SPACE ASEAN

The ASEAN region, with a population of around 700 million, has strongly committed to sustainable development. However, these goals cannot be achieved without robust innovation ecosystems at different levels including university/organization, city/province, and country. Indeed, innovation ecosystems are places where new tech startups and SMEs are born, nurtured, and prosper. These impact techs utilize the most advanced technologies to help solve issues related to people, the environment, and the economy. They include educational technology, green technology, financial technology, biological technology, agricultural technology, medical technology, and others. These modern technologies are advanced further with the help of AI and quantum computing that in turn rely on the advancement of semiconductors. The U.S. has the most robust and dynamic innovation ecosystems at different levels (university/organization, city/state, and country). It is greatly beneficial for one billion people in both ASEAN and the U.S. if these innovation ecosystems in the two regions could interact and cooperate. Indeed, the U.S.’s startups and SMEs are still at the forefront of new technologies. However, their counterparts in ASEAN have proved their ingenuities and some have also reached the frontier of new technologies and achieved the status of unicorns. SPACE ASEAN is committed to helping ASEAN develop its innovation ecosystems at different levels. We also assist tech startups and SMEs in the U.S. and ASEAN to enter and prosper in each other’s ecosystems. We believe that this noble mission will strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and ASEAN, resulting in prosperity and sustainable development for both regions. https://lnkd.in/gnZzZDpi Dr. Bao Hoang, Founder and CEO of SPACE ASEAN 

Our founder of SPACE ASEAN - Dr. Bao Hoang, Ph.D. has just completed his inspirational presentation about sustainability in Hoa Sen University, HCMC, Vietnam.🍀🇻🇳 He believes that our young generation could be more aware of sustainable development of their motherland and Mother Earth 🌎 🌿 Stay tuned, we will present more fabulous projects related to ESGs 🌱

Green Hydrogen Technology in the United States Bao Hoang, Ph.D. The U.S. has led the world in green hydrogen research and applications. Indeed, five out of 12 leading green hydrogen companies worldwide are from the U.S. They are Air Products, FuelCell Energy, Bloom Energy, Plug Power, and Hyzon. This includes only a few American startups focusing on developing green hydrogen batteries and other applications. The other seven are spread over countries, including the UK, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and Norway. This indicates that the American private sector is the country’s leading force in climate tech. The use of hydrogen as a source of fuel has been introduced previously. Indeed, it has been used in spaceships. However, the popularity of green hydrogen emerged again recently as one of the practical tools to combat climate change and global warming. The International Energy Agency estimates that around 830 million tonnes of CO2 can be saved annually when this gas is used. To produce green hydrogen, researchers or scientists have to break down water molecules (H2O) into oxygen (O2) and hydrogen (H2). The unique thing about green hydrogen is that it only emits water vapors when used. This is unlike the use of fossil fuels.  In addition, this gas is also easy to store and versatile. In other words, the green hydrogen can be converted to synthetic gas or electricity. Then, they will be used for transportation or other industry purposes. However, there are some pitfalls with green hydrogen. Like other green technologies, green hydrogen is still costly to produce. The good news is that this cost will be reduced by half in 2030, according to the World Hydrogen Council. In addition to the high price, other disadvantages include high energy consumption and safety issues. Indeed, hydrogen is very volatile and flammable. Actions mitigating climate change require committed participation from developing countries. As we mentioned earlier, only a small group of advanced countries can afford the research and application of green hydrogen. Japan has even gone further and aspires to develop a green hydrogen-based economy. The high costs of green hydrogen prevent developing countries from adopting green hydrogen anytime soon. As a result, advanced countries, including the U.S. and EU, must be committed to transferring green hydrogen technology to underdeveloped countries. Developing countries have one of the most effective tools to decarbonize the economy if this happens.

"Why Leadership Must Understand ESG: The Critical Role of Governance in 2024 As ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) continues to shape the future of business, it is becoming increasingly clear that leadership must have a deep understanding of these principles. ESG is no longer just a compliance issue but a strategic imperative that influences corporate reputation, investor confidence, and long-term sustainability. Leaders who are well-versed in ESG can drive meaningful change within their organizations, ensuring that environmental and social responsibilities are embedded into the core of business operations. This understanding is crucial for navigating the complexities of modern governance, where stakeholders expect transparency and accountability in corporate actions. Moreover, ESG awareness among leadership helps in identifying potential risks and opportunities associated with sustainability. Leaders who prioritize ESG can better position their companies to adapt to regulatory changes, meet investor expectations, and contribute positively to society. https://lnkd.in/eGdE84DK" —— Contact us USA Bao Hoang (PhD) Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tel: +1 501 902 8049 417 Main Street, Little Rock, AR72201, USA Email: [email protected] Vietnam Quyet Pham, Riley (PhD) Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Representative in Vietnam Tel: +84 969 963 867 #18, Road #3, Commune 4, An Khanh District, Thu Duc City, HCMC, Vietnam Email: [email protected] www.spaceasean.com

