Sunway iLabs and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Kuala Lumpur celebrate five years of partnership that has propelled cross-border innovation and collaboration, advancing the startup ecosystem in both Malaysia and Japan.
This long-standing alliance brings together leading Japanese startups and scale-ups in digital transformation and sustainability, leveraging Sunway City Kuala Lumpur’s thriving ecosystem as a dynamic launchpad to enter the Southeast Asia market.
The partnership between Sunway iLabs and JETRO has seen significant achievements over the past five years, including the acceleration of 30 startups, launch of 15 pilot projects, and over RM10 million in funding secured for technology localisation and development, as well as commercialisation in Malaysia and beyond.
One notable alumnus of the Sunway-JETRO Accelerator programme is Toybox Creations and Technology Sdn Bhd (also known as TOY EIGHT), an AI-driven edtech solution for inclusive education. Having established its Malaysian business in Malaysia in 2020, TOY EIGHT has since successfully expanded in several neighbouring countries. TOY EIGHT was recently honoured with the Best Startup of Digital/AI category at the One ASEAN Startup Award 2024 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Matt van Leeuwen, Chief Innovation Officer of Sunway Group and CEO of Sunway iLabs, shared his excitement for the continued partnership with JETRO:
“Innovation and sustainable development are in the DNA of Sunway Group — that was how Sunway had transformed an abandoned tin mining land into Malaysia’s first fully integrated smart and sustainable city, Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, where meaningful collaborations have driven this partnership journey.
