Output

1) Forum

Purpose: The forum will serve as the central platform to strengthen the global competitiveness of APEC startups, with a strong focus on identifying opportunities and challenges for scaling internationally. It will provide structured opportunities for policy dialogue, case study sharing, and cross- economy networking, ensuring inclusive participation of policymakers, women entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists, accelerators, and academia.

Duration and Location: One-day event held in second half of 2026 in the Republic of Korea, with hybrid participation to maximize inclusivity and reduce travel constraints.

Scope and Scale: Approximately 100 participants, including representatives from at least 15 APEC economies, with a target of 40% women participants and speakers. Sessions will include keynote addresses, expert panel discussions, case study reviews, and interactive workshops. 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 futureimprovemets.

Policy Recommendations: A dedicated session will consolidate lessons from the forum into a set of actionable policy recommendations. These will focus on improving the enabling environment for startups, supporting women-led enterprises, strengthening venture capital and accelerator ecosystems, and facilitating access to international markets.

Recommendations will be synthesized in the Project Summary Report for dissemination across member economies.

Informal Networking and Benchmarking: The event will provide informal networking opportunities for participants to connect with successful entrepreneurs, policy leaders, and investors. Participants will also benchmark startup support measures and innovation frameworks from other economies, facilitating the replication and adaptation of best practices within their home ecosystems.

Expected Benefits: Direct benefits include enhanced knowledge of global scaling strategies, improved access to regional and global VC/AC networks, and actionable policy recommendations. Indirect benefits include the foundation for new cross-border collaborations, long-term cooperation, and strengthened startup ecosystems across APEC economies.

Draft Hybrid Forum Agenda (One-Day, Hybrid Format) Venue: Republic of Korea (Hybrid)

Participants: ~100 (in-person + online) Experts: 6

Time: Indicative (local time)

1. Morning Program (Hybrid – Online + In-Person)

Goal: Provide accessible content for online participants; ensure two-way but manageable interaction.

Duration: 3.5 hours (Aligned with APEC guidance) 08:30– 09:00 | Registration / Platform Check (Hybrid) 09:00–09:20

| Opening Session

09:20–09:50 | Keynote Address– “Global Pathwaysfor APEC Startups” (Hybrid)

09:50–10:50 | Panel Discussion 1 – “Barriers & Enablers to International Scaling”

10:50–11:00 | Break

11:00–12:10 | Policy Dialogue – “Strengthening VC/AC Ecosystems Across APEC”

12:10–12:30 | Online Closing & Instructions for In-Person Afternoon Activities

1. Afternoon Program (In-Person Only – High-Interactivity)

Goal: Enable deeper capacity-building, brainstorming, and collaboration not suitable for hybrid participation.

13:30–15:00 | Breakout Workshops 15:00–

15:15 | Break

15:15–16:30 | Co-Creation Session – Drafting Policy Recommendations 16:30–17:00 | Networking & Bilateral Meetings

17:00–17:30 | Closing Session

Engagement of All 6 Experts (Clear Allocation), all experts or speakers will be allocated in each proper session.

2) Summary Report (APEC Publication)

The Project Summary Report will be a consolidated document of minimum 20 pages (excluding annexes), capturing the key outcomes of the one-day forum. It will provide a structured summary of presentations, discussions, and case studies, highlight best practices from across APEC economies, and compile concrete policy recommendations to strengthen startup ecosystems and facilitate global market access. The report will address the entire startup ecosystem, covering the roles of policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors, venture capital and accelerator networks, research institutions, and large corporations, and will illustrate how collaboration across these stakeholders can enhance competitiveness and innovation. Participation data from member economies will be incorporated, along with an analysis of common challenges and opportunities identified during the forum. Designed as a practical and

forward-looking reference tool, the report will be shared electronically with SMEWG members and other relevant stakeholders, providing actionable insights that can be adapted and applied to reinforce startup ecosystems across the APEC region.

Summary Report Structure

1. Executive Summary (1–2 pages)
2. Forum Overview (1–2 pages)
3. Session Summaries (4–5 pages)
4. Capacity-Building Activities (3–4 pages)
5. Policy Recommendations (3–4 pages)
6. Impact Evaluation (2 pages)
7. Next Steps (1–2 pages)
8. Appendix (as needed)

Outcome

The project will deliver the following outcomes, which are directly attributable to its activities and outputs, and which advance APEC’s overarching objectives under the Putrajaya Vision 2040, Aotearoa Plan of Action, and the SMEWG Jeju Initiative:

1) Enhanced capacity of startups to integrate into the global economy: Startups from across APEC, particularly from developing economies, will gain practical knowledge of global market-entry strategies, innovation pathways, and access to venture capital and accelerator networks. At least 70% of participants will report increased understanding of how to internationalize their businesses, supporting Putrajaya Vision 2040 Driver 2: Innovation and Digitalization and its call to empower peopleand businesses to grow in an interconnected global economy.

