Bridging Asia and Europe: Innovation Without Borders

Recent global political developments have fostered closer ties between Asia and Europe, a context for our March panel discussion, “Bridging Asia and Europe: Innovation Without Borders.” We convened Roland Brouwer, Regional Director (Europe) of Corporate & International Relations at BIPO Service, and Richard Mort, Founder of Nativechecker, both experts in navigating business between these regions. The discussion centred on identifying innovative trends, understanding supporting infrastructure, and exploring potential synergies in business culture across Asia and Europe.

Moderator for the evening, Junjie Kong (left), kicking off the panel discussion with speakers Richard Mort (middle) and Roland Brouwer

Trends in Innovation: Asia and Europe 

Roland Brouwer, a strong proponent of strengthening ties between Asia and Europe, highlighted divergent paths in product innovation between China and Europe. He pointed to China's 'DiDi' app as a disruptive force in ride-hailing, followed by rapid advancements in Electric Vehicles (EVs), manufacturing, and digital payments. In contrast, Europe has consistently prioritized sustainability and the development of regulatory frameworks for AI ethics and industry digitalization. Despite these differing trajectories, Brouwer noted the significant potential for cross-regional collaboration on sustainability and global challenges like climate and health. Richard Mort, an expert in Japanese and German networks, further added that Japan holds a leading position in green technology.

Institutional & Network Support for Innovation 

Institutional and network support for innovation differs significantly between Asia and Europe. In Asia, state-led initiatives, including policies, funding, and infrastructure development, are primary drivers. Organisations like ASEANcham-EU play a crucial role in facilitating ASEAN companies' entry into Europe through Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). Conversely, Europe's innovation is largely market-driven, underpinned by strong regulatory frameworks and public-private partnerships. Richard Mort noted similarities in Japan and Germany's established infrastructure and practices for business, contrasting this with Singapore's more streamlined digital system. Despite these distinct approaches, cross-regional collaboration is already evident across various sectors. The key to successful partnerships lies in leveraging each region's unique strengths to address global challenges through their respective areas of specialisation.

Bridging Cultural Differences in Businesses 

Successfully bridging cultural differences is essential for effective business collaboration. In Japan, this manifests in the continued preference for traditional business cards over digital connections like LinkedIn. Meanwhile, in China, business hinges on relationships, making introductions through a mutual acquaintance or partner a key protocol. Businesses must be mindful of these nuances to navigate international partnerships successfully.

Guests enjoying different teas provided by Tea Culture Club & Tea House Moychay.nl while networking

A big thank you to our speakers for offering valuable insights into the latest innovation trends in both Europe and Asia, along with their advice and tips on navigating cultural differences to tackle global challenges and foster cross-regional collaboration.

Special thanks to Taste of Melaka for providing delicious refreshments, bringing the flavors of Malaysia to a charming tea house in the heart of Amsterdam.

Vivian, founder of Taste of Melaka, with a beautifully crafted spread of hand-made dishes, specially prepared for our networking evening

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended for taking the time to join us for such an engaging evening. We hope you enjoyed the event as much as we did and left with valuable new connections and insights.

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