In conjunction with Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship, SIRIM Berhad today hosted the ASEAN Technopreneurship Innovation Roundtable and Workshop at its headquarters in Shah Alam. The session was chaired by Nik Sazali Nik Hussin, Acting President and Group Chief Executive Officer of SIRIM Berhad and brought together key regional leaders to address productivity challenges faced by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and to strengthen ASEAN’s position as a global innovation hub.

Technopreneurship plays a pivotal role in driving ASEAN’s economic transformation, particularly in enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of MSMEs, which make up 99% of businesses in the region but contribute only around 40% to its GDP. The roundtable served as a dynamic platform to explore innovative strategies to bridge this gap through technology adoption, entrepreneurship, and regional collaboration.

With over 565 active tech hubs across the Asia-Pacific, a digitally savvy youth population of 213 million, and a digital economy projected to reach up to USD 1 trillion by 2030, ASEAN is well-positioned to harness technopreneurship as a key driver of inclusive and sustainable growth.

From left Mr. Vith Panhnha (Commercial Attache), Embassy of Cambodia, Mr. Boniface Anak Edwin Manung, Division Secretary of the Technology Transfer and R&D Commercialisation Division Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr Nik Sazali Nik Hussin, Acting President & Group CEO of SIRIM Berhad, Dr. Rashidi Said, Senior Director of Bilateral Economic and Trade Relations Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr. Eugene Tan, Regional Director, Enterprise Singapore High Commision of the Republic of Singapore, H.E Worawan Wanwil, Minister Counsellor (Commercial), Royal Thai Embassy, Mr. Ngo Quang Hung (First Secretary), Embassy of Vietnam, Mr. Hernani Viterbo Soares (Education Attache), Embassy of Timor Leste.

The ASEAN Technopreneurship Innovation Roundtable and Workshop sought to achieve three key outcomes:

Empowering Technopreneurs - Equipping participants with the skills and insights to commercialise technological innovations and build sustainable enterprises.
Showcasing SIRIM’s Expertise - Demonstrating SIRIM’s strong capabilities in research and development, technology commercialisation, and industry innovation.
Enhancing Regional Collaboration - Strengthening partnerships among ASEAN member states, research institutions and the private sector to build a more cohesive and dynamic innovation ecosystem

“This roundtable moves beyond mere ideas to concrete action,” said Nik Sazali Nik Hussin, Acting President and Group Chief Executive Officer of SIRIM Berhad. “It is about building bridges between talent and opportunity, between nations and cultures and between vision and implementation. SIRIM is proud to lead this regional collaboration that accelerates technology-based entrepreneurship across ASEAN.”

Session in progress at the ASEAN Technopreneurship Innovation Roundtable and Workshop

He further added, “By leveraging the collective strengths of ASEAN member nations, this roundtable serves as a catalyst for sustainable innovation and economic development. Our aim is to accelerate the growth of technology-driven enterprises and ensure that the benefits of innovation are shared widely across the region.”

The event also featured participation from Dr. Rashidi Said, Senior Director of Bilateral Economic and Trade Relations at the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), and Mr. Boniface Anak Edwin Manung, Division Secretary of the Technology Transfer and R&D Commercialisation Division at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). Delegations from Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste, as well as representatives from the ASEAN Chamber of Commerce and Industry Malaysia, were also in attendance.

Through this initiative, SIRIM continues to contribute its expertise in innovation, R&D and technology commercialisation, while facilitating networking, mentorship, and technical guidance for startups and SMEs. The roundtable reinforces SIRIM Berhad’s leadership in advancing technology-based entrepreneurship and promoting innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable growth across ASEAN.

This content is provided by SIRIM Berhad

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