Photo 1. ASEAN SPARKS team at Sustainable High City Tech (SusHi Tech) Tokyo 2026 in Tokyo Big Sight, Japan
Tokyo, 4 May 2026 — The top 8 startups of the ASEAN SPARKS Elevate take the stage at the Sustainable High City Tech (SusHi Tech) Tokyo 2026, held at Tokyo Big Sight, to spotlight cleantech innovation and explore opportunities for strategic collaboration.
The event was conducted under the Enhancement of Clean Energy Technology Ecosystem and Its Connectivity in ASEAN Project, implemented by the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and the United Nations Development Organization (UNIDO), supported by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF)
Clean technology, or cleantech, serves as emerging solutions to advance ASEAN’s transition towards a low carbon future. With the 8th ASEAN Energy Outlook (AEO8) estimating USD 150 billion in annual investment needed to overcome challenges faced by cleantech innovators, this participation serves as a timely opportunity to bridge this gap.
Photo 2. ASEAN SPARKS team at Sustainable High City Tech (SusHi Tech) Tokyo 2026 in Tokyo Big Sight, Japan
On 30 April 2026, ASEAN SPARKS Elevate also organised a pitching and business matchmaking event at Tokyo Innovation Base. The event brought together the programme’s top eight (8) startups to pitch their businesses, share knowledge on clean tech innovations, and connect with potential investors and industry partners to explore strategic partnerships that can support their regional and global expansion. The startups also engaged with representatives from Tokyo Innovation Base, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, UNIDO ITPO Japan, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan.
The top 8 startups in the Elevate phase are:
- Agro Agape
- Alterno
- CAS Energy
- Chosen Digital
- GAWIREA
- Klimatech
- Prtistinz
- Qarbotech
Photo 2. ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) team and the top 8 startups at the Cleantech Innovation Pitch and Matchmaking event in Tokyo, Japan
"Today marks an exciting moment in advancing ASEAN’s clean energy innovation. To meet ASEAN’s energy transition targets, advancing our efforts in cleantech innovations is crucial. The innovations and insights presented today will help unlock scalable solutions and drive meaningful progress towards ASEAN’s low-carbon energy future. On behalf of the Project Steering Committee, I would like to congratulate the top eight (8) startups for reaching this stage. I encourage everyone to support these emerging innovators through collaboration and business partnerships to accelerate their impact across the region,” said Ir. Ts. Zulkiflee Umar, Director of Technical, Policy & Regulation Division, Energy Commission of Malaysia and Chair of the Project Steering Committee
“With this innovation pitch and matchmaking event, we hope to bridge the gap between business opportunities, financing, and cleantech innovators. With ASEAN committing to achieve a 40% reduction in Energy Intensity, as stated in our regional energy blueprint the APAEC 2026-2030, cleantech solutions are both urgent and strategic solutions for the region. These Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises play an important role in scaling up innovations that support ASEAN's low-carbon and climate-resilient energy future,” said Irma Ramadan, Senior Officer of the Energy Efficiency & Consveration (EE&C) Department at ACE.
Among the startups, Qarbotech was awarded the SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 Challenge Grand Prize, beating 17 other semi-finalists and claiming a top prize of JPY 10 million.
Photo 3. Chor Chee Hoe, CEO and Co-Founder of Qarbotech, receiving the SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 Challenge Grand Prize (source: SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026)
“Winning the Grand Prize enhances our credibility and supports deeper engagement with Japanese partners. It also marks a key step in bringing ASEAN-developed innovation into advanced markets and scaling its impact internationally. The ASEAN SPARKS Elevate programme gave us strategic platform to introduce ASEAN-grown climate technology to a global audience,” said Chor Chee Hoe, CEO and Co-Founder of Qarbotech.
In addition, Agro Agape, Alterno, and Chosen Digital have signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) through the matchmaking event.
Photo 4. MoU signing between Agro Agape and Kachium Co
“ASEAN SPARKS and and SusHi Tech Tokyo have allowed us to connect with a diverse range of industry leaders, innovators, and build strategic partnerships to expand Agro Agape’s reach. We’re also very delighted to announce that we successfully signed an MoU with Japanese startup Kachium Co., Ltd., that will focus on advancing the carbon credit market,” said Sreypouv Tan, Founder of Agro Agape.
Agro Agape and Kachium Co will collaborate to develop Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR) Project in Cambodia, where agricultural residues such as coffee husks, rice husks, and cassava from Agro Agape’s operations will be converted into biochar using advanced pyrolysis technology. The project aims to generate and commercialise Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) credits for the international voluntary carbon market while supporting sustainable agricultural practices.
“ASEAN SPARKS Elevate and SusHi Tech Tokyo acted as a significant ‘Fore Multiplier’ for our Japan entry. In just one week, we were able to bridge connections beyond Tokyo and engaged with potential clients from other Japanese regions such as Hokkaido and Osaka. We connected with a critical network of stakeholders, from leading climate-tech investors and major Japanese conglomerates to key government bodies such as METI, laying a solid foundation for our next phase of growth in Japan. A direct, tangible result of this synergy is our MoU signing with Chosen Digital from Thailand. We look forward to what new cleantech innovations this collaboration will bring,” said Hai Ho, Founder of Alterno.
Since its commencement in 2025, ASEAN SPARKS has succeeded in bringing together thirty cleantech startups and providing them with the tools, expertise, and networks needed to scale cleantech innovations. The final pitching event of the Catalyse phase was conducted at the 25th ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF-25) in October 2025 with the top 20 startups.
Learn more about ASEAN Sparks here.
