SST Think Tank and Grow Asia Sign Letter of Intent to Explore ASEAN Space-Tech Agri-Innovation Challenge

Collaboration aims to identify and support space-enabled solutions that can help smallholder farmers strengthen productivity, resilience and traceability across Southeast Asia

Singapore, 13th May 2026 – Singapore Space and Technology (SST) Think Tank, Asia’s first space innovation think tank, and Grow Asia, a multi-stakeholder partnership platform established by the World Economic Forum and ASEAN, signed a Letter of Intent to explore a collaboration aimed at accelerating the use of space-enabled technologies in smallholder agriculture across Southeast Asia, at the Global Space Technology Convention and Exhibition 2026.

Under the collaboration, Grow Asia and SST Think Tank will aim to identify, strengthen and scale tangible, market-focused innovations that can support the transition to more climate-resilient and regenerative farming systems. The collaboration will combine SST Think Tank’s space innovation ecosystem and technical expertise with Grow Asia’s regional delivery networks, multi-stakeholder partnerships, and on-the-ground implementation pathways across Southeast Asia. The focus will be on practical solutions that translate satellite data, Earth observation, geospatial analytics and other space-enabled capabilities into tools that can be used by farmers, rural enterprises, value chain actors and investors.

As part of the collaboration, SST Think Tank and Grow Asia intend to explore the launch of the ASEAN Space-Tech Agri-Innovation Challenge, a proposed platform to identify high-potential startups, research spin-offs, applied technology teams and space-tech companies developing solutions for smallholder agricultural systems.

It is expected to focus on areas such as climate and weather intelligence, localised forecasts, early warning systems, soil and land-use analytics, crop monitoring, pest and disease management, yield estimation, risk assessment, and traceability and verification systems for sustainable sourcing and carbon markets.The intent is to build a pipeline of practical, investment-ready and field tested solutions that can improve productivity, resilience and traceability in smallholder systems. Subject to further agreement between both parties, selected solutions may be supported through visibility opportunities, design training, investor engagement, partner roundtables, and potential pathways for field validation through Grow Asia’s regional network.

For SST Think Tank, the collaboration reflects its mission to mainstream space beyond the space sector and connect space capabilities with real-world needs across industries such as agriculture, climate resilience, logistics, finance and sustainability.

“Space technologies are no longer relevant only to the space sector. They are becoming practical tools for industries on Earth, and agriculture is one of the clearest examples of where space can make a real difference. Through this intended collaboration with Grow Asia, we hope to explore how satellite data, Earth observation and geospatial intelligence can be translated into solutions that smallholder farmers and agricultural value chains can actually use,” said Jeremy Chan, Executive Chairman of SST Think Tank.

He added, “The challenge is not simply to find more technology. It is to connect the right technologies to the right problems, and to build credible pathways for adoption, investment and scale. That is where SST Think Tank and Grow Asia can bring complementary strengths: space innovation on one side, and deep agricultural networks and delivery pathways on the other.”

Beverley Postma, Executive Director of Grow Asia, said, “Small rural businesses across Southeast Asia produce 85% of the region’s food. They are already facing the realities of climate volatility, rising costs and pressure to transition towards more sustainable farming practices. The challenge is not a lack of innovation — it is ensuring that innovation translates into practical value on the ground.”

“Space-enabled tools such as Earth Observation and geospatial analytics have significant potential, but they must be usable, affordable, and connected to trusted delivery pathways if they are to make a meaningful difference for farmers and rural businesses. By working with SST Think Tank, we hope to bridge the gap between promising technologies and real-world adoption, creating market-ready collaborations between innovators, investors, farmer intermediaries, and public-sector partners.,” she added.

The collaboration is expected to support broader efforts to strengthen climate-resilient agriculture in Southeast Asia by connecting space-tech innovators with agricultural use cases, investor networks, public-private partners and regional platforms. Potential activities under the Letter of Intent include innovation challenges, competitions, human-centred design training, webinars, showcases, case studies, joint research and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

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About Singapore Space & Technology (SST) Think Tank

The SST Think Tank is Asia’s first space innovation think tank focused on commercialising space. We bridge technology and communities to harness the power of space for the benefit of future generations—by mainstreaming space into the fabric of everyday life, industry, and innovation. Formerly SSTL, it has drawn on its work as an ecosystem builder, connecting global space expertise with the practical needs of non-space sectors such as agriculture, climate resilience, finance, logistics, and ESG.

Through commercially relevant projects, research, and strategic platforms, the SST Think Tank helps decode the space economy and shape its integration across business and society. Our focus is to move space from the periphery to the core of industrial transformation, ensuring Asia leads in unlocking the full economic and human potential of space.

About Grow Asia

Grow Asia is an accredited entity of ASEAN that was established by the World Economic Forum as a unique public-private platform in response to the urgent need to transform agri-food systems and accelerate the region’s transition to a resilient and food secure future. Grow Asia has earned a strong reputation as a vital investment and delivery hub and has built an ecosystem of over 780 diverse partners to drive market-led transformation across all major agri-food value chains. Since its inception, Grow Asia has mobilized more than US$21 million of blended finance through four public-private impact funds, reaching more than 3.7 million smallholder farmers with innovative, climate-smart technology and solutions.

About Global Space Technology Convention & Exhibition (GSTCE)

Formerly Global Space and Technology Convention, the show was rebranded for this latest edition in 2025 to Global Space Technology Convention & Exhibition to reflect the equal emphasis on both the thought-leadership conference sessions and the exhibition that showcases cutting-edge space-based technologies. With the increased ‘mainstreaming’ of space technology and the growing awareness of its power as an enabler for other innovations, GSTCE is aimed at bringing the world of space to Asia to unleash the power of space for space and space for Earth.Conceived by Singapore Space and Technology Limited, the inaugural edition of the Convention was held in 2008 and has established itself over the years as Asia’s go-to marketplace for insights, commercial opportunities, public-private partnerships, and funding of new solutions to harness the power of space for future generations.

Held annually, GSTCE has become one of the fastest-growing deep tech conventions in Asia, drawing close to 1000 delegates from 400 organisations across more than 40 countries. It is recognised in the space and deep tech industry as the gateway for companies who are interested in mining the breadth of space and deep tech innovations in the region – connecting global players to the region.

Visit https://space.org.sg/gstce/ for more information.