Smart Cities and Digital Governance Workshop Forum

(NTPU course for Digital Geographies and Smart Cities)

Co-organized by:

Graduate Institute of Urban Planning, National Taipei University;

Department of Geography, University College London (UCL)

Date & Time: Thursday, April 24, 2025, 16:00–18:00

Venue: Room 630, 6th Floor, College of Public Affairs, Sanxia Campus, National Taipei University

Moderators:

Professor Ayona Datta, Department of Geography, UCL

Professor Wen-Yi Lin, Graduate Institute of Urban Planning, National Taipei University

Background:

In 2025, Professor Wen-I Lin of National Taipei University, through a Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) scholar recruitment program, invited Professor Ayona Datta to join the university as a visiting professor for four months of collaborative research and teaching. Together with Professor Datta, he is co-teaching a postgraduate course titled Digital Geographies and Smart Cities. As part of the course, a series of expert forums and lectures will be held, including this two-hour roundtable discussion with professionals from government, industry, and academia on Taiwan’s transformation toward smart cities and digital governance. Each guest lecturer will deliver a 12–15 minutes presentation on their professional experience, followed by a session for audience Q&A and in-depth discussion. Both English and Chinese are welcome during the discussion, with English summaries provided as needed.

Introduction of the guest lecturer

1. Prof. Chien-Yuan Lin (林建元): Former Deputy Mayor of Taipei City

Prof. Lin is a distinguished academic and public servant with extensive experience in urban planning and governance. He earned his Ph.D. in Transportation Engineering from the University of Washington and has held various academic positions, including professorships at National Taiwan University and Chinese Culture University. In the public sector, Prof. Lin served as Deputy Mayor of Taipei City from 2008 to 2010, during which he also acted as the Commissioner of the Public Works Department. His prior roles include Commissioner of the Department of Finance and Executive Secretary of the Economic Development Committee in Taipei City Government. He has served as the founding president of the Taiwan Smart City Development Association, an organization dedicated to foster collaboration among government agencies, industry leaders, and academic institutions to develop smart city solutions that enhance urban living and sustainability. He has also served as a longtime board member of TECO Electric & Machinery Co., Ltd. and as CEO of MOS Burger Taiwan. Prof. Lin's expertise encompasses national land development, local industrial advancement, urban and regional planning, and urban governance.

2. Mr. Po-Yao Hsu (許博堯): Chairman of Shin Kong Security Co., Ltd.

Mr. Po-Yao Hsu (Leo) is the CEO of Shin Kong Security Co., Ltd., where he leads initiatives to transform traditional security services into smart technology-driven solutions. He is spearheading the development of smart city services with the aim of offering integrated, AI-enhanced protection systems and operational optimization solutions for both municipal governments and private enterprises. Mr. Hsu graduated in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan and began his career at Hewlett-Packard’s headquarters in Silicon Valley. With extensive international experience, he has held key roles across technology, service, and consultancy sectors, including at Toshiba, Intel, Microsoft, Getac, Israeli startup Omek, and ABC Cooking Studio. His career has involved launching world-first technology products, leading corporate transformations, expanding new markets, and creating industrial ecosystems.

3. Ms. Yung-Yi Tseng (曾詠宜): Senior Executive Officer, National Development Council

Ms. Yung-Yi Tseng serves as a Senior Executive Officer at Taiwan's National Development Council. Her work at the Council is closely tied to national policy planning and development initiatives, with a particular focus on smart governance of national land and the digital management of geospatial data. She has played a key role in advancing Taiwan's 'Smart National Spatial Plan' and in the development of digital governance tools for territorial planning and sustainable spatial development. Ms. Tseng is also instrumental in promoting cross-sectoral integration of spatial data infrastructure, supporting evidence-based policymaking, and enhancing inter-agency coordination for spatial information systems. Her position entails responsibilities in formulating strategic policies and coordinating development projects to promote Taiwan's economic and social progress.