The 2026 ICF VIP Delegation visited Taiwan from March 16-20, 2026, engaging in smart city  initiatives, technological showcases, and cultural exchanges across Taipei, Taichung, Yunlin,  and related sites, emphasizing digital transformation, AI applications, and community-driven  innovation. The delegation included 16 international representatives from the USA, Canada, the  Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Brazil, India, and Taiwan; unfortunately, additional members  from Ghana and Turkey were unable to secure visas. Thanks to our partnership with ICF Taiwan,  along with ITRI, ADI, the Taiwan Tourism Administration, and SCSE, the focus of the first day  was on digital transformation and AI applications in local companies in Taipei.  

Day 1: The delegation visited Linking Publishing, showcasing the AI-powered “Book Guide”  for content discovery. It explored EasyCard Corporation’s integrated city payment system used  for transportation and daily transactions. And ITRI organized matchmaking with startups in  energy, mobility, AI, cybersecurity, and climate resilience. The day ended with a sumptuous  welcome dinner for the delegates with representatives from our main host. 

Day 2: The delegates attended the opening ceremonies and toured exhibits emphasizing AI,  governance, and sustainability. They also participated in curated tours on governance and green  economy, and met with representatives from ADI and the Tourism pavilions during four curated  tours at Smart City Summit and Expo (SCSE) in Taipei. The ADI Pavilion promoted digital  solutions supporting smart cities and public services, while the Tourism Pavilion explored smart  tourism innovations, including AI-enabled visitor services and AI-produced sensory products.  The evening concluded with a visit to the Shinlin Night Market. 

Day 3: This was a chance to have a high-level discussion at Taiwan’s Tourism Administration  on integrating technology into tourism, with an emphasis on exploring regional digital  transformation through digital success stories with examples from Spain, Canada, the USA, the 

Netherlands, Vietnam, and Taiwan. That evening the delegates visited the Taipei 101 Tower and  enjoyed traditional cuisine at Din Tai Fung.  

Day 4: This was the first of two days in Yunlin County focused on Yunlin’s smart agriculture,  fisheries, and education initiatives. Yunlin County comprises 19 townships, known as an  agrarian center and home to fishing ports. It is a prime example of how rural regions can  leverage technology, education, community engagement, and innovative practices to foster  comprehensive growth and development while maintaining the strength of their cultural heritage  and traditional industries. Yunlin’s Magistrate Chang emphasized their goal in hosting our  delegation when she said, “My team and I introduced how Yunlin can reduce the urban-rural gap  by showcasing six smart venues.” Among them, we visited the Taiwan Tilapia Ecological  Creative Park and Smart Fish Pond for sustainable aquaculture. We observed smart education at  Tuku Township’s Smart Education Center, focusing on rural digital learning. And we attended a  fantastic community feast at Tuku Shuntian Temple, fostering local engagement. During our visit  to Wonder Hospital, Yunlin Deputy Magistrate Chen emphasized Yunlin’s continuous smart city  progress and community cohesion, stressing Yunlin’s achievements in smart governance and  rural digital inclusion. 

Day 5: This final day in Yunlin focused on Sustainability and the Circular Economy through an  extensive visit to the Formosa Plastics Group’s man-made island, emphasizing ESG efforts. We  toured the Nan Ya Compost Plant, converting waste to fertilizer; Utilities Plant No. 4, producing  

Solid Recovered Fuel from municipal waste, explored Mailiao Port’s “Green Ecological Port”  with environmental safeguards, and concluded with an exchange forum on sustainability  practices and discussed how smaller communities can achieve impactful results through  innovation and resilience. 

Testimonials 

Delegates praised Taiwan’s technological integration, hospitality, and community warmth. Robin  Raskin highlighted AI implementation from villages to cities and Taiwanese pride in  manufacturing. Doug McCollough and Rob McCann expressed their appreciation of the hosts  during the SCSE. Subhagya Atale Raval celebrated Yunlin’s innovative approach and local  wisdom. Igor Oliveria noted Yunlin’s advanced impact pillars and the importance of people centered development. Michel Bomtempo, Mayor of the city of Assaí in Parana, Brazil, praised  Yunlin’s emphasis on pursuing STEAM-led education in their community, a direction that Assai  is also pursuing, noting that they could learn from each other. Many others expressed gratitude  for Yunlin’s hospitality and recognized its role as a highlight of the visit. The visit received public recognition through numerous social media posts and several Taiwanese reporters,  celebrating Yunlin County’s evolution from an agricultural area into a recognized model of  smart development, which has gained international attention through digital innovation and  sustainable practices. 

In 2024, Yunlin ranked in the Top 7 globally for smart city development, and in 2026, it has, as  of the time of writing, attained ICF’s coveted Smart21 recognition as well as achieved provisional certification as an Intelligent Community. 

To receive a full copy of the 2026 ICF VIP Delegation Report, contact Matt Owen at [email protected].

Join us for our next ICF VIP Delegation Program  

To learn more about the ICF Awards Program, see: https://www.intelligentcommunity.org/compete. 

To learn more about certification, see: https://www.intelligentcommunity.org/certification. And to learn more about joining the next ICF VIP Delegation to Brightlands - Limburg in the  Netherlands from June 15-19, 2026, see:  

https://www.intelligentcommunity.org/icf_2026_top7_conference_announcement. To register for this next VIP Delegation, contact ICF’s Executive Director, Matt Owen, at [email protected].