2025-03-28

ASPN Sports Tech Accelerator Batch 2 Officially Launches, Advancing the Development of the Asia-Pacific Sports Innovation Ecosystem

The second cohort of the Asia-Pacific Sports Tech Innovation Accelerator, the ASPN Sports Tech Accelerator, officially kicked off on Friday, March 28 at the Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA). The opening ceremony was jointly launched by Ms. Maggie Hsu, Director of the International and Cross-Strait Sports Division of the Sports Administration, Ministry of Education, and Dr. Hank Huang, Vice President of the Office of Industry-Academia Co-creation, NYCU, highlighting Taiwan’s strong commitment to advancing the Asia-Pacific sports innovation ecosystem.

The ASPN Sports Tech Accelerator is commissioned by the Sports Administration, Ministry of Education, and executed by the Center of Industry Accelerator and Patent Strategy (IAPS), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. It focuses on connecting sports technology industry resources across the Asia-Pacific region, aiming to establish a cross-border collaborative sports innovation ecosystem. As one of the flagship initiatives under the APEC Sports Policy Network (ASPN)—a platform launched by the APEC Human Resources Development Working Group (HRDWG)—the program not only supports the development of international sporting events and the cultivation of sports-related talent but also strengthens cooperation among APEC member economies through its innovation-driven platform. Currently, ASPN has been officially included in the APEC HRDWG’s annual outcome declaration, underscoring its strategic importance in the Asia-Pacific region.

Strengthening Asia-Pacific Connections to Accelerate Sports Tech Innovation

The ASPN Sports Tech Accelerator, led by IAPS and its international partner network—including ASTN (Australia), GSIC and BlackStorm Consulting (Singapore), Startup GoGo (Japan), and Beyond4 (Malaysia)—collaboratively supports sports tech startups in entering the Asia-Pacific market by offering cross-industry acceleration and matchmaking opportunities. This year, the accelerator attracted applications from 50 sports innovation teams across 14 countries. After a competitive selection process, 14 outstanding teams from eight countries—the United States, Australia, Hong Kong, India, Israel, South Korea, Switzerland, and Taiwan—were selected. Their innovative solutions span various fields, such as VR sports experiences, AI-assisted training, personalized nutrition tracking, and virtual fan engagement.

The theme for this cohort is “Women Leadership and Applications for Major International Sporting Events in the Asia-Pacific,” with a strong focus on increasing female participation in the sports tech industry. Many of the selected teams feature female leaders in key roles, and their solutions address challenges faced by large-scale international sporting events in the Asia-Pacific region. This initiative not only aligns with the global sports industry’s growing emphasis on gender diversity but also enhances the influence and impact of sports technology across the Asia-Pacific region.

Empowering Asia-Pacific Sports Innovation Teams to Go Global

The 4-month training program will be conducted in a hybrid format, combining online and offline sessions. It will cover professional international business courses, innovation industry training, and opportunities for cross-industry and academic collaboration. Additionally, the program collaborates with international partners to provide critical support for startups, including product validation, corporate resource matching, and international market expansion.

During the kickoff event, a special sports innovation seminar was held featuring Peggy Tng, the Asia-Pacific Director of GSIC Singapore, who provided in-depth insights into the latest sports innovation trends in the Asia-Pacific region. This session offered the new cohort valuable market foresight and strategic guidance for their growth.

The Sports Administration, Ministry of Education emphasized that the ASPN Sports Tech Accelerator not only strengthens Taiwan’s influence in Asia-Pacific sports tech innovation but also leverages the APEC platform to connect regional resources and deepen cooperation with international major sporting events. Moving forward, Taiwan will continue to lead the development of ASPN and the Asia-Pacific sports tech innovation ecosystem, ensuring that the world witnesses Taiwan’s outstanding contributions to the field of sports technology.