Empowering Asian Startups: The Global Summit for Sustainability

In the bustling cities of Seoul, Incheon, and the picturesque Jeju Island, representatives from 10 major ASEAN countries gathered for a momentous event known as the Global Startup Builder Summit 2023 Southeast Asia Edition. With a shared vision of establishing a sustainable global startup ecosystem, 46 delegates from prominent organizations convened to sign three significant joint Memorandum of Agreements (MOUs).

Representing countries such as Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, these delegates included renowned organizations like Darussalam Enterprise (DARe), Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Khmer Enterprise, Techno Startup Center (TSC), Gerakan Nasional 1000 Startup Digital, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Lao ICT and Digital Association (LIDA), Lao Youth Union and KOICA IBS Solutek, National University of Laos (NUOL), Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology & Innovation (MRANTI), Sunway Innovation Labs at Sunway University (Sunway iLabs), Monash University Malaysia, QBO Innovation Hub, Department of Science & Technology (DOST-PCIEERD), Ateneo de Manila University, Enterprise Singapore, Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), Reactor Industries, Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), Vietnam National Innovation Center (NIC), Fulbright University Vietnam, VinUniversity (VinUni), VTC Academy Online, Ministry of Startups & SMEs (MSS), Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED), Incheon City Office, Incheon Techno Park (ITP), Incheon City Office of Education, Incheon Center of Creative Economy & Innovation, and Seogwipo City Office. Signing on behalf of the Ateneo de Manila University was Engr. Benjamin Mirasol of the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office as its official delegate.

These agreements aimed to promote collaboration and the sharing of work plans among the organizations, with a particular focus on establishing a robust infrastructure that would facilitate the growth of startups across Asia. The summit delegates embarked on visits to the vibrant startup ecosystems of Incheon, Seoul, and Jeju, where they showcased their expertise, fostering connections and presenting opportunities for fruitful collaboration.

Co-organized by the Next Challenge Asia Foundation and Reactor School, the summit marked a significant milestone with the signing of three Multi-Party Ceremonial MOUs. These partnerships were established with Incheon Metropolitan City at Incheon Startup Park, Incheon Metropolitan City Office of Education at Incheon Bio Science High School, and Jeju Seogwipo City at Seogwipo StartUpBay Global Center. The objective was to empower government agencies and university incubators with cutting-edge tools and resources, providing them with the necessary support to nurture and accelerate the growth of startups in the region.

By facilitating knowledge sharing, supporting the localization of startup companies, forging connections with partner businesses and entrepreneurs, and streamlining market entry, these collaborative efforts sought to foster the expansion of the startup industry in Southeast Asia. Through this collective initiative, the summit aimed to create an environment conducive to the rise of Asian startups, propelling the region's entrepreneurial landscape to unprecedented heights.

With 22 signatories and 5 observers, the participating organizations made a pledge to promote cooperation and provide support for the global expansion of promising startups from the Southeast Asia region. Their united efforts aimed to empower and drive the success of Asian startups, fostering sustainable growth in the ever-evolving world of entrepreneurship.