Manila, 11 October 2024: The ERIA Digital Innovation and Sustainable Economy Centre (E-DISC) made a significant contribution to fostering cross-border collaboration within ASEAN’s startup ecosystem by participating in IGNITE 2024, held from 10 to 11 October in Manila, Philippines. Organised by TechShake and dentsu X, IGNITE 2024 is recognised as one of the Philippines' largest innovation and startup events, attracting key players from across ASEAN, including startups, investors, and industry leaders. This marked E-DISC’s first participation, following a gracious invitation from TechShake.

As part of E-DISC’s involvement, Kentaro Machii, Programme Manager on Startup Ecosystem at ERIA, participated in a panel discussion titled ‘Innovation System Building in ASEAN,’ alongside Mega Prawita, Managing Director at KUMPUL; Allen John Ku, Director of Startup Island Taiwan; and Loo Chuan Boon, Chief Operating Officer at Selangor Information Technology & Digital Economy Corporation (Sidec). The discussion explored the AI sector’s landscape in Southeast Asia and the critical role cross-border partnerships play in helping startup ecosystem players drive AI innovation and adoption.

Machii underscored E-DISC’s initiatives to support AI development in the ASEAN region, including public policy dialogue and talent nurturing. He emphasised the importance of cross-border collaboration for ASEAN startups, noting that E-DISC is committed to building bridges to ensure their success.

IGNITE 2024, with over 850 companies from more than 40 countries represented, provided an unparalleled platform for networking and partnership-building. During the event, the E-DISC team engaged with Japanese and Philippine startups participating in the pitching sessions, as well as incubators and accelerators from Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. They also interacted with government and educational institutions from around the region.

‘We are excited to kickstart tangible collaborations resulting from the connections made at IGNITE,’ remarked Mudhya Razanne Tiara, Project Officer on Startup Ecosystem at ERIA.

E-DISC remains committed to working closely with key players across ASEAN countries to ensure the sustainable development of startup ecosystems. By fostering collaboration and expanding its activities, E-DISC aims to enhance the benefits and opportunities for startups throughout the region, driving innovation and regional growth.