BANGKOK, March 13, 2017 – Today, the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) announced the final stage in the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) World of Food Innovation Challenge, undertaken in partnership with private-sector equipment and software companies: Cisco, Intel, National Instruments, as well as IC², the interdisciplinary research unit for the University of Texas at Austin.

The Challenge, implemented by the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID), invited youth from across ASEAN to propose technology-based solutions to address some of the region’s most daunting challenges in the fields of agriculture, aquaculture, and fisheries. Over 600 youth applied, and 10 semi-finalists were selected to participate in a technology boot camp hosted with Cisco and Intel in Singapore in July 2016. The three finalist teams went on to present their solutions to the ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology in Cambodia in October 2016. After that, they headed to Austin.

Those top three teams -- MINO (Indonesia), CFKs (Cambodia), and iSea Forces (Malaysia) -- visited Austin City Hall and Mayor Adler’s Office as the first stop in a five-day externship focused on exposure to innovation and technology networks in the United States. As part of their learning exchange, on Tuesday morning March 14 the teams will pitch their technology-based solutions to tackle food security in IC2’s Global Classroom. The Institute was founded in 1977 as a “think and do” tank to engage in belief of its founder, George Kozmetsky, that innovation and entrepreneurship are critically important resources for regional development.

“On behalf of the city of Austin, I’d like to express how pleased we are to have a role in fostering ties between the United States and Southeast Asia through the YSEALI Innovation Challenge,” said Mayor Steve Adler. “Austin and Siem Reap, Cambodia, are Friendship Cities, meaning that we focus on exchange and cooperation in economic development, especially through science, technology, and innovation. We are excited to have visitors from additional ASEAN countries.”

“Now more than ever, we need to encourage and mentor creative and innovative entrepreneurs worldwide,” said Dr. David Gibson, Senior Research Scientist at the IC² Institute. “One can see challenges everywhere, but it’s the entrepreneurial mindset to innovate that will make a positive difference to individual lives, and indeed the world. Youth from YSEALI Innovation Challenge are excellent examples that entrepreneurs can make a difference.”

For instance, Indonesian team MINO’s Microbubble Generator technology improves oxygenation in the water, increasing farmed fish size by 40 percent. “It’s no longer just about our community in Indonesia – we hope that this could help fish farmers anywhere in the world,” said Muhammad Nabil Satria Faradis. “We’re just three kids coming up with ideas to help our community. Imagine if every person felt inspired to do the same and got the opportunity to do so.”

To support youth to take their solutions to the next level, National Instruments will host a robotics workshop on March 16 at their headquarter where they will introduce cutting-edge technology relevant to the YSEALI Innovation Challenge finalists. 

“NI is proud to support innovation, wherever it sparks around the globe. We believe the best way to teach relevant market-driven skills is through a hands-on, project based approach and challenges or competitions like the YSEALI World of Food Innovation Challenge promotes just that.” says Dave Wilson, VP of Product Marketing for Software and Academics at NI. “We hope to continue to empower these students and their universities with the technology and the skills to continue to tackle the world’s greatest engineering problems.”

The Innovation Challenge is one of the many U.S. initiatives in support of ASEAN and its 10 Member States. The United States partners with ASEAN to cultivate emerging leaders, support economic integration, expand maritime cooperation, promote opportunity for women and address transnational challenges.

Follow the conversation on Twitter and Facebook at #FoodChallenge2016.