Please briefly introduce your organization.
G.A.C. is an international innovation management consultancy company (250 staff members) specialised in innovation performance, with headquarters in France. G.A.C. has 2000+ private clients, including innovative SMEs and start-ups, and has over 320 partners across the world, including in Singapore. G.A.C. has worked for many years with Indo-Pacific countries, and around the world, supporting international Research & Innovation (R&I) collaboration. The G.A.C. team has unique experience in policy dialogue support, and in setting up Hubs: it has coordinated the EU-Southeast Asia ICT Policy Dialogue support project CONNECT2SEA and is a consortium partner in Global Service Facility for International Cooperation in Research and Innovation (DG RDT).
What is your organization’s role in the project? What unique contribution does it bring to the team?
G.A.C. is the coordinator of INPACE and leads 2 work packages. G.A.C. puts the INPACE Hub in place, guaranteeing its sustainability and expansion. G.A.C. Group organises integrative activities and events to create cohesion between the five clusters of the Hub and create a global community, including organising the integrative conference in the Republic of Korea in October 2024. As the project coordinator, G.A.C. ensures accordance with ethics, conducts effective project coordination, and establishes an efficient and professional financial management and activity reporting. G.A.C. has considerable experience in coordinating cooperative projects and will ensure continuous support to work package leaders and all partners.
How do you think INPACE will contribute to the digital landscape in the EU and Asia?
The objective of INPACE is to booster Digital Partnerships with Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Trade and Technology Council with India, and more widely collaboration, between the European Union and Asia, focusing on digital technologies and their application for societal well-being. INPACE will result in the strategic outputs based on the analytical work and deep domain knowledge. INPACE will facilitate regular exchanges among top experts from Europe and the four partner countries concerning policies, advancements in key digital technologies, and their practical application and commercialisation. In order to foster this idea exchanges and drive digital innovation forward, INPACE will establish a Multi-Stakeholder Hub, involving experts and policymakers from the EU and Asia, through the Community Platform and multiple online and in-person events.
How can the EU and Asia strategically collaborate to forge impactful partnerships that foster innovation in the digital space on a global scale?
The EU and Asia can strategically collaborate by leveraging their respective strengths in technology and innovation. Initiatives like joint research and development projects, exchange programs for entrepreneurs, and regulatory harmonisation efforts can facilitate knowledge sharing and promote innovation. Establishing collaborative platforms, such as the INPACE community platform, for startups, academia, policymakers and industry players can foster cross-border partnerships and drive digital transformation. Additionally, investing in digital infrastructure projects, such as high-speed internet connectivity and data-sharing frameworks, can create a conducive environment for innovation. By aligning policies, standards, and investment strategies, the EU and Asia can jointly address global challenges and unlock opportunities for sustainable growth in the digital economy. Encouraging public-private partnerships and supporting innovation hubs can further enhance collaboration and accelerate the development and adoption of emerging technologies, ensuring a competitive edge on a global scale.