- Both events have accelerated 30 companies &, launched 15 captain projects ,
- Through Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, a partnership connects Chinese startups to SEA.
Five years of cooperation between Sunway iLabs and the Japan External Trade Organization ( Jetro ) Kuala Lumpur have fueled cross-border innovation and strengthened the startup ecosystem in Malaysia and Japan.
Both parties stated in a speech that Sunway City Kuala Lumpur’s attractive ecosystem serves as a launcher for entry into the South Eastern market by this long-standing alliance, which has brought up leading Chinese startups and scale-ups in modern transformation and sustainability.
The partnership has achieved notable milestones, including accelerating 30 startups, launching 15 pilot projects, and securing over US$ 2.2 million ( RM10 million ) in funding for technology localisation, development, and commercialisation in Malaysia and beyond.
According to Matt van Leeuwen, CEO of Sunway iLabs and general development officer of Sunway Group,” Innovation and sustainable development are in Sunway Group’s DNA. That’s how Sunway transformed an abandoned tin-mining area into Malaysia’s second incorporated bright and lasting city, Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, where collaborations have led our partnership journey.”
” 2024 marks a major step with Jetro as we celebrate five decades of association. Collectively, we’ve fuelled cross-border development, helped businesses thrive, and witnessed effect across several sectors”, van Leeuwen added.
However, Koichi Takano, managing chairman of Jetro Kuala Lumpur, commented,” Our relationship with Sunway iLabs has enabled Chinese companies to explore the Malay business. It also facilitates information exchange, pilot tasks, and long-term cooperation, advancing important targets like green transition and net-zero target”.
Toybox Creations and Technology Sdn Bhd ( Toy Eight ), an AI-driven edtech startup that established its Malaysian business presence in 2020, expanded into neighboring nations, and won the Best Startup at the 2024 One Asean Startup Award, is a notable student of the Sunway-Jetro Accelerator.
In collaboration with Sunway Group and its partners, the Sunway iLabs–Jetro Green Transformation Accelerator ( GXA ) Programme focuses on sustainability and provides startups with an immersive platform within the Malaysian business ecosystem.
The program was renamed in response to its move toward green technology and commitment to Malaysia’s net-zero goal by 2050. It was previously known as the Digital Transformation Accelerator ( DXA ).
Five vetted startups with specialized conservation knowledge just completed the second GXA large and are now working on pilot projects in Malaysia. These include:
- Ocean Eyes: This business enhances fishing performance with its” Fishing Navi” B2B SaaS, which provides Fish Earth and Sea Condition projections. Learn more here: https ://oceaneyes.co.jp/en/home-2
- Innoqua: Using AI/IoT, Innoqua recreates coastal communities on land to help types duplication and research, such as studying repellent effects on coral. Learn more here: http ://corp.innoqua .jp/en
- Godot: The AI-driven platform of Godot helps identify behavioral gaps that promote green growth and innovation in healthcare. Learn more here: https ://godot.inc/en/
- PNH ( AirX Coffee ): AirX Coffee produces bioplastics from coffee grounds, reducing plastic pollution. Biochar is produced effectively for fertiliser and clean energy thanks to the CarboneX initiative. Learn more here: https ://airxcoffee .jp/en/, https ://upcycletech .jp/en/top-en/
- PtBio: PtBio addresses social issues through genome analysis and enhancement of organism functionality. Learn more here: https ://www.pt-bio.com/en
The GXA programme attracted Sunway Group’s business units and corporate partners, including private and government-linked companies, all committed to green transformation. Malaysia’s government organizations, including the Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation ( SIDEc ), and the Malaysia Research Accelerator for Technology & Innovation ( Mranti). At the Selangor Smart City &, Digital Economy Convention at KLCC on October 17, 2024, the five startups pitched and networked.
Through its Greater KL Live Lab initiatives, with which Sunway iLabs has been a key partner since 2019, InvestKL has assisted Japanese startups in advising them on how to start a business in Malaysia.
After five impactful years, Sunway iLabs and Jetro Kuala Lumpur stated that they remain committed to advancing innovation, sustainability, and cross-border growth.