UK Government appoints Intralink to help British tech expand in APAC
The UK Government has launched a new UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme – to be delivered by international business development consultancy Intralink. This two-year programme will help tech scaleups expand into Asia Pacific, further boosting the UK’s thriving tech sector.
As part of the UK’s Digital Trade Network – a joint Department for Business & Trade and Department for Science, Innovation & Technology initiative – the programme will help innovative UK businesses make the leap to new markets. Intralink will connect them into Asian networks using its on-the-ground teams, accelerating their access to capital, customers and talent in fast-growing APAC markets.
Oxfordshire-based Intralink, established in 1990 with more than 80 people now based in APAC, helps western firms to expand in Asia, Asian companies to collaborate with western innovators, and governments to grow their international trade and investment.
Through the UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme, Intralink will deliver market expansion services across 11 countries: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
The company will be supported in Southeast Asia by market entry consultancy Orissa International and, in Australia and New Zealand, by Foley.
The new programme places an emphasis on the delivery of tangible commercial results for eligible tech companies – with Intralink providing hands-on, subsidised support in the region. The Intralink team will identify commercial opportunities, provide market entry advice and help companies sell their products, forge partnerships and raise investment.
The initiative is aimed at startups and scaleups throughout the UK with significant international growth potential. Companies can find out more and apply to participate via the Intralink website here (www.intralinkgroup.com/TGP).
Lord Offord of Garvel, Minister for Exports, said: “The UK–APAC Growth Programme is a central part of our strategy to help UK tech firms expand into the Indo Pacific, which we see as a vast growth market for innovative British businesses. With the UK joining CPTPP, alongside our forward-looking trade agreements in the region – including with Japan and Australia – this programme helps deliver on the opportunities we see for increasing UK trade.”
Paul Scully MP, Minister for Tech & the Digital Economy, said: “Seamless collaboration with our global counterparts is the key that will unlock the potential of our leading startup community and, in turn, the UK’s future as a science and technology superpower. This is why Intralink’s work with the Digital Trade Network to bring together the UK and Asian tech communities is fundamental to our shared success.”
Greg Sutch, Intralink CEO, commented: “We’re proud to be playing a core role in the Government’s drive to help UK tech businesses grow internationally. APAC offers huge opportunities for pioneering British firms with the technologies to address the major challenges that face countries in the region, such as climate change, ageing populations and a shrinking labour force.
“We’re greatly looking forward to helping UK innovators succeed in APAC and providing a boost to the UK’s international trade.”
Natalie Black, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, said: “Through the UK-APAC Growth Programme, our Digital Trade Network has already supported 85 UK companies on their exporting journey to Asia Pacific. As we expand the DTN to Vietnam and Taiwan, powered by Intralink, I look forward to seeing even more UK scaleups benefit and grow in the region.”
About Intralink
Intralink is an international business development and innovation consultancy specialising in Asia. The company helps western companies to expand in Asia, Asian corporations to harness the power of global innovation and governments to grow their exports and attract foreign investment. Founded in 1990, the firm has offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, Boston, Silicon Valley, LA, Oxford, London, Paris, Poznan, Berlin and Tel Aviv. For more, see www.intralinkgroup.com
About the Digital Trade Network
The Digital Trade Network is a joint initiative between the Department for Business & Trade and the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology. With a presence in Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand, the DTN’s mission is to accelerate the growth of UK digital technology and digital trade by helping UK businesses find opportunities for new partnerships, increased trade and investment, and greater market access. The DTN will expand to Vietnam and Taiwan this year.
