WiSE 2025 Ignites Regional Momentum for Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship
Kuala Lumpur, 5 May 2025 – The Women in STEM Empowerment (WiSE) 2025 made a dynamic return for its second edition at Asia Pacific University (APU), Kuala Lumpur, in celebration of International Digital Women’s Day. With the theme “Innovative Sustainable Growth Opportunities”, the event welcomed over 250 participants from across Malaysia and the region, including students, academics, entrepreneurs, researchers, and corporate leaders.WiSE 2025 is a growing movement to empower, connect, and elevate women in science, technology, and entrepreneurship through knowledge exchange and strategic collaboration.
The event opened with a compelling keynote address by Ms. Elain Lockman, Deputy President of the Asian Women Business Alliance, who spotlighted persistent gender gaps in innovation and emphasized the need for a more structured ecosystem that supports stronger cross-sector partnership. The program was officially launched by Prof. Dr. Rofina Yasmin, Chairman of the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology & Innovation (MRANTI). In her opening remarks, she underscored the significance of women-led innovation as a key driver of inclusive national growth.
The partner slot from Satu Creative Services Sdn Bhd took a place before the forum, highlighted their training and supports. A highlight of the event was a panel forum on “Emerging Innovation in Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Growth”, featuring distinguished speakers:
- Dr. Wan Raihana Wan Aasim, Vice President 1, Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC)
- Prof. Ts. Dr. Murali Raman, Deputy Vice President, Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU/APIIT)
- Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Suraya Rashid, Founder and Chief Scientist, Qarbotech Sdn. Bhd.
The discussion unpacked the innovation ecosystem needed to support women entrepreneurs, focusing on access to funding, commercialization, and the scalability of sustainable ventures.
Staying true to its inclusive mission, WiSE 2025 spotlighted student and researcher contributions through a research poster competition, awarding Best Poster, Best Presenter, and People’s Choice. The platform celebrated research excellence and effective science communication. Another highlight is a startup pitching session featuring 15 emerging ventures from Malaysia and Indonesia, many of which drew interest from investors and venture capitalists present. The exhibition area, with 31 booths, created valuable networking opportunities and facilitated product visibility among academia, industry, and the public. Preceding the workshops, inspiring sharing sessions were delivered by Nimisha Taylor and Prof. Rozita Ayu, adding personal insights to the day’s agenda.
Two interactive workshops added further depth to the day’s programming:
- Richard Ker (Richard Ker Digital) conducted a session on strategic storytelling in marketing, helping entrepreneurs shape compelling brand narratives.
- Sharmini Nagulan (Regenovation Hub) led a workshop on sustainability risks and opportunities, equipping participants with tools to embed sustainable practices into their business models.
WiSE 2025 successfully created a dynamic platform for women in STEM and entrepreneurship to thrive as innovators, leaders, and changemakers. As the initiative expands, it remains committed to fostering a global network of empowered women leaders in collaborating across borders to shape a more inclusive and innovative future.
The WiSE 2025 team would like to extend our warmest appreciation to the following partners:
Host: Asia Pacific University
Partner: Satu Creative Services Sdn. Bhd.
Strategic Partners:
- SME Corporation Malaysia
- Women Techmakers Brunei
- Tun Fatimah Hashim Women's Leadership Centre, UKM
- Centre for Research on Women & Gender (KANITA), USM