2) Strengthened and more inclusive startup ecosystems: Policymakers, investors, and support institutions from at least 15 economies will return with policy insights and best practices to improve their startup ecosystems, including streamlined regulations, targeted support for early-stage enterprises, and enhanced public–private cooperation. Special emphasiswill be placed on inclusive support for women-led startups,ensuring that gender- related barriers are identified and addressed. This outcome contributes to Putrajaya Vision 2040 Driver 3: Inclusive Growth and to the Jeju Initiative’s priority of broadening SME participation in global value chains.

3) Cross-border cooperation and partnerships established: The forum will generate at least 10 new collaborative initiatives among startups, venture investors, accelerators, research institutions, and government agencies. These partnerships will help foster knowledge flows, resource sharing, and market access across borders. This outcome reflects APA Objective 2.2: Digital economyand global interconnectedness, ensuring that APEC remains the most dynamic and interconnected regional economy.

4) Policy and institutional reforms informed by APEC dialogue: Policymakers from at least 10 economies will indicate plans to adapt recommendations from the forum into policies or programs, such as expanding R&D commercialization, strengthening export promotion for startups, and enhancing support for women- and youth- led enterprises. This supports APA commitments on structural reforms, innovation, and human capital development, as well as the SMEWG Strategic Plan 2025–2028.

5) Greater resilience and sustainability of regional startup ecosystems: By exchanging strategies for navigating regulatory challenges, digital transformation, and external shocks, economies will strengthen their startup ecosystems to be more resilient and adaptable. Participants will identify and disseminate practices that make innovation-driven growth more sustainable and inclusive, advancing Putrajaya Vision 2040 Driver 3 on strong, balanced, and resilient growth, while aligning with the Jeju Initiative’s emphasis on innovative and sustainable SMEs.

These outcomes will drive measurable improvements in policies, institutional practices, and regional startup ecosystems, positioning APEC as a leader in enabling startups to enter and thrive in global markets through close cross-economy collaboration.

Beneficiaries

The project will serve a broad spectrum of stakeholders across APEC, acting as both a platform for knowledge exchange and a catalyst for policy action. By strengthening startup ecosystems through inclusiveness, resilience, and innovation-driven growth, it will directly empower participants to facilitate startups’ entry into global markets and foster closer regional cooperation.

Direct Beneficiaries

The primary direct beneficiaries will be:

1) Startup entrepreneurs from APEC economies, especially early- to growth-stage founders pursuing international expansion. These participants are expected to bring practical business experience, innovative products or services, and a strong interest in scaling globally. They will gain from exposure to best practices, benchmarking opportunities, and direct connections with venture capital (VC) and accelerator (AC) networks that are critical to entering global markets.

2) Policymakers and government officials from ministries and agencies responsible for SME development, trade promotion, science, technology, and innovation policy. Priority will be given to decision-makers or program managers who can apply forum recommendations to improve regulatory frameworks, expand R&D and export programs, and strengthen startup policies in their home economies.

3) Investors, VC and AC communities that provide capital and business development support to high-growth startups. These stakeholders will gain visibility into new pipelines of innovative enterprises and share insights on closing funding gaps and scaling barriers, thereby supporting more effective cross-border investment flows.

4) Governmental and international support institutions such as SME promotion agencies, export promotion boards, and multilateral partners. Their participation will ensure that financing, policy, and technical assistance programs are better aligned with startup needs.

5) Universities, research institutions, and innovation centers—particularly faculties of economics, management, engineering, and entrepreneurship. They will align research agendas, curricula, and training programs with market-driven demands identified in the forum, strengthening the pipeline of skilled graduates and future entrepreneurs.

6) Chambers of commerce, industry associations, professional bodies, and cooperatives, which represent diverse sectors. They will benefit from exposure to new innovation trends, cross-border cooperation strategies, and policy frameworks that can be used to strengthen industry–startup linkages and improve SME competitiveness.

Participants will be selected based on their expertise, influence, and ability to translate knowledge gained into actionable outcomes within their economies. At least 15 APEC economies are expected to be represented, with particular emphasis on developing economies, ensuring the project reduces disparities in global market access. Gender balance will also be prioritized, with a target of 40% women participants and speakers, consistent with the La Serena Roadmap for Women and Inclusive Growth, enabling women entrepreneurs and policymakers to play an equal role in shaping regional startup ecosystems.

Indirect Beneficiaries: Beyond immediate participants, the project’s benefits will cascade to:

1) APEC member economies’ startup ecosystems, which will be strengthened as insights and policy recommendations are incorporated into frameworks, regulations, and programs.

2) Broader SME and startup communities, who will benefit from expanded financing opportunities, improved support measures, and stronger regional cooperation networks catalyzed by the forum.

3) Consumers and the general public across APEC, who will ultimately gain from startups’ enhanced competitiveness and innovation, resulting in better-quality products, lower costs, and more inclusive economic growth.

This forum is not only a one-off event but a strategic step that feeds into the Jeju Initiative on APEC Startup Alliance, ensuring that its outcomes—policy recommendations, cross-border linkages, and inclusive participation—are institutionalized within the Startup Alliance Forum, the Online Information-sharing Platform, and the APEC Startup Network. In this way, the project reinforces APEC’s

role as a global leader in enabling startups to enter and succeed in international markets through close regional collaboration.