Sunway iLabs and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Kuala Lumpur has recently celebrated five years of partnership that has propelled cross-border innovation and collaboration, advancing the startup ecosystem in both Malaysia and Japan.
This long-standing alliance brings together leading Japanese startups and scale-ups in digital transformation and sustainability, leveraging Sunway City Kuala Lumpur’s thriving ecosystem as a dynamic launchpad to enter the Southeast Asia market, Sunway iLabs said in a statement.
The partnership between Sunway iLabs and JETRO has seen significant achievements over the past five years, including the acceleration of 30 startups, launch of 15 pilot projects, and over MYR10 million ($2.27 million) in funding secured for technology localization and development, as well as commercialisation in Malaysia and beyond.
One notable alumnus of the Sunway-JETRO Accelerator program is Toybox Creations and Technology Sdn Bhd (also known as TOY EIGHT), an AI-driven edtech solution for inclusive education.
Having established its Malaysian business in Malaysia in 2020, TOY EIGHT has since expanded in several neighboring countries.
TOY EIGHT was recently honoured with the Best Startup of Digital/AI category at the One ASEAN Startup Award 2024 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Matt van Leeuwen, Chief Innovation Officer of Sunway Group and CEO of Sunway iLabs, shared his excitement for the continued partnership with JETRO, “Innovation and sustainable development are in the DNA of Sunway Group — that
was how Sunway had transformed an abandoned tin mining land into Malaysia’s first fully integrated smart and sustainable city, Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, where meaningful collaborations have driven this partnership journey.
“2024 marks a significant milestone with JETRO as we celebrate five years of partnership. Together, we have fueled cross-border innovation, helped startups thrive, and witnessed meaningful impact across multiple sectors.”
This year, the Sunway iLabs–JETRO Green Transformation Accelerator (GXA) Program focuses on sustainability.
The program provides startups an engaging platform to be immersed in the Malaysian business ecosystem, collaborating with Sunway Group and its business partners.
The GXA program, previously the Digital Transformation Accelerator (DXA), had been renamed to reflect the program’s shift in focus to further drive innovation in green technology and commitment to contribute to Malaysia’s target of net-zero by 2050.
Five selected startups with specialised expertise in sustainability participated in the recently concluded second round of the GXA program, and currently developing their pilot trials in Malaysia:
● Ocean Eyes: Ocean Eyes has the technology to improve the fisherman catch amount. It is a “Fishers Navi” B2B SaaS. Including the tech of Fishing Ground forecast and Sea Condition forecast. Learn more:
● Innoqua: Innoqua used AI/IoT to recreate the marine and aquatic ecosystem on land, replicating conditions to support species reproduction and applying to many research themes, such as, checking the effect of the sunscreen on the coral.
● Godot: Godot provides an AI-driven behavioural intelligence platform that helps identify behavioural gaps and promote positive actions for green transformation and healthcare innovation.
● PNH (AirX Coffee): AirX Coffee creates bioplastic products using coffee grounds, reducing plastic waste and pollution. Through the CarboneX initiative, PNH is developing a portable machine that converts organic waste into biochar using a unique catalyst which enables pyrolysis at just 100°C, making the process more energy-efficient while producing biochar for fertilizers and clean energy.
● PtBio: PtBio leverages advanced biotechnology to solve social issues by offering two services: genome analysis such as rapid selection of superior varieties with “BioDX” and enhancing organism functionality through “genome editing”.
“Our partnership with Sunway iLabs allows Japanese startups to explore the Malaysian market and serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, pilot projects, and long-term collaborations between Japan and Malaysia,” Koichi Takano, Managing Director of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Kuala Lumpur.
The GXA program saw Sunway Group’s business divisions and other corporate partners comprising private and government-linked companies eager to embark on the journey of green transformation.
The program received further support from Malaysia government agencies, such as the Malaysia Research Accelerator for Technology & Innovation (MRANTI), the Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (SIDEC), where the five Japanese startups pitched and networked with potential partners at Selangor Smart City & Digital Economy Convention, held at the KLCC Convention Center on Oct 17, 2024.
InvestKL also supported the program, sharing insights with the Japanese startups on company establishment through their Greater KL Live Lab initiatives, with which Sunway iLabs has been closely linked with since 2019.