19 ~ 21 July 2023                                         Workshop in hybrid format

Background

The word ‘4^th revolution’ had been swallowing the whole society before the COVID-19 pandemic. Public and private sectors were highly preoccupied with researching the trend and planning possible strategies to lead or follow the wave. However, with the pandemic in 2020, our society was involuntarily introduced to the digitally transformed world without sufficient time to prepare for the new trend.

Fortunately, this sudden stimulus has spurred the digital evolution of global large conglomerates which already possessed enough resources and capacities to adopt new technologies. Yet, the shock resulted the majority of Asia and the Pacific SMEs and Startups to be left behind. According to the research by TDCX, a Singapore-based digital firm ^[1], 76% of ASEAN SMEs are found to be still at the early stages of digitalization, and a third of these SMEs have just started their digitalization during the pandemic. Given that the SMEs in Southeast Asia region account for 97% of all businesses and 67% of the total employment, the economy is under the risk of losing competitiveness unless closing the gap at the earliest opportunity. That is, the digitization of South-East Asia’s economy is being experienced unevenly,^[2] and the gaps with large companies remain huge, widening inequalities. Digital divides constrain productivity growth and further access to cutting-edge digital technologies.

Nonetheless, the post-covid era seems to restart the previous ‘4^th revolution’, and this might be new opportunities for SMEs and startups to gain momentum to enhance their competitiveness. In addition, a 2023 Business trends article from Financial Times advised businesses to watch generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), represented by ChatGPT, since this new form of AI is highly expected to unlock numerous opportunities or challenges for firms with its expansion to the production of video and audio^[3]. There is no exception of these possibilities to SMEs and startups.

However, the sole existence of new digital technologies in the market does not guarantee firms’ success. Smaller firms are chronically facing heightened difficulties such as lack of information, digital skills gaps, insufficient capital to finance, volatile regulatory environment, and access to affordable digital infrastructure^[4]. This is being aggravated due to today’s high interest rate and inflation which are economic challenges for firms. To address these challenges, it is essential to support SMEs and Startups through both public and private approaches: right policy framework and public financial support and companies’ own digital innovation strategy and knowledge and financial support from other leading firms and financial institutions.

Specifically, governments are requested to place a priority on strengthening SMEs and startups' resilience, proactively supporting e-commerce and e-government services, and connecting SMEs and startups with innovation and digital solutions providers^[5]. Private sectors are also playing an important role by promoting digitalization among their networks, and specialized startups support other SMEs to implement digital strategies through tailored services and products^[6]. They should have a collective mind to address structural barriers such as information and digital infrastructure gaps and facilitate fintech innovation^[7]. Ultimately, cooperation among public and private actors is key in enabling the digital shift of SMEs and startups to overcome the challenges such as information and digital infrastructure gaps and seize the benefits of digitalization^[8].

In this regard, UNITAR CIFAL Jeju and UNIDO ITPO Korea hold a meaningful workshop for the diplomatic corps from the Asia Pacific region, policymakers and representatives of private-sector who are leading the change. The workshop identifies barriers as well as opportunities in the digitalization of SMEs and startups with a special focus on Public-Private Partnerships. It highlights how cross-sectoral cooperation could be leveraged through digital technology in Asia and the Pacific. The workshop will also provide a broad range of digital policy and strategies including SME financing, innovation, productivity, skills, and others. It eventually helps key actors at national and local levels localize innovation in their countries, further, achieve broader inclusive growth and economic development in the region.

 

Overview

Event type	Capacity Building Workshop
Date	19 - 21 July 2023
Venue	Jeju International Training Center
Host and Organizer	UNITAR CIFAL Jeju / Jeju International Training Center UNIDO ITPO KOREA
Certificate	UNITAR CIFAL Jeju and UNIDO ITPO KOREA will jointly issue a certificate upon the completion of training only to in-person participants

Event Objectives

 For the capacity building, this event will:

●       Offer a venue for knowledge sharing and to discuss their regional status and issues of supporting the SMEs and startups for digitalization

●       Provide an opportunity for commercial counsellors from Asia Pacific, entrepreneurs of SMEs and startups, and experts to share and exchange their good practices

Learning Objectives

 After this event, participants will be able to:

●       Raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities for the inclusive and sustainable growth of SMEs and startups

●       Have the understanding of business models to enhance digital innovation, and skills’ capacity development, and furthermore policies and business strategies to support access to finance, market and human capital

Contents and Structure

The training will be composed of the following sessions:

[Session 1]Shaping SMEs and Startups' Ecosystem for Digital Transformationwith a Special Focus on Policy Guidelines and Programs (for the Asia and the Pacific)

[Session 2] Perceptions and Readiness of ASEAN SMEs on Growth in the Digital Economy

[Session 3] From SMEs’ Current State to Desired State: Solutions for & Opportunities by Digital Transformation and AI Readiness Assessment

[Session 4] AI (i.e. Chat GPT, Bing AI) for SMEs: Opportunities or Challenges?

