Overview

The Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK), which takes place every two years, is the platform for an overarching dialogue between Germany and the Asia-Pacific region, between politics and business. The APK aims to provide a new impetus for sustainable transformation and diversification. The conference is aimed at decision-makers from business and politics from Germany, the EU, and the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. The local participating chambers are from Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and Greater China: P.R. of China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

In 2024, around 800 business and political representatives are once again expected to discuss current topics ranging from geopolitical challenges to market developments. The 18th APK, jointly organized by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA), and the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (AHK India), will take place from 24-26 October 2024 in New Delhi, India.

About the Future AI – Startup-Award

For the first time, the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK) is offering an Award for Startups in the field of artificial intelligence who would like to talk about the opportunity to present themselves to 800+ business leaders from Germany and Asia-Pacific. Artificial intelligence is one of the key drives for the digital transformation of companies and processes, for the way we work for the way we communicate, and for our social interaction. A startup that fulfills the prerequisites can nominate themselves for the award at their local country’s German Chamber of Commerce Abroad (AHK).

In Vietnam, AHK Vietnam’s Advisory Council will select one startup to become the country’s official nomination for the Future AI – Startup Pitch Award at APK 2024.

The Award

As one of the 3 winners, you will benefit from the APK network and have the chance to take your business to a whole new level.

Benefits include:

• A chance to participate in a Tech Talk with the German Vice Chancellor and Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action on stage with an audience of over 500 C-Level attendees of APK24 in New Delhi.
• Opportunities to network with decision-makers from companies across Germany and the Asia-Pacific region.
• A Trophy and certificate that highlight your company's achievements.
• Increased visibility through the network of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs) in Asia Pacific and worldwide.
• Permission to use the award logo for your marketing purpose.
• The opportunity to expand your network through new contacts among financiers and other partners in business and politics.
• As one of the finalists selected you will receive 1 flight ticket from the country your company is based and a 2-night stay, both chosen and booked by APK.
• Up to 2 representatives of the companies selected for traveling to India will be granted free of charge access to APK for October 25 and 26, 2024.
• If you are not among the companies selected but nominated by an AHK, you are offered 1 ticket for free of charge access to APK for October 25 and 26, 2024.

The Eligibility Criteria

• Business Focus: Open to companies founded and based in the Asia Pacific region that specialize in developing AI technologies with significant impact on industries, trade, and services.
• Core Business Requirement: AI must be at the core of the business. According to the OECD definition, an AI system is a machine-based system that processes inputs to produce outputs like predictions, content, recommendations, or decisions that can affect physical or virtual environments.
• Startup Age: Only startups that have been founded within the last 5 years are eligible to apply.
• Innovation and Impact: Entries must showcase innovative AI solutions that are applicable and have demonstrable impacts on industries.
• Nominating AHKs: Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and Greater China (including the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan) are eligible to participate.

Terms & Conditions

• A prerequisite for participation in the AI Startup-Award 2024 is that the legal establishment of the company must not date back more than 5 years and must have been founded in Asia-Pacific, not only as a subsidiary.​
• By completing the application form and sending the application, you agree to the award’s process and consent to the use of the data in the process. Personal data will of course be treated confidentially. See details above.​
• The pre-jury in Berlin reserves the right to exclude submissions that are deemed unsuitable.​
• APK, APA, and AHKs accept no liability for the loss or incompleteness of data submitted by you unless the loss or incompleteness is due to intentional or grossly negligent behavior on our part or that of our employees. This non-liability also applies to the disclosure of information by third parties due to technical errors during data transmission and/or unauthorized access.​
• Legal recourse is excluded.​
• Participants can only send material to the nominating AHK. AHK will have the full right to use it and to share it with APK, APA; BMWK, and the members of the pre-jury. for which you have the full right of use. The representative of the Startup also confirms that they have the permission of the persons concerned for personal data and photos. They also confirm that all persons depicted agree to publication in the context of reporting on the AI Award in print and online.​
• An in-person attendance by a representative of the Startup chosen as one of the finalists at APK in India is a prerequisite for being part of the final. In case a person is not able to attend for whatever reason, including visa issues, the next startup in line that had been listed by the pre-jury will be invited to attend. Please be aware that the organizer does not cover insurance and is not liable for any property damage or personal injury that might occur.
• The data transferred to the pre-jury will be permanently archived for the documentation of subsequent events. Information on data protection and the contact person can be found on our Privacy Policy page.

Your Roadmap

• Deadline 1: July 1, 2024: Startups are invited to express their interest by submitting an online application here.
• Deadline 2: July 31, 2024: AHKs in Asia Pacific, including AHK Vietnam, nominate one finalist for each country listed according to the selection criteria.
• Deadline 3: August 31, 2024: A Pre-Jury of APK- Committee and German Companies selects finalists who are invited to travel to India as finalists. List of finalists that accepted an invite to India complete.
• Deadline 4: September 15, 2024
• October 25, 2024: Pitches @ APK in India: Finalists will conduct live pitches, and winners will be selected by the audience in a live voting.

Application form: https://forms.office.com/r/Txq1QHDiQ0