Bangkok, Thailand (19 June 2024)—Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. (MRI), Bank of Ayudhya Public Company Limited, and four other organizations in Thailand have entered into a strategic partnership to promote a new ecosystem for innovation. The six parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at a business matching fair organized by Bank of Ayudhya and co-organized by MRI.
The event took place at Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok and featured startups from Japan, Thailand, and other ASEAN countries. Over 60 startups and 180 investors took part, and a total of approximately 430 matches were made between the participants.
Masato Otaka, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Thailand, stated in his opening remarks that “support for startups, an area of cooperation between Japan and Thailand under the Five-Year Joint Action Plan on Japan–Thailand Strategic Economic Partnership, is one of the main missions of the Japanese government.” Kenji Yabuta, President of MRI, expressed commitment to “promote the Japan–ASEAN innovation ecosystem with a focus on startup collaboration and to proactively resolve societal issues through our activities.”
The event took place at Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok and featured startups from Japan, Thailand, and other ASEAN countries. Over 60 startups and 180 investors took part, and a total of approximately 430 matches were made between the participants.
Masato Otaka, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Thailand, stated in his opening remarks that “support for startups, an area of cooperation between Japan and Thailand under the Five-Year Joint Action Plan on Japan–Thailand Strategic Economic Partnership, is one of the main missions of the Japanese government.” Kenji Yabuta, President of MRI, expressed commitment to “promote the Japan–ASEAN innovation ecosystem with a focus on startup collaboration and to proactively resolve societal issues through our activities.”
Photo: Opening ceremony with Yabuta third from right
MRI led a seminar on co-creating societal impact and resolving societal issues through business. MRI senior researchers Makiko Yamazoe and Mitsuhiro Ito took the stage alongside Dr. Boonwara Sumano of the Thailand Development Research Institute to emphasize the importance of stakeholder collaboration in creating societal impact through business using case studies from Japan and Thailand.
Photo: Makiko Yamazoe, senior researcher from MRI
Photo: Mitsuhiro Ito, senior researcher from MRI
The strategic partnership includes MRI, Bank of Ayudhya, Krungsri Finnovate Company Limited (Bank of Ayudhya's venture capital), Sasin Management Consulting (the Consulting Arm of Sasin School of Management at Chulalongkorn University), Sasin Japan Center, PT. MU Research and Consulting (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (a consolidated subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting Co., Ltd.) Moving forward, they are planning for collaborative activities, including seminars and workshops, to promote the Japan–ASEAN innovation ecosystem.
MRI strives to build a virtuous cycle that supports startups and resolves societal issues by enhancing collaborative networks and mutual knowledge.
MRI strives to build a virtuous cycle that supports startups and resolves societal issues by enhancing collaborative networks and mutual knowledge.
Photo: MOU signing ceremony
MRI’s support for startups includes the Initiative for Co-Creating the Future (ICF), a membership organization for startups and large corporations, universities and governments that uses open innovation to co-create and implement solutions to societal issues. Six ICF member companies participated in the event, pitching their businesses and meeting with investors.
MRI will continue to support ICF member companies as they take their activities abroad, connect Japan and ASEAN, and help resolve mutual societal issues through business.
ICF members at the event:
MRI will continue to support ICF member companies as they take their activities abroad, connect Japan and ASEAN, and help resolve mutual societal issues through business.
ICF members at the event:
- Acompany Co., Ltd.
- AiTrax.Co., Ltd.
- Olive Corporation
- New Space Intelligence Inc.
- UPWARD, Inc.
- Aerosense Inc.