Sunway iLabs & JETRO Celebrate 5 Years Of Innovation And Cross-Border Success

The partnership between Sunway iLabs and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Kuala Lumpur has bear remarkable results over the past five years, driving cross-border innovation and advancing the startup ecosystem in both Malaysia and Japan.

The collaboration has led to the acceleration of 30 startups, the launch of 15 pilot projects, and over RM10 million in funding for technology localisation and commercialisation across Southeast Asia. Sunway iLabs’ dynamic ecosystem in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur has become a key launchpad for leading Japanese startups, especially in the fields of digital transformation and sustainability.

Matt van Leeuwen, Chief Innovation Officer of Sunway Group and CEO of Sunway iLabs, expressed his excitement about the continued partnership with JETRO, highlighting the impact of innovation and sustainable development within Sunway’s vision of creating Malaysia’s first smart and sustainable city.

The most recent initiative, the Sunway iLabs-JETRO Green Transformation Accelerator (GXA) Programme, focuses on driving sustainability. This year’s programme features five startups that are creating solutions to help Malaysia reach its net-zero goal by 2050. These include Ocean Eyes, Innoqua, Godot, PNH (AirX Coffee), and PtBio, all of which are developing pilot trials in Malaysia.

The partnership also received strong support from government agencies like Malaysia Research Accelerator for Technology & Innovation (MRANTI) and InvestKL, along with corporate partners, underscoring Malaysia’s growing role as a global innovation hub.

Looking ahead, Sunway iLabs and JETRO Kuala Lumpur remain committed to further advancing innovation, sustainability, and cross-border collaborations in the years to come.

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