Sunway iLabs, the innovation lab and corporate venture capital arm of Sunway Group, together with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Kuala Lumpur, has wrapped up the J-StarX Malaysia Deep Tech Programme (MYTech) 2025, marking another milestone in their long-standing collaboration to accelerate Japanese startups’ entry into Malaysia and the broader ASEAN region.
Now in its seventh year, the partnership has strengthened Malaysia’s role as a launchpad for high-potential Japanese innovators, with this year’s programme sharpening its focus on AI and deep tech solutions.
Running from August to October 2025, MYTech 2025 provided selected Japanese startups with a fast-track pathway for regional market entry, product refinement, and potential proof-of-concept (PoC) development.
Participants engaged deeply with Malaysia’s innovation ecosystem through immersion visits to MRANTI, InvestKL, and several industry partners, coupled with targeted mentorship sessions, investor introductions, and networking opportunities facilitated by Sunway iLabs and JETRO.
Throughout the three months, startups gained practical insights into navigating Malaysia’s regulatory landscape, understanding local business culture, adapting their technologies to regional needs, and identifying collaboration pathways with both corporates and government agencies.
The 2025 cohort showcased a diverse portfolio of AI-driven and high-impact deep tech solutions:
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Buddy Cloud Inc. – mobile-enabled AI diagnostics for pet health
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FiberCraze Co., Ltd. – sustainable nanofiber-based textile materials
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BioPhenolics Inc. – bio-based phenolic compounds as greener petrochemical alternatives
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I.W.G Inc. – DoCloud, an interoperable AI-powered healthcare data platform
Across sectors—from healthcare and materials science to biotechnology—each startup demonstrated how deep tech can be applied to create sustainable, commercially viable solutions for Asian markets.
Participants credited the programme’s hands-on structure and access to the Sunway living laboratory as crucial to refining their market strategy and exploring long-term operations in Malaysia.
Matt van Leeuwen, Chief Innovation Officer of Sunway Group and CEO of Sunway iLabs, said the seven-year partnership has proven its value in enabling real-world testing and collaboration:
“Our cross-border partnership with JETRO has created a reliable pathway for Japanese startups to work with Malaysian partners and validate their solutions in real environments. It has enabled meaningful collaborations with Sunway Group’s business units and R&D projects with Sunway University, demonstrating how deep tech innovation delivers real impact when ecosystems work together.”
The programme culminated at FutureX Connect 2025, Sunway iLabs’ flagship innovation showcase, where the startups presented their technologies to Malaysian corporates, investors, and ecosystem partners.
Representing JETRO leadership at the event, Takashima Tomohiro, Executive Vice President of JETRO, highlighted the programme’s growing impact, “Since 2019, we’ve accelerated 30 Japanese startups through programmes with Sunway iLabs — and about nine have successfully continued their business operations here in Malaysia.”
Notable success stories include:
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AeroSense — a Sony–ZMP drone-tech spin-out that progressed from pilot testing to large-scale environmental mapping projects with Sunway University’s HUMAC Centre. It now serves as a drone-technology partner to the Malaysian government.
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PT Bio — working with Sunway Property, Facilities Management, and Sunway University to co-develop genomic solutions that reduce carbon emissions through microbiome ecosystem applications in Sunway South Quay.
The J-StarX Malaysia Deep Tech Programme continues to demonstrate the value of sustained Japan–Malaysia cooperation in nurturing high-potential technologies and enabling startups to scale across ASEAN.
With both Sunway iLabs and JETRO committed to advancing deep tech innovation, the partnership is set to play an increasingly strategic role in driving regional growth, sustainable development, and cross-border commercialisation.