[Session 5]Activation of Public-Private Partnership: Government Initiatives and Incentives to all interested SMEs and Startups

[Session 6] Analysis and Implications of the Status of Digital Transformation of Korean Companies

[Session 7] Success Stories and Outlook of Overseas Business of SMEs through Global PPP

 

**The sessions are subject to change **

Methodology

The training will be comprised of:

●        Lectures and presentations by experts

●        Self-assessment exercise

●        Group work and discussion

●        Field visit

 

Target Audience

This event is open to:

●       Commercial counsellors from Asia Pacific and government officials of Asian countries residing in Republic of Korea (by invitation only)

●       Representative of SMEs and startups that are mainstreaming digital transformation (Digitalization of business procedures, products, partnership with suppliers, customers or other stakeholders, Public-Private Partnership (PPP), etc.) in their business activities (by invitation only)

●       Online participants from the Asia and the Pacific region who have deep interests in the inclusive economic growth leveraging digital transformation and Public and Private Partnership

 

Participants Requirements

 Selected participants are required to:

●       actively engage in the training program

●       be fluent in written and spoken English

 

 Certificate

●       A Certificate of Completion will be awarded to only those who have completed all sessions in person, including group programs, and fulfilled a required task for the program

●       The participants will be awarded a certificate jointly issued by UNITAR, UNITAR CIFAL Jeju, and UNIDO ITPO KOREA

 

Co-Host and Organizer

UNITAR CIFAL Jeju / Jeju International Training Center http://cifaljeju.org/

UNIDO ITPO KOREA http://www.unido-itpo.kr

 

Inquiries

United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Centre International de Formation des Autorités et Leaders (CIFAL) UNITAR CIFAL Jeju Ms. Gaeun Park Program Officer Tel: +82-64-735-6573 Email: gepark.jitc@cifaljeju.org

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Korea UNIDO ITPO KOREA Ms. Jaehee HWANG National Expert in Investment Promotion Tel: +82-2-702-2030 Email: j.hwang@unido.org

 

Program

DAY 1                19 JULY (Wednesday), 2023, 14:00 (KST)
12:00 – 13:30	Registration for offline participants
13:30 - 13:45 (15 mins)	OPENING CEREMONY Opening Remarks (UNITAR CIFAL Jeju / JITC) Welcoming Remarks (UNIDO ITPO KOREA)
13:45 – 14:00 (15 mins)	INTRODUCTION
14:00 – 14:50 (50 mins)	SESSION 1 Shaping SMEs and Startups' Ecosystem for Digital Transformation with a Special Focus on Policy Guidelines and Programs (for the Asia and the Pacific)
14:50 - 15:00 (10 mins)	Break (10mins)
15:00 - 15:50 (50 mins)	SESSION 2 Perceptions and Readiness of ASEAN SMEs on Growth in the Digital Economy
15:50 - 16:00 (10 mins)	Break (10mins)
16:00– 16:50 (50 mins)	SESSION 3 From SMEs’ Current State to Desired State: Solutions for & Opportunities by Digital Transformation and AI Readiness Assessment
16:50 – 17:00 (10 mins)	BREAK
17:00 – 17:50 (50 mins)	SESSION 4 AI (i.e. Chat GPT, Bing AI) for SMEs: Opportunities or Challenges?
17:50 – 18:00 (10 mins)	Wrap-up & Conclusion
18:30	WELCOME DINNER  *Check-in after dinner

 

DAY 2                   20 JULY (Thursday), 2023, 10:30 (KST)
9:50 – 10:00	Convene at the venue
10:00 – 10:10 (10 mins)	INTRODUCTION
10:10 – 11:00 (50 mins)	SESSION 5 Activation of Public-Private Partnership: Government Initiatives and Incentives to all interested SMEs and Startups
11:00 – 11:10 (10mins)	Break(10mins)
11:10 – 12:00 (50 mins)	SESSION 6 Analysis and Implications of the Status of Digital Transformation of Korean Companies
12:00 – 13:30 (90 mins)	LUNCH
13:30 – 14:20 (50 mins)	SESSION 7 Success Stories and Outlook of Overseas Business of SMEs through Global PPP (TBD)
14:20 - 14:30 (10 mins)	Break(10mins)
14:30 – 15:10 (40 mins)	Case Study (1)
15:10 - 15:20 (10 mins)	Break(10mins)
15:20 - 16:00 (40 mins)	Case Study (2)
16:00 - 16:10 (10 mins)	Break(10mins) / **The End of Webinar
16:10 - 18:00 (110 mins)	Group/Individual Activity (Main Session 1)
18:00	Conclusion
DAY 3                      21 JULY (Friday), 2023, 10:00 (KST)
10:00 - 11:30	Group/Individual Activity (Main Session 2)
11:30 - 11:40 (10 mins)	CLOSING CEREMONY Closing Remarks (UNITAR CIFAL Jeju / JITC)
11:40 - 14:30 (170 mins)	Lunch
15:00 - 17:00 (120 mins)	Field Trip – KAKAO Headquarters
17:30	Drop off at Jeju International Airport

 

*The above program is subject to change.