Asia's technological future was defined at the SWITCH conference.
Post-Conference Deals Confirm Sector Dominance
Consequently, the final day of the SWITCH 2025 conference saw major investment commitments. The focus remains heavily on autonomous systems and advanced materials. The official site confirms the event's enormous scale this year. Asia is now clearly leading the globe in this new technology funding cycle.
Record Capital: The Generative AI and Quantum Push
Furthermore, venture capital specifically targets both Generative AI and quantum computing firms. Recent data shows over $16.8 billion in Asian startup funding during the third quarter of 2025 alone. This large amount was significantly boosted by hardtech-focused rounds in China, according to Crunchbase. For example, a major robotics firm, X Square, secured $140 million in late-stage financing. This trend demonstrates strong investor confidence in complex, foundational technology.
Moreover, the Singapore government announced expanded support for local deep tech talent development. The new fellowship, launched by NTU Singapore and Activate Global, commits $12 million to science entrepreneurship. This initiative directly addresses the critical talent shortage. Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong highlighted these measures at the SWITCH opening ceremony. The program will support up to 20 science fellows over the next three years. These public-private partnerships are crucial for sustaining long-term growth in the sector.
Key Stats: Post-SWITCH Investment Highlights
- Q3 2025 Funding Peak: Total capital commitment in Asian startups reached $16.8 billion, a 20% quarter-over-quarter rise.
- Semiconductor Focus: The advanced semiconductor market is a primary driver, with China pushing for greater self-sufficiency efforts.
- Agentic AI Growth: New models, like systems based on Gemini, are moving from conversation to autonomous, multi-step actions across various Asian offshore hubs. This transition increases automation rapidly.
In addition, the prestigious SLINGSHOT competition concluded during SWITCH 2025. This event featured the world's best deep tech startups, with over 6,800 applications received. The Top 60 startups competed for over $2 million in grants and pilot opportunities. This competition serves as a vital pathway for early-stage firms to access both grants and corporate partnerships. It highlights the strong global interest in Asia's Deep Tech Investment ecosystem.
Expanding Global Alliances and Future Market Access
Therefore, the strategic importance of international alliances became clear at the event. Enterprise Singapore enhanced its Global Innovation Alliance strategy to foster stronger global connections. This move is designed to create more commercial opportunities for startups with proven products. The focus is on connecting Asian innovations to global markets. This ensures a broad pathway for scaling.
Corporate and Cross-Border Scale-Up Strategies
However, securing large corporate partners remains a key challenge for scaling. Industry leaders like imec were prominently involved in this discussion. The first corporate partner under the new GIA network is ST Engineering Ventures. This partnership dedicates up to $3 million over two years for technology piloting and commercialization. It will support 16 global startups piloting technologies in Singapore, focusing on AI and robotics. This strong corporate backing validates the need for commercialization support.
Consequently, the emphasis on embodied AI is rapidly growing across the region. Embodied AI refers to intelligent systems operating within physical bodies, like robots. Experts believe advances in this field will significantly augment human capabilities. This technology allows companies to overcome current labor and productivity constraints. A video exploring global deep tech trends further explains this potential. The long-term impact on manufacturing and logistics will be enormous, creating huge Asia's Deep Tech Investment opportunities.
Key Market Trends: 2026 Forecast
- Geographical Shift: Investment in Central Asia is becoming more structured, with the median Seed round size reaching $1 million in 2025, up from prior years.
- VC Focus: Venture firms like East Ventures and SOSV remain highly active, frequently investing in Agnostic and Deep Tech sectors across the region.
- Sustainability Tech: Startups focusing on climate-related solutions, such as sand battery technology by Alternō in Vietnam, are drawing strong investor interest and recent funding.
Thus, the post-SWITCH 2025 activities highlight a clear path forward for Asian innovation. The ecosystem is now more mature, focused on profitability, and backed by strong government and corporate support. New alliances and massive funding commitments ensure the region maintains its global lead. Asia's Deep Tech Investment strategy focuses on foundational, hard-to-replicate technology for the next decade.
Additional Resources on Deep Tech and SWITCH 2025:
Future of Deep Tech (Video): Deep Tech Trends for the Coming Decade
SWITCH Event Page: Gevme SWITCH 2025 Details
Official Site: SWITCH Singapore Official Website