About Us:

University Incubator Consortium is a joint initiative between our university consortium partners across the Asian and African regions that aims to build capacity in supporting start-ups, promoting the exchange of knowledge and skills, and sharing of resources. Our program offers a diverse range of opportunities for participants to take their business ideas to the next level, including:

1. 1. Mutual visits with students/staff participation
   2. Access to supports and facilities in our state-of-the-art incubation centre
   3. Jointly organising ideation bootcamp, competition and accelerator programs
   4. Providing mentor sharing and training sessions for start-up and spin-off companies
   5. Providing advisory services on regulatory requirements and understanding of the market
   6. Providing guidance relating to regulatory requirements, venture capitalists or angel investors
   7. Undertaking joint research in entrepreneurship
   8. Sharing curriculum and teaching materials relating to entrepreneurship programs
   9. Developing new programs relating to entrepreneurship.

Our program is designed to create an access gateway that provide participants with the tools, knowledge, and networks necessary to turn their business ideas into successful companies.

Africa-Asia Roundtable Discussion

Strengthening Africa-Asia Collaborations on Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Brings Together Global Academic Leaders in South Africa

The Africa-Asia Roundtable Discussion held from February 12 to 15, 2025, at the University of Mpumalanga, South Africa, brought together policymakers, academic leaders, and research experts to share best practices and discuss strategies for enhancing research, innovation, and entrepreneurship collaborations between African and Asian universities. The Roundtable is attended by more than 100 academics from 43 universities and organisations from Africa and Asia. Sharing and discussions focused on addressing regulatory barriers, funding constraints, institutional alignment, capacity-building initiatives, and joint research programmes tailored to regional needs.

Group photo of participants to the Africa-Asia Roundtable Discussion

A significant focus of the event was regional co-incubation strategies and research collaboration models, where university and industry representatives explored the role of university-led incubators in supporting startup growth and innovation ecosystems. Discussions highlighted technology transfer offices, joint funding models, industry partnerships, and venture capital involvement to drive the commercialization of academic research. A key outcome from the roundtable discussion is a proposal for an AI-driven collaboration platform to connect researchers based on expertise, projects, and funding opportunities. The event concluded with a networking session, fostering future bilateral collaborations and joint research projects between African and Asian universities.

Roundtable discussion of participants  

As Africa and Asia emerge as key players in global innovation, the Roundtable marked a pivotal step forward in fostering sustainable academic collaborations. Discussions emphasized policy harmonization, research infrastructure investment, and faculty and student exchange programs while recognizing the potential of technology and innovation hubs in commercializing research outputs. The roundtable has set the stage for long-term, high-impact research partnerships that will drive policy advancements, academic growth, and economic development by bringing together leaders in academia, policy, and industry. This event reaffirms the importance of multilateral engagement in research and higher education, paving the way for future collaborations shaping the global academic and innovation landscape.

UNIIC 2026 Business Challenge (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

APU Multinational Team Participates in UNIIC Business Challenge 2026

Joshua Lai, a Year 2 student studying Computer Science at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), represented the university at the UNIIC Business Challenge 2026, held on 19–20 August at Hung Vuong University of Ho Chi Minh City (DHV), Vietnam. The international competition brought together 12 teams comprising students from Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Africa and Cambodia, providing participants with an opportunity to collaborate, compete and exchange ideas across cultures.

Pitching session for the business idea, NôngVault

Joshua was part of a multinational team comprising Malaysian and Vietnamese students, mentored by Mr Florent Guilloux and Professor Angelina Yee. The team developed NôngVault, a post-harvest management service designed to address resource scarcity by providing accessible cold-storage facilities for smallholder farmers in Vietnam. The idea responds to the challenges faced by farmers who lack accessible storage for perishable crops, often requiring them to sell their harvest quickly at lower prices or risk losing produce to spoilage. Beyond providing cold storage, NôngVault incorporates technology such as IoT monitoring to track crop conditions during storage, AI-powered spoilage prediction to help farmers determine suitable times to retrieve their produce, and a mobile platform for on-demand storage and logistics bookings.

Group photo of the team, MULTI-1

The team’s journey involved two months of virtual collaboration before being able to finally meet in person upon his arrival in Vietnam. Despite the limited preparation time together, the team continued refining its pitch through repeated practice and feedback from its mentors. Presenting alongside teams with innovative ideas from across the participating countries, Joshua stepped onto an international stage for the first time and, together with his teammates, earned a Consolation Prize for Presentation Excellence. Beyond the achievement, the experience allowed him to build connections with students from different countries and gain valuable exposure to international collaboration, entrepreneurship and public speaking. Joshua expressed his appreciation to his teammates for their perseverance throughout the journey, to the team’s mentors for their guidance and feedback, and especially to Professor Angelina Yee for providing him with the opportunity to participate in what he describes as an eye-opening and memorable international experience.

Group photo of all participants of UNIIC Business Challenge 2026

Asian Society for Innovation and Policy