themselves. When communities can use technology to increase safety, boost income, and improve their quality of life, the change at the community level will expand to the city and ultimately lead to a systemic change for the entire country through the power of digital technology.”
side Dr. Supakorn Sittichai, Acting Deputy Director-General, DEPA. It was stated that Smart Living Better Living is a continuation of the One Tambon One Digital Smart Living project (OTOD Smart Living) that the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) has been implementing since 2025 to promote the application of digital technology at the community level, both in smart living and smart agriculture, through digital technologies developed by Thai entrepreneurs.
Whether it's agricultural drones, IoT systems for smart agriculture, smart tractors, agricultural carbon platforms, or technologies for community safety, this project has been able to upgrade the digital skills of at least 2,700 people from 900 households nationwide and generate an economic impact of at least 170 million baht. This reflects the potential of digital technology to improve the quality of life for people at the local level.
“In 2026, the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) expanded its operations to the Smart Living, Better Living project, aiming to improve the quality of life and safety of communities through the application of digital technologies that meet the real-life needs of the people. This includes solar-powered CCTV cameras, solar-powered lighting, and smart agriculture IoT, which will help increase the efficiency of surveillance, prevent crime and accidents in the area, while simultaneously increasing agricultural production efficiency and reducing costs. The goal is to support an additional 40 communities. After two years of continuous operation, it is expected that a total of 85 communities nationwide will receive support, at least 5,400 people from 1,800 households will have their digital skills upgraded, and the project is estimated to generate an economic impact of more than 210 million baht, serving as a concrete mechanism for developing smart cities from the grassroots level.” The Acting Deputy Director-General of DEPA said:
For operations under the Smart Living, Better Living project. This initiative promotes the application of digital technology in communities through a two-year technology licensing support model and assistance or subsidies via the d-community program. Communities seeking support must be prepared to invest, in order to foster participation and ownership of projects at the local level.
The support is divided into two forms:
- Smart Safety Living Community Model The project supports licensing fees for two digital security technologies: smart CCTV cameras and smart lighting. The community will invest 115,200 baht (including VAT) for four smart CCTV cameras and four smart lighting units. Meanwhile, the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) will provide an additional 10 smart CCTV cameras and 20 smart lighting units, including installation, for a total support value of 447,000 baht.
- The Smart Living Accelerator model promotes safe and sustainable smart communities. The program supports licensing fees for two digital security technologies under the Smart Secure Community model, and allows communities to request additional assistance or subsidies for desired technologies, including smart CCTV cameras and/or IoT for smart agriculture. DEPA will provide an additional 50% subsidy (up to 150,000 baht) of the value of the technology requested by the community through the d-community measure.
The Smart Living Better Living project is accepting applications from community groups, community enterprises, or farmer groups with at least 20 households from March 6th to 31st, 2569. On-site visits to enhance digital skills for participating communities and farmers are scheduled to take place between April and September 2569.
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