Department of European Affairs promoted exchanging of knowledge and expertise between European countries and local communities in Chiang Mai, especially on science, technology and innovation, creative and design, tourism, and Smart City by organising a visit of European Heads of Missions to Chiang Mai.

On 3-4 December 2020, Mr. Sasiwat Wongsinsawat, Director-General of the Department of European Affairs, led the European Heads of Missions from 16 countries namely Austria, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Ukraine and United Kingdom, as well as the European Union, to Chiang Mai under the Department’s flagship project, aiming to share European knowledge and expertise with the local communities. The Governor of Chiang Mai, Mr. Charoenrit Sanguansat, along with local agencies, hosted a welcoming dinner in honour of the delegation.

One of the main activities of this visit is the match-making sessions hosted by Chiang Mai University, in which the local representatives from public, private to civil society sectors participated and shared their expertise. Topics that were discussed between the European Head of Missions and the local agencies include (1) Science, Technology and Innovation (2) Creative and Design 3) Tourism and 4) Smart City. In addition, the Creative Economy Agency in Chiang Mai also organised a visit to Prempracha’s Collection and Charm-Learn Studio, successful local artists and creative entrepreneurs, as part of the Chiang Mai Design Week 2020 event scheduled to be held on 5-13 December 2020.

This project derives from the concept of "Triple Helix Model of Innovation", an interactions between government, businesses and academia to generate innovation and economic development. The Department of European Affairs also has future plans to implement this model-based project in other parts of Thailand.