In 2024, data.org launched the Asia Pacific Data Capacity Accelerator, the fifth hub in our global network of partners that are building a workforce of purpose-driven data and AI practitioners. 

In the two years since, with the remarkable partnership of the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), we have tapped into the region’s significant strengths in data and AI capabilities and put those capabilities into more hands than ever, unlocking meaningful solutions in financial inclusion.

The strongest use cases and emerging opportunities we have identified through this work took center stage in Manila at the Impact Accelerated: APAC Data and AI for Good Showcase. Together with our co-hosts at APRU, we brought together leaders from philanthropy, universities, government, industry, and civil society to explore how data and artificial intelligence can be translated into meaningful social impact across Asia Pacific.

Held at the Asian Institute of Management, the convening showcased successful initiatives and examined the partnerships needed to scale responsible data and AI solutions throughout the region. A central theme of the conversation was the critical role of universities in bridging the gap between research and real-world impact. Institutes of higher education generate knowledge, develop talent, and convene diverse stakeholders, making them uniquely positioned to help ensure that advances in data and AI deliver benefits for communities, governments, and the social sector.

Throughout the event, speakers highlighted how cross-sector collaboration is accelerating innovation in areas such as public health, disaster resilience, sustainable development, and economic opportunity. Discussions focused on building the workforce, partnerships, and institutional capabilities required to ensure that data and AI are deployed responsibly and effectively for the public good. As APRU’s Chief Strategy Officer Christina Schönleber said, there is growing momentum to move beyond research outputs toward measurable societal impact.

“Collaboration can accelerate the responsible use of data and AI to address challenges that no single institution can solve alone,” she said.

Collaboration was likewise essential to the development of data.org’s APAC Capacity Accelerator Network (CAN) Playbook, a new free and open access resource that was launched as part of the showcase. The playbook captures insights and practices from a growing network that is helping build both the supply of data and AI talent and the organizational capacity needed to put those skills to work for social impact.

By convening leaders from across sectors and geographies, and providing them with actionable resources like our Playbook, the showcase underscored a shared commitment to strengthening regional collaboration and developing the next generation of data and AI practitioners. Participants left with new connections, practical insights, and a renewed focus on ensuring that innovation translates into lasting benefits for communities across Asia Pacific.