The Regional Program on “Technopreneurship: Enabling Innovation and a Start-Up Ecosystem” successfully capped off through the collaboration of the Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) and the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)-Singapore. The program was conducted from July 7 to 11, 2025 at the JEN Singapore Tanglin, bringing together 21 representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Fiji, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The joint-program aimed to equip participants with practical and industrial insights on the dynamics of technopreneurship. The program covered key components of entrepreneurship activities, the common challenges faced in the business establishment, and the factors that promote the development of incubation and technology entrepreneurship. The participants also delved into policy frameworks that either foster or hinder entrepreneurial efforts, as well as effective management strategies for sustaining ventures.
The program was jointly supervised by Prof. Dr. Suresh Kumar Dhameja, CPSC Director General, and Ms. Davina Tan, Deputy Director of Asia-Pacific Programmes at MFA Singapore. Prof. Naeem Yaqoob, CPSC Faculty Specialist, served as the Program Coordinator while Ms. Arlene Cruz, CPSC Executive Secretary, accompanied the team to provide support during the program implementation.
The program officially commenced with welcome remarks from Prof. Dr. Dhameja and Ms. Priscilla Lim, Foreign Service Officer of Asia-Pacific Programmes, MFA Singapore. A memento was presented to Ms. Lim by Prof. Dr. Dhameja as a token of appreciation for MFA’s continued support and collaboration.
Prof. Dr. Dhameja (top photo) delivers his special lecture; Prof. Naeem Yaqoob, CPSC Faculty Specialist (bottom photo), presents his lecture on technopreneurship and success stories
Following the opening ceremony, Prof. Dr. Dhameja delivered a special lecture titled “Technopreneurship Through Innovation in Asia-Pacific Region”, while Prof. Naeem had a presentation on “Technopreneurship Meaning & Success Stories.” These opening sessions set the tone for a week of high-impact discussions and learning.
More sessions were facilitated on the succeeding days, with the esteemed lineup of speakers, including Prof. Naeem; Mr. Luke Tay, Founder of Cornucopia FutureScapes and Associate Trainer; Ms Janice Ong, Deputy Director of Enterprise Development Division at the Ministry of Trade and Industry; and Mr Steven Lin, Deputy Director of Innovation Ecosystem Development Enterprise Singapore. A panel discussion was also conducted after the sessions.
The CPSC Director General, Prof. Dr. Dhameja, with the panelists
Industry experts further enriched the program with lectures on micro-credentials, incubation practices, and strategies for cultivating sustainable start-up ecosystems. During the lectures, Ms. Nadine Yap, Principal Lecturer and Consultant, Digital Products & Platforms Practice, NUS-ISS, introduced the “Entrepreneurial StackUp” framework. Prof. Edward Tay, Chairman and Co-Founder, Infracrowd Capital, shared insights on incubation and venture-building. Mr. Patrick Lim, CEO of Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE) Singapore, discussed future entrepreneurs and innovation.
Study Visits
The participants visit the NUS Enterprise Block 71 as the first stop of the tour
As part of the training program, the participants visited the innovation hubs in Singapore. The first stop was at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Enterprise Block71, a renowned incubator and ecosystem builder for Singapore’s start-up community. Participants learned how the center supports start-ups through incubation programs and partnerships with businesses and government agencies.
The participants pose for a picture together at the HTX office
The next stop was Hatch - Home Team Science and Technology (HTX) Innovation Hub, a government-led platform for national security. HTX also works with innovation and tech partners to develop new solutions to enhance national safety and security.
The participants visit the Carousell campus
Lastly, the participants visited the Carousell Campus, where they learned about the success story of Carousell and its journey into being a regional tech unicorn. Carousell also shared insights into the challenges they faced while expanding their business.
Group photo of the participants during the study tour
On the last day of the program, the participants presented action plans aimed at promoting technopreneurship and start-up ecosystems within their respective TVET institutions and countries. The program concluded with a closing ceremony, wherein Prof. Dr. Dhameja and Ms. Tan both conveyed their appreciation to the participants and the organizers for the success of the program.
Overall, the joint-program marked a meaningful exchange of ideas and best practices, empowering educators, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to drive innovation and sustainable economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region. By fostering technopreneurship and innovation, the program contributes to the region’s growth and resilience in the evolving digital economy.
