Fostering Innovation and Collaboration: Idea Exchange Between SCO Countries

The recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Startup Forum, held in New Delhi in 2023, emphasized the importance of collaboration and entrepreneurship among member states. The forum aimed to foster innovation, create employment opportunities, and inspire young talent in developing groundbreaking solutions. This article explores the idea exchange and collaborative efforts among SCO member countries to promote startups, share best practices, and drive innovation.

Sharing Best Practices: In August 2020, the SCO Preparatory Seminar on startups brought together nodal agencies from member states. Each country provided an overview of its startup ecosystem and sought collaboration assistance for further development. Here are some key highlights:

1. The Republic of Kazakhstan introduced the Astana Hub, an international technology park, and emphasized its corporate programs.
2. The People’s Republic of China showcased policies supporting the startup ecosystem, including regulatory facilitation, tax benefits, subsidies, and government-supported incubators.
3. The Kyrgyz Republic highlighted the support provided by technology parks and innovation centers to entrepreneurs.
4. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan presented the Ignite National Technology Fund and the National Incubator Center.
5. The Russian Federation focused on its tech-driven startup ecosystem, particularly technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), emerging technology, and e-commerce.
6. The Republic of Tajikistan highlighted the role of the State Unitary Enterprise for the Formation and Development of Entrepreneurship, Business Incubator, and provided an overview of their entrepreneurial programs.
7. The Republic of Uzbekistan outlined the Ministry of Innovative Development’s role, achievements, priority areas, and key stakeholders in the startup ecosystem.
   
   
   Mr. Tribhuvan Darbari, Chairman of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Business Council Secretariat, Managing Director & CEO of Texmaco Defence Systems, and Chief Executive of Texmaco Rail & Engineering Ltd stated that “ India seized the opportunity to share insights on expanding the footprint of innovation, fostering a cohesive ecosystem, and inspiring other SCO member states to undertake similar programs.”

Objectives of Collaborative Efforts: The engagements among SCO member countries aim to achieve the following objectives:

1. Sharing Best Practices: Promoting entrepreneurship and innovation through knowledge exchange programs to foster mutual learning among member states.
2. Bridging Corporates and Investors: Facilitating close collaboration between corporations, investors, and startups to provide essential support and market access for local entrepreneurs.
3. Expanding Scaling Opportunities: Enabling startups to offer innovative solutions in the field of social innovation, providing governments with cutting-edge solutions.
4. Open Procurement Channels: Creating avenues for matchmaking between startups and government procurement processes to acquire innovative solutions.
5. Cross-Border Incubation and Acceleration Programs: Facilitating programs that encourage international market exploration for startups and provide focused mentorship opportunities.
6. Focused Mentorship Program: Organizing a three-month-long virtual mentorship series, ‘Starting-Up,’ for nominated startups to build capacity among SCO startup founders.

Mutual Growth and Collaboration: Through the exchange of ideas and sharing of best practices, SCO member states strive to foster an environment conducive to the growth of innovation and startup collaborations. These collaborative efforts promote entrepreneurship, drive job creation, and inspire young talent across member countries.