The inaugural APAC Technopreneurship Empowerment Conference (ATEC 2024) was held on Thursday at the InterContinental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, bringing together over 600 stakeholders from the government and private sector.
Hosted by Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Chan Lee Kang, the event highlighted Malaysia's commitment to promoting tech entrepreneurship and brought together tech entrepreneurs, academics, tech industry experts, government officials and other professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region.
The pioneering event, jointly organized by the Center for Regional Strategic Studies (CROSS), the Southeast Asian Humanities Research Center (SEARCH) and Wellous Group Ltd, marks a pivotal moment for tech entrepreneurship in the Asia-Pacific region. According to a statement, ATEC 2024 will bring together industry leaders and innovators to drive collaborative innovation and regional technology development.
At the opening ceremony, Chan stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation and technology transfer within the ASEAN region. “By sharing knowledge, resources and best practices, we can drive innovation and solve common challenges more effectively,” he said. “Strengthening partnerships will create a dynamic ecosystem where technological advancements can thrive and benefit the entire region.”
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's advocacy of “Asian Resilience” was highlighted by the Minister. “Asia's resilience is manifested in its proven ability to adapt, innovate and overcome challenges,” the Minister noted. “ATEC 2024 will be pivotal in promoting technopreneurship and innovation, which will contribute not only to Malaysia's national development and socio-economic progress, but also to the regional context.”
ATEC2024 2024
ATEC 2024's strategic partnerships include collaboration with key government agencies under MOSTI, namely NanoMalaysia Bhd, Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA), Bioeconomy Corporation, MIMOS Bhd, Cradle Fund Sdn. Bhd. (CRADLE) and Young Scientists Network-Academy of Sciences Malaysia (YSN-ASM). Additionally, Malaysia-China Kuantan International Logistics Park (MCKILP) has also joined as a strategic partner to drive the development of biotechnology parks in Malaysia.
“Malaysia is poised to play a central role in this transformational journey,” said Lee Cheng Chun, Chairman of CROSS. “Our strategic location and strong commitment from both the government and private sector position us as an ideal hub for technology innovation. Through initiatives like ATEC 2024, we aim to establish Malaysia as a beacon of technological excellence to drive progress and prosperity across the Asia-Pacific region.”
ATEC 2024 attracted over 600 distinguished participants, including government agencies, embassies, industry leaders, experts, academics, and stakeholders from various companies. Participants engaged in lively discussions, innovative showcases, and networking sessions across four key sectors: space economy, bioeconomy, new energy economy, and technology talent economy. ATEC 2024 provides a definitive platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration among participants.
“We believe there is enormous opportunity in the untapped potential that can emerge from this conference,” added SEARCH chief executive officer Ian Neo. “We look forward to generating new ideas and connections at the event, and are confident that these interactions will propel Malaysian tech entrepreneurs to new heights and advance technology in the region through cross-border collaboration among Asia-Pacific countries and regions.”
“We are always keen to strengthen our efforts in promoting tech entrepreneurship and advancing innovation. This collaboration underlines Wellous' long-term mission to accelerate the growth of innovation and entrepreneurship not only in Malaysia but across Southeast Asia and the Asia Pacific region, to empower and inspire tech talent and tech entrepreneurs,” said Andy Tan, co-founder and chief executive officer, Wellous Group Ltd.
The conference, sponsored by MOSTI, marks the culmination of a strategic partnership between CROSS, SEARCH and Wellous aimed at leveraging their collective strengths to foster innovation and enhance regional development.
This strategic partnership highlights the importance of public-private collaboration in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and creating lasting value for communities in Southeast Asia.
The alliance aims to improve Malaysia’s position as a regional techno-entrepreneurship leader through joint efforts in research, policy dialogue and capacity building programs.
Think tank CROSS, SEARCH, healthcare group Wellous and MOSTI institute co-organize first-ever ATEC 2024
