Output

1) Forum

Purpose: The project aims to foster a vibrant and inclusive startup ecosystem within the APEC region by promoting innovation, facilitating knowledge exchange, and strengthening cross-economy collaboration. Specifically, the forum seeks to: 1) Reinforce the startup ecosystem by sharing insights on current trends, challenges, and the status of entrepreneurship – particularly in digital and innovation-driven sectors; 2) Build the capacity of young and female entrepreneurs by enhancing their digital and entrepreneurial skills; and 3) Promote inclusive and sustainable growth through innovation-driven cooperation among APEC economies.

Duration and location: A one-day forum will be held in Korea in May 2026 in a hybrid format (in-person and online).

Expected scope and scale: Startups play a critical role in driving innovation, creating jobs, boosting productivity, and expanding new markets. This project will therefore contribute to promoting sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-led growth across the APEC region. The expected scope and outputs of the forum include:

1. Ex-ante Evaluation: Prior to the forum, an ex-ante assessment will be conducted to ensure that the forum addresses key issues relevant to target participants, and to establish measurable indicators of success.
2. Ex-post Evaluation: After the forum, an ex-post evaluation will be carried out to assess the achievement of project goals and gather feedback from participants for futureimprovements.
3. Sharing best practices: Policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and international organization representatives will share best practices on topics such as early-stage financing, policy frameworks, digital transformation, and cross-border collaboration. The forum will also raise awareness of the critical role startups play in regional growth.
4. Policy recommendations in promoting startup innovation: Through expert discussions and presentations, the forum will produce actionable policy recommendations for startup promotion, which will be compiled and disseminated to APEC economies in the form of a summary report.
5. Informal networking and Benchmarking Opportunities: Participants will have the opportunity to connect with key stakeholders from across the region, exchange ideas, and benchmark effective startup support measures implemented in other APEC economies.

Tentative agenda for the Forum is as follows:

1. Opening remarks and keynote speech: Addressing the need for fostering a dynamic startup ecosystem through cooperation between APEC economies
2. Session 1: Navigating the Startup Landscape – Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities
3. Luncheon & Informal Networking
4. Session 2: Policy Innovations – Empowering Startups through Smart Regulation and Support Systems
5. Coffee Break
6. Session 3: Cross-Border Cooperation and Inclusive Growth – Building a Connected Startup Ecosystem within the APEC Region
7. Ex-post Evaluation and Wrap-up
8. Purpose: The project aims to foster a vibrant and inclusive startup ecosystem within the APEC region by promoting innovation, facilitating knowledge exchange, and strengthening cross-economy collaboration. Specifically, the forum seeks to: 1) Reinforce the startup ecosystem by sharing insights on current trends, challenges, and the status of entrepreneurship – particularly in digital and innovation-driven sectors; 2) Build the capacity of young and female entrepreneurs by enhancing their digital and entrepreneurial skills; and 3) Promote inclusive and sustainable growth through innovation-driven cooperation among APEC economies.

1. Duration and location: A one-day forum will be held in Korea in May 2026 in a hybrid format (in-person and online).

1. Expected scope and scale: Startups play a critical role in driving innovation, creating jobs, boosting productivity, and expanding new markets. This project will therefore contribute to promoting sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-led growth across the APEC region. The expected scope and outputs of the forum include:
2. Ex-ante Evaluation: Prior to the forum, an ex-ante assessment will be conducted to ensure that the forum addresses key issues relevant to target participants, and to establish measurable indicators of success.
3. Ex-post Evaluation: After the forum, an ex-post evaluation will be carried out to assess the achievement of project goals and gather feedback from participants for futureimprovements.
4. Sharing best practices: Policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and international organization representatives will share best practices on topics such as early-stage financing, policy frameworks, digital transformation, and cross-border collaboration. The forum will also raise awareness of the critical role startups play in regional growth.
5. Policy recommendations in promoting startup innovation: Through expert discussions and presentations, the forum will produce actionable policy recommendations for startup promotion, which will be compiled and disseminated to APEC economies in the form of a summary report.
6. Informal networking and Benchmarking Opportunities: Participants will have the opportunity to connect with key stakeholders from across the region, exchange ideas, and benchmark effective startup support measures implemented in other APEC economies.

4. Tentative agenda for the Forum is as follows:

1. Opening remarks and keynote speech: Addressing the need for fostering a dynamic startup ecosystem through cooperation between APEC economies
2. Session 1: Navigating the Startup Landscape – Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities
3. Luncheon & Informal Networking
4. Session 2: Policy Innovations – Empowering Startups through Smart Regulation and Support Systems
5. Coffee Break
6. Session 3: Cross-Border Cooperation and Inclusive Growth – Building a Connected Startup Ecosystem within the APEC Region

Ex-post Evaluation and Wrap-up

2) Project Summary Report

A comprehensive summary report will be produced and shared with SMEWG and relevant fora. This report will document the forum’s proceedings, capture cross-economy insights, highlight key case studies and policy recommendations, and integrate feedback collected from participants. The report will serve as a regional knowledge resource for policymakers, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem enablers, and will be disseminated electronically to SMEWG and relevant APEC fora.

Comparable APEC publications, such as the APEC Workshop onPromoting Innovation for Start-ups, have demonstrated the long-term utility of such outputs in informing regional startup strategies.

The summary report will be a minimum of 15 pages excluding annexes and will not be an APEC Publication.

