Assistance to Low-Carbon Innovation
SDG 7.4.5
Sunway iLabs: Building the Future Through Innovation, Sustainability, and Entrepreneurship
Sunway iLabs fosters a vibrant startup ecosystem by offering funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities through initiatives like LaunchX, which connects student entrepreneurs with industry and VC mentors, and the Deep Tech Ventures Lab, which supports co-founders, startups, and researchers working passionately on breakthrough technologies.
With a focus on sustainable innovation and resilient cities, iLabs promotes energy transition and low-carbon solutions, while also advancing deep tech and AI, food and water security, decarbonisation and carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), health and wellness, intelligent autonomy, and the development of semiconductor and data centre technologies. Its Living Lab nurtures projects aimed at achieving net-zero emissions, empowering startups to create scalable, sustainable innovations that address climate challenges and support a low-carbon economy.
Additionally, iLabs offers free resources such as co-working spaces, prototyping facilities, and workshops to help startups develop and refine their ideas, ultimately aiming to build a vibrant entrepreneurial community aligned with innovation and sustainability goals.
For more information on iLabs, click below.
LaunchX by Sunway iLabs
One of Sunway University’s notable initiatives is LaunchX, Malaysia’s first university-led start-up accelerator program designed to empower students with the tools and guidance needed to transform validated ideas into market-ready start-ups. Through a combination of mentorship, hands-on workshops, and dedicated support, participants develop their Minimum Viable Product (MVP), demonstrate early traction, and pitch their ventures to industry professionals and the wider start-up ecosystem.
The program brings together students and industry experts to nurture student entrepreneurs in creating sustainable, high-quality start-ups aligned with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The 2024 edition marked a significant milestone with the inclusion of a new higher education partner, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). The addition of UTM—widely recognised as one of Malaysia’s leading technical universities—enhanced the program’s capacity to support technology-driven ventures. Renowned for its strong engineering and innovation ecosystem, UTM contributes deep technical expertise and research strengths, enriching the accelerator’s overall learning environment.
Building on this strengthened partnership, LaunchX continues to address the unique challenges faced by young entrepreneurs, who may lack experience but bring energy and innovative ideas. Each student venture is paired with two mentors: one from the venture capital field who provides investment insights, and one industry expert who delivers essential business knowledge, ensuring students receive comprehensive guidance throughout their entrepreneurial journey.
A key example is KuCHARGE, a start-up that develops eco-friendly electric vehicle charging solutions to accelerate clean transportation across ASEAN. This initiative directly supports the transition towards low-carbon mobility and contributes to the adoption of renewable energy technologies.
KuCHARGE: Driving the Future of EV Charging Across ASEAN
Offers innovative, eco-friendly electric vehicle charging solutions that enhance convenience, support sustainability and drive the adoption of clean transportation with advanced, locally manufactured technology.
