Taiwan’s Yunlin Named 2026 Top7 Intelligent Community for Smart Governance and Innovation

Yunlin County in Taiwan has been recognised as one of the world's Top7 Intelligent Communities for 2026 by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), marking its second selection following its recognition in 2024. County Magistrate Chang Li-shan presented Yunlin's digital transformation achievements at the ICF Global Summit in Columbus, Ohio, on 15 October 2026. Under the theme "Yunlin: Intelligence Beyond Agriculture," the county highlighted how smart technologies, workforce development and cross-sector partnerships are supporting agricultural modernisation, sustainable development and public service improvements. Yunlin also received full Intelligent Community certification.

 

Agriculture remains central to Yunlin's transformation strategy, with digital technologies increasingly integrated into crop production, irrigation, environmental monitoring and post-harvest management. The county has introduced AI-powered agricultural services, smart nutrient management systems, automated cultivation facilities, photovoltaic-integrated farming and digital pest warning platforms. Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) crop modelling is also being used to support irrigation planning and climate adaptation. In 2026, Yunlin received a Smart City Innovation Application Award for its AI-powered agricultural innovation programme, marking its fifth consecutive annual recognition.

 

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Workforce training and agricultural business development have also supported the county's progress. Since its launch in 2020, Yunlin's Smart Agriculture University has trained 2,560 participants and collaborated with more than eight universities to help farmers adopt new technologies and improve farm management. Separately, the Yunlin Good Products initiative has connected over 500 enterprises with more than 13,000 retail locations across Taiwan, generating cumulative sales exceeding NT$6 billion over seven years. The county has also introduced innovation subsidies for smart agriculture and aquaculture, supporting technology adoption across farming and food production.

 

In livestock farming, Yunlin has promoted automated monitoring, solar-integrated poultry facilities and resource-efficient dairy operations. During 2024 and 2025, the county secured NT$88.07 million in central government subsidies to support improvements at 83 livestock farms, including productivity upgrades at 57 dairy farms. The broader strategy also covers industrial development, healthcare and education, including NT$280 million invested in digital learning environments. These initiatives are intended to improve operational efficiency, strengthen public services and support sustainable economic development beyond agriculture.

 

Chang Li-shan emphasised the importance of maintaining agriculture as the foundation of Yunlin's transformation. "Agriculture is the beginning of our story, but not its destination; Yunlin’s intelligence is rooted in agriculture," she said. The ICF recognition highlights the county's use of digital infrastructure, innovation and institutional partnerships to address challenges including climate change, labour shortages and rural service accessibility. While the announcement provides substantial evidence of technology adoption and investment, it does not quantify the resulting greenhouse gas emissions reductions or resource savings.

 

Source: Yunlin County Government