MaGIC partners 17 startups to push SEA innovation agenda

Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre (MaGIC) has announced a strategic partnership with 17 Southeast Asian entrepreneurship community builders to form ASEAN Activate, an extension of the MaGIC Activate platform at a regional level. ASEAN Activate is a new initiative from MaGIC’s Corporate Entrepreneurship Responsibility (CER) arm that aims to create a concerted effort in helping Southeast Asia drive its innovation agenda forward. It aims to do so in four key ways:

• Establishing a regional CER network
• Facilitating cross-border partnerships and deals
• Providing a regional market access for entrepreneurs and startups
• Fostering a united ASEAN innovation ecosystem

The 17 entrepreneurship community builders are Topica, Saigon Innovation Hub, Viet Youth Entrepreneur, Kejora, Y Digital, Thailand National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office, C-ASEAN, Hubba, TOH-LAO, Brainspark, ASpace, Philippines ICT Innovation Network, TradeLawyer, IdeaSpace, Philippines Department of Information and Communications Technology, WeCreate Cambodia, Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Centre, which will be representing Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Philippines, Cambodia, and Malaysia. “We need to plan what the region can do to stay relevant, influential, and competitive for the next 50 years. It is important to foster the culture of innovation early as we prepare for the future economy. This is why we are excited to take the lead in uniting Southeast Asia’s business community with the thriving entrepreneurship scene, helping the region realize its true innovation potential,” said Ashran Dato’ Ghazi, Chief Executive Officer, MaGIC.

“We hope ASEAN Activate will encourage greater collaboration between corporates and startups in Southeast Asia, ultimately leading to a more sustainable, vibrant entrepreneurship and business ecosystem.”

Through ASEAN Activate, local activate partners will collaborate with MaGIC to run the Startup Corporate Innovation Challenge in their respective countries. Together, they will curate challenges from the corporate sector, invite startups to participate in the platform, shortlist applicants and facilitate meetings with corporates, and keep tab on progress. The Startup Corporate Open Innovation Challenge Platform is an initiative by MaGIC which is conducted in partnership with the Techstars Startup Program, providing the platform access to more than 3,000 startups. Eight innovation challenges have been posted on the platform so far from UNICEF, Sunway Ventures, TM RE:, IJM, Media Prima, and others.