A regional platform connecting policymakers and young innovators in Asia and the Pacific
The Technology and Innovation Conclave is a flagship annual event jointly organised by the Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT) of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. Each edition focuses on a specific thematic area related to emerging technologies.
At its core, the Conclave serves as a unique platform that connects policymakers with young innovators from across the Asia-Pacific region. By bringing together senior government officials, regulators, researchers, entrepreneurs and young people engaged in science, technology and innovation in one space, the Conclave enables policy dialogue to be informed directly by emerging innovations on the ground, while providing young innovators with access to the policy community, peer networks and opportunities to scale up their solutions. A distinctive feature of the Conclave is its accompanying exhibition, through which young innovators from APCTT Governing Council member countries showcase their innovations and exchange knowledge and lessons with peers and policymakers.
Technology and Innovation Conclave 1.0 (September 2024, New Delhi, India) focused on energy storage and green hydrogen technologies. The event facilitated the exchange of learnings and good lessons on developments, challenges and opportunities for innovations and start-ups, bringing together about 90 participants from Bangladesh, China, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Thailand and Viet Nam.
Technology and Innovation Conclave 2.0 (28–30 January 2026, Mumbai, India) addressed the theme of artificial intelligence for climate action and resilience. Deliberations covered the role of innovation and technology collaboration for sustainable development, developments and innovative applications of AI for climate action and resilience in Asia and the Pacific, and the scope for linkages, cross-border initiatives and regional cooperation. The Conclave brought together more than 150 participants, including senior Ministers of the Government of India and representatives of APCTT Governing Council member countries and United Nations agencies, and brought out recommendations on affordable and accessible AI tools for strengthening policy regimes and regional cooperation in addressing climate change.
Looking ahead, APCTT envisages further strengthening the Conclave as a regional innovation ecosystem platform by engaging investors alongside policymakers and young innovators. Building on its Investors Network for New and Emerging Technologies (INNET), the Centre aims to connect promising innovations showcased at the Conclave with investment communities across the region, thereby completing the link between policy, innovation and finance and enhancing pathways for young innovators to commercialise and scale up their technologies for sustainable development.