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What is the UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme?

It’s a government-backed initiative we're running to help UK tech firms grow in the Asia Pacific region, derisking and accelerating the growth of the sector.

If you are a technology startup or scaleup, are headquartered in the UK, and are keen to explore opportunities in APAC, look no further. 

"This programme is an amazing opportunity to reach new markets, solve new problems and improve profitability."

Alastair Williamson, CEO, Wyld Networks

What support is available?

From in-country Business Development Initiatives and fundraising support to pitch events, we will help you identify the programme and target market that align with your goals.

Markets

The UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme spans 11 countries: Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Home to a combined population of 820 million, the region is at the forefront of new global trade arrangements, such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which the UK officially joined in March 2023. Standing out in terms of its rapid adoption of technology over many decades, the APAC region offers unlimited growth potential to UK tech companies.

Upcoming Events

Pitch event – energy tech

Partner: Sumitomo – major Japanese trading house

Prize: High-value tech & commercial discussions (PoC, R&D venture, etc.)

Our next pitch event will be hosted in partnership with one of Japan's largest trading houses. 

They want to meet UK tech firms that are breaking new ground in energy management systems, distributed energy resources, energy aggregation, trading, optimisation, virtual powerplants and V2X, 

Date: December 2023

Location: The Royal Society, London

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Navigating Asian business cultures

Even in today’s hyper-connected world, cultural faux pas are common – and can be detrimental to lasting business relationships. 

This workshop takes an insider’s look at the lesser-known cultural touchstones you should be conscious of and sensitive to when expanding in APAC. 

Date: Tuesday 12 December; 09:30 – 10:30 GMT

Past Events

How to supercharge your business in APAC – from legal, tax and talent perspectives

This workshop will detail the practicalities of establishing and running a business in different APAC markets. It will feature expert speakers from law firm Lewis Silkin and corporate & advisory service provider Acclime who specialise in supporting UK companies to expand into APAC with over 13,000 clients across the region. 

Date: 10.11.2023

Pitch event – Dai-ichi Life

Six UK healthtech and insurtech startups pitched to one of Japan's largest insurance corporates, showing off their technologies that could help reimagine traditional insurance models, provide new services and improve quality of life for its customers. 

Date: 25.09.2023

Location: The Royal Society, London

See the video

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Pitch event with Aioi Nissay

Japan's largest automotive insurer met with eight leading sustainability and wellness entrepreneurs to develop new offerings to mitigate the adverse impacts of natural disasters and climate change.

Date: 12.06.2023

Location: Royal Society, London

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Your first steps into APAC: an interactive case study session

This beginner workshop will take you through the key decision-making junctures when picking the right time and place to approach customers and partners APAC.

We'll also put what we learn into practice by analysing real-life case studies of what others did – and why – in similar situations.

London Tech Week 2023

London Tech Week is a yearly global celebration of tech, uniting the most innovative thinkers and talent of tomorrow in a week-long festival.

This year, there was an increased focus on the APAC region and we hosted a series of events to connect UK startups with investors and partners from Asia Pacific.

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"The team’s connections and market knowledge are opening doors to financial institutions we’d have struggled to engage.”

Gareth Lewis, CEO, Delio

Delivery Partners

The UK APAC Tech Growth Programme is being delivered in partnership with Foley and Orissa International. 

Orissa International

Orissa International provides consulting services to companies seeking to expand in Southeast Asia. Established in 1997, it is headquartered in Singapore with 32 employees across offices in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Orissa has extensive knowledge of many industry sectors and a network of thousands of contacts including end users, distributors, resellers, system integrators, expert advisors and manufacturers – built through helping more than 3,000 companies with their market expansion into Southeast Asia over the last 25 years.

Find out more
Foley

Established in Sydney in 2002, Foley has 14 full-time employees. It is a bespoke international business advisory consultancy offering international trade and investment services to organisations looking to do business in Australia and New Zealand.

Government clients include Invest Northern Ireland, the West Midlands Growth Company, Switzerland Global Enterprise, Business Finland and the US states of Maryland, Michigan and Ohio.

Find out more

Previous Participants

Ecosystem Partners

Ready to ignite your growth?

If you're interested in taking part in any of our programmes, please get in touch.

Get in touch

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