When it comes to innovation, the Asia Pacific region is full of both emerging businesses and constantly growing legacy companies. Part of the region’s strength in this respect lies in its relatively young demographic, which at the same time takes up a large chunk of the global population. In 2020 alone, over a hundred leading unicorns came from Asia.

The innovative economy in the Asia Pacific is largely driven by science and technology, and the way this interacts with a desire for development. In the past two decades since the onset of the millennium, projects in the region such as the Hyper Interdisciplinary Conference and the NEST Career Design Seminar Series have tapped into the region’s talent pool to create opportunities for innovation and help harness the vibrant tech ecosystem’s full potential.

“Knowledge Manufacturing” in the market of ideas 

These projects reveal an important, though sometimes understated aspect of technological advancement for social change: research and “Knowledge Manufacturing”. More than one’s educational background, knowledge-based factors can pique an inquiring mind that already has the propensity to explore business. The issue lies in how to bridge the gap between the desire for knowledge and applying those ideas in practical means. Upon addressing this, unique solutions for present gaps in the market and society at large can be made, as seen in the thriving startup landscape in the region and even across the globe.

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But how can research and the market be combined in such a way that makes the most out of both worlds? That’s where “Knowledge Manufacturing” companies like Leave a Nest come in. Founded in 2002, Leave a Nest has since provided an interdisciplinary knowledge-based platform that allows experts from various fields, particularly science and technology, to come together with startups, and vice versa. 

Leave a Nest: “Advancing Science and Technology for Global Happiness”

Leave a Nest’s goal is to bolster innovation through knowledge. Through a QPMI (Question, Passion, and Mission) lens, Leave a Nest is able to act as a science bridge communicator between research and academe, and the market to produce top solutions for social change. This stems from the company’s roots as a science and research organisation first and foremost, but also, at its core, a business geared towards improving the world’s quality of life by making use of concepts and sensibilities. The company provides “Knowledge Manufacturing” as its main service. 

With the vision of “Advancing Science and Technology for Global Happiness,” Leave a Nest aims to not only promote progress in the evolutionary sense but also enable global progress using science and technology. In its various projects, Leave a Nest has acted as a bridge communicator between businesses that have the power to improve society through research and the academe. Linking the two seemingly distinct industries is what makes the business unique. 

Leave a Nest’s latest programmes and projects

For instance, Leave a Nest has taken a lead role for the past 20 years in the Hyper-Interdisciplinary Conference (HIC) happening in six countries across the ASEAN region, which brings together innovators to discuss their research and work for social change. In 2022, the HIC’s theme was to think beyond what currently lies on the horizon and look even further for greater innovations. With an interdisciplinary approach to modern-day issues such as healthcare, the environment, and sustainability, the conference successfully gathered experts in the fields of science and technology, as well as other interested participants, such as researchers and students.

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Additionally, Leave a Nest has also supported startups in groundbreaking fields like deep tech. With one of Leave a Nest’s platforms, TECH PLANTER, up-and-coming businesses interested in exploring deep tech can find the support necessary in setting off their initiatives.

The platform is best for startups that are still finding their footing in their field and want to work hand-in-hand with a solid research and development background. As an accelerator programme, TECH PLANTER is unique in that it doesn’t have a set time frame for participating startups to access resources and mentorship. This makes it perfect for long-term exploration and growth. The TECH PLANTER Asian Final is coming up in August as well.

Ways forward

For its 20th anniversary, Leave a Nest — operating under the mission “To be the Most Effective ”Knowledge Manufacturing” Group in the World” —​​ envisions leading a new era of ideas and innovation. Taking off from the company’s goal to help create sustainable businesses globally and “Advancing Science and Technology for Global Happiness”, Leave a Nest continues to endeavour growth in the startup ecosystem by means of research and scholarly pursuits, utilising science and technology as the primary basis for change.

In its 20th-anniversary press release to Nikkei, Leave a Nest discloses that they aim to do this by pursuing “Questions with Passion”, which in effect results in the process the company calls “Knowledge Manufacturing.” Becoming the bridge between disciplines from the university and business practice will continue to be the company’s vision moving forward.

Leave a Nest also recently held a director’s summit in which main directors from the Leave a Nest group especially in the fields of education, human talent development, and investment were invited to share ideas on how the organisation can help shape the next 20 years through projects and various forms of support and partnerships.

In its commitment to promote innovation through scientific bridging and communication, Leave a Nest has expanded its reach through other countries in the Asia Pacific (Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines) as well as in the UK and the US. It also continues to engage startups and research organisations and experts alike through its various projects. Among these milestones were the recently concluded HIC 2022 and TECH PLANTER.

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The visualisation of this commitment can be seen in Leave a Nest’s new corporate logo, which reflects the company’s move towards “front leaning, dynamism, and edge strength.” The logo was unveiled on May 1st of 2022, just in time for Leave a Nest’s 20th anniversary on June 14. Moving past simply responding to change, the company’s logo reflects spearheading and leading innovation in the years to come. This also solidifies the company’s goal to create a network of passionate individuals that will create change and growth for the rest of the world.

To learn more about Leave a Nest’s recent projects, you can check out Hyper-Interdisciplinary Conference (HIC) and TECH PLANTER.

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This article is produced by the e27 team, sponsored by Leave a Nest

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