KUALA LUMPUR – The Startup ASEAN Summit 2025 has concluded in Kuala Lumpur, marking a significant step forward in strengthening Southeast Asia’s innovation ecosystem and positioning the region as a global hub for entrepreneurship.
The summit, hosted by Malaysia’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, brought together policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs from across the ten ASEAN member states.
It followed the full-scale launch of the Startup ASEAN platform earlier this year, which now connects more than 8,600 startups and 1,700 investors across the region.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang described the event as a milestone in regional collaboration.
He noted that ASEAN’s collective efforts were aimed at ensuring that “no country, startup, or innovator is left behind” as the bloc deepens cooperation in innovation policy, investment, and talent mobility.
ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn delivered a keynote address, emphasising the bloc’s ambition to become an innovation-driven economy. He highlighted three pillars underpinning this vision: innovation, seamless connectivity, and trust.
Dr Kao also linked the summit’s outcomes to the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation 2026–2030 (APASTI 2026–2030), which places startups at the centre of ASEAN’s economic growth strategy.
“Asia now commands 23 per cent of global venture capital and hosts 19 per cent of the world’s startups,” Dr Kao said, underscoring the region’s growing influence in the global economy.
He added that ASEAN’s startup ecosystem is expected to play a pivotal role in the bloc’s trajectory towards becoming the world’s fourth-largest economy within five years.
The summit also spotlighted Malaysia’s leadership in fostering innovation. The country has recently been chosen as the site for the ASEAN AI Safety Network’s regional headquarters, which will open in Kuala Lumpur in 2026.
This initiative aims to ensure the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence across the region, complementing the startup ecosystem’s rapid expansion.
Panels and workshops during the summit explored themes such as AI-driven entrepreneurship, cross-border investment, digital infrastructure, and sustainable innovation.
Startups from diverse sectors, including fintech, healthtech, and green technology, showcased their solutions to investors and policymakers.
Observers noted that the summit not only celebrated entrepreneurial achievements but also addressed challenges such as regulatory harmonisation, funding gaps, and talent retention.
By aligning policies and fostering trust, ASEAN leaders believe the region can unlock its full potential as a borderless innovation economy.
With strong participation and ambitious commitments, the Startup ASEAN Summit 2025 has reinforced Kuala Lumpur’s role as a regional hub for technology and entrepreneurship, while setting the stage for deeper collaboration across Southeast Asia.
Sources: Bernama, ASEAN Secretariat News