Outcome

The APEC Startup Innovation Forum is expected to generate a set of tangible, measurable, and sustainable outcomes that will directly support APEC’s strategic goals of inclusive economic growth, digital transformation, and enhanced policy capacity, particularly for MSMEs and underrepresented groups.

1. Enhanced Policy Capacity through Peer Learning and Knowledge Transfer: By convening policymakers, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem stakeholders from across APEC economies, the Forum will enable structured peer learning and best practice exchange. Participants are expected to apply the insights gained on startup financing, digital adoption, and regulatory innovation within their domestic contexts, leading to refined policy instruments. This reinforces APEC’s emphasis on cross-economy policy diffusion as articulated in the 2024 SME Ministerial Meeting Statement.
2. Improved Ecosystem Support for Women-Led Startups: The Forum will spotlight gender-inclusive policy frameworks and programs such as mentorship platforms, access-to-capital schemes, and inclusive procurement, encouraging member economies to adopt or scale such initiatives. In alignment with APEC’s 2023 report Empowering Tomorrow: APEC Women Entrepreneurs in Startups, at least 30% of Forum speakers and participants will be women, and the event will generate gender-disaggregated insights for future policymaking.
3. Expanded Regional Startup Networks and Cross-Border Investment Channels: The Forum will facilitate the formation of innovation networks, involving early-stage startups, accelerators, and investors within APEC region. It is expected to echo the success of prior APEC innovation accelerator models.
4. Data-Driven Policy Insights and Recommendations: Utilizing a pre- and post-forum survey structure, the project will generate empirical evidence on participant learning outcomes, thematic interest areas, and capacity gaps. This data will underpin a Project Summary Report featuring comparative policy insights, recommendations, and replicable case studies which will contribute to the evidence-based policy development across APEC economies.
5. Catalyzed Long-Term Impact for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth: Forum outputs, including presentation materials, synthesized best practices, and case studies, will be disseminated via the APEC website and official publication channels. These resources will remain accessible for future reference and policy design, particularly for developing economies. In doing so, the project supports the Putrajaya Vision 2040 and the Aotearoa Plan of Action by fostering an inclusive innovation environment across the Asia-Pacific region.

These outcomes are expected to drive enduring improvements in institutional practices, regional startup ecosystems, and cross-border economic cooperation, ultimately contributing to a more dynamic and inclusive APEC innovation landscape.

BeneficiariesThe APEC Startup Innovation Forum is structured to deliver multifaceted benefits to a diverse array of stakeholders across APEC member economies. The Forum serves as both a knowledge-sharing and policy-enabling platform that supports inclusive, resilient, and innovation-driven growth in the region.

Policymakers and Government Agencies: Through policy dialogues and curated case studies, they will gain access to regional best practices and evidence-based approaches to improving the startup environment. This knowledge will enable better benchmarking of domestic policies and enhance the formulation of inclusive regulatory frameworks. The Forum aligns with strategic goals laid out in the Putrajaya Vision 2040 and the Aotearoa Plan of Action, which emphasize digitalization, innovation, and enabling ecosystems. By integrating learnings into domestic policy cycles, policymakers can enact reforms that reduce entry barriers and facilitate access to finance and technology for startups.

Entrepreneurs: Entrepreneurs at various growth stages will benefit from exposure to market intelligence, networking opportunities, and investor engagement. Interactive sessions will provide them with actionable insights on digital transformation, sustainable growth strategies, and regional collaboration. Particular attention will be given to women entrepreneurs, who remain underrepresented at under 10% of startup founders in APEC economies according to Empowering Tomorrow: APEC Women Entrepreneurs in Startups (2023). The Forum will offer tailored content and mentorship opportunities to address systemic gaps in access to capital, networks, and decision-making platforms.

Investors and Innovation Ecosystem Builders: Angel investors, venture capitalists, and institutional backers will find value through curated exposure to high-potential startups and policy environments that support investment. The Forum provides a platform for open dialogue on investment mechanisms and financing models, fostering an exchange of ideas and best practices without facilitating commercial relationships or showcasing of specific SME businesses. Ecosystem builders such as accelerators, incubators, and innovation hubs will benefit from insights into capacity- building approaches and emerging trends across APEC economies, enabling them to support startups more effectively.

Academia and Policy Researchers: Academics, think tanks, and research institutions will gain access to regionally comparative data, qualitative insights, and startup ecosystem metrics presented during the Forum. These inputs can feed into curriculum development, innovation system analyses, and impact assessment frameworks. The comprehensive summary report will serve as a referential document for future studies and will support cross-economy policy learning.

Large Corporations and Industry Stakeholders: Corporations seeking innovation through external collaboration will benefit by identifying promising startups and technologies. As open innovation becomes important to competitiveness, participation in the Forum offers a strategic avenue to co-develop solutions, scout emerging markets, and foster early-stage partnerships.

Indirect Beneficiaries and Broader APEC Community: The project’s benefits will extend to stakeholders unable to attend the Forum through digital dissemination of outputs such as the summary report, policy briefs, and best practice case studies via the APEC website and knowledge platforms. This will enhance knowledge equity and empower stakeholders in developing economies to adopt effective models and tools.

This Forum is not only a catalytic event but a strategic platform that seeds lasting benefits across policymaking, entrepreneurship, investment, and knowledge creation, reinforcing APEC’s role as a leader in fostering innovation-led economic integration.