our Gem #4 Mr. LOOI TECK KHEONG Mr. Looi was the head of Anti-trust, Consumer Protection and Intellectual Property (IP) Rights of the ASEAN Headquarters and served all 10 Member States. He led the ASEAN (i) Working Group for IP Cooperation; (ii) Network of IP Experts Enforcement; (iii) Task Force on Trademarks; (iv) Task Force on Patent Examination Cooperation; (v) IP Academy Working Group; (vi) Experts Group on Competition; (vii) Competition Enforcers Network (viii) Heads of Competition Agencies; (ix) Committee for Consumer Protection; and (x) Consumer Association Network. He engaged with, amongst others, UNCTAD, OECD, ICN, UKCMA, USDOJ, USFTC, JFTC, AC, GIZ, WIPO, UNESCAP, EU, UKIPO, JPO, USPTO, EPO, AANZFTA, IPA, CIPO, HKIPD, IPONZ, USCO, KIPO, CNIPA in spearheading development in the region. With over 30 years of public and private sector experience (including Legal and Tax Office of Deutsche Bank APAC Headquarters), he has significantly shaped the business and development landscapes of the Indo-Pacific. He holds master’s degrees in (a) Public International Law & International Commercial Arbitration; (b) Public Policy (Temasek Scholar, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government); and (c) Development and Economics Policy. He is fluent in English, Bahasa, and Mandarin. He is a renowned international speaker and authored the acclaimed “Cybersecurity. Guardians of the Digital Frontier”, marking him a thought leader in a critical field.

Sustainable development cannot be achieved without cybersecurity. I have witness a number of occasions that cyber breaches have severely disrupted organizations' daily operations. Mr. Teck Kheong Looi, SPACE ASEAN's strategic advisor has launched his new book about this subject. Cybersecurity: Guardians of the Digital Frontier In today’s rapidly evolving digital world, cybersecurity is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity. "Cybersecurity: Guardians of the Digital Frontier" by Looi Teck Kheong is your essential guide to understanding and navigating the complex world of cybersecurity laws, regulations, and strategies. This comprehensive book takes you deep into the heart of Singapore's Cybersecurity Act of 2018 and its pivotal 2024 amendments, offering unparalleled insights into the legal frameworks designed to protect our digital infrastructure. As cyber threats grow more sophisticated and pervasive, the stakes have never been higher. This book delves into the critical objectives of the Cybersecurity Act, providing readers with a clear understanding of the measures in place to safeguard Critical Information Infrastructure (CII), the expansive authority granted to the Cybersecurity Agency (CSA), and the legal obligations of cybersecurity service providers. With each chapter, you’ll uncover the practical challenges and legal intricacies of implementing these frameworks, making this book a must-read for anyone serious about cybersecurity. But this isn't just a book for experts. Whether you're a business leader, a tech enthusiast, or simply someone who understands the importance of digital security, "Cybersecurity: Guardians of the Digital Frontier" is packed with valuable insights that are accessible to all. Real-world case studies, engaging tech cartoons, and clear explanations bring the urgency of robust cybersecurity measures to life, making this book as informative as it is engaging. The epilogue powerfully drives home the point: cybersecurity is an ongoing battle, not a one-time fix. It’s about staying ahead of the threats, understanding the role of emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing, and ensuring our defenses evolve just as quickly as the dangers we face. This book also underscores the importance of international cooperation in the fight against cyber threats, making it clear that no nation can stand alone in the digital age. In a world where your personal data, national security, and economic stability are constantly at risk, understanding cybersecurity isn’t just important—it’s urgent. "Cybersecurity: Guardians of the Digital Frontier" is not just a guide, but a call to action. It’s time to be proactive, to be informed, and to take a stand in securing our digital future. This is the book that will equip you with the knowledge and insights to be a guardian of the digital frontier. The book is available at https://lnkd.in/gB2vSwx2. 

REVISITING THE PARIS AGREEMENTS AND ITS CURRENT IMPLEMENTATION STATUS Bao Hoang, Ph.D. At the Conference of the Parties 21 (COP 21) in Paris on December 12th, 2015, the international community reached one of the most significant milestones in the combat against climate change and global warming. Indeed, 195 Parties entered a legally binding international treaty on climate change called the Paris Agreement. The supreme purpose of the Agreement is to keep the increase in the global average temperature below 2o C or limit the temperature increase to 1.5o C above pre-industry levels. The Paris Agreement emphasizes several themes, including Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Long-Term Strategies, Climate Change Education, Training, & Public Awareness, Market and non-Market-Based Approaches, and Financial, Technical, & Capacity Building Supports. The Agreement asks for the developed countries to provide financial and technical support for developing countries in the transition to low-carbon economies. After the Paris Agreement was adopted, the EU has been the most aggressive in pursuing net-zero objectives. Indeed, the Continent passed various measures, regulations, and frameworks to actualize this goal. These frameworks include the EU Green Deal, EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities, Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and others. The U.S. has also stepped up its efforts toward the net zero target by issuing various measures and frameworks, including ten key climate priorities in the Inflation Reduction Act, Climate Change Disclosure Rules from the SEC, and new guidance on the voluntary carbon market. The other developed countries have also stepped up channeling their resources toward a low-carbon economy. However, developing countries still need to create work on developing and implementing climate-related policies due to the lack of expertise and resources, given they all are committed to the net-zero target in 2050. Developing countries contribute half of GHG emissions, and they need a little fossil fuel for a while to propel their economic engines. In addition, renewable energy is still expensive. Achieving net-zero targets in developing countries seems to rely on the rich countries’ willingness to provide green technology and financial assistance.

Our gem 💎 Satya Widya Yudha, Ph.D. Strategic Advisor Dr. Yudha is a specialist in the interrelationships between energy, geopolitics, and economics on the regional and global scales. He specializes in a variety of energy-related subjects including energy security, energy subsidy, bilateral energy, country risks, and green issues. Dr. Yudha was the Director and Vice-President of national and international oil companies including Arco International Oils and Gas Co. and BP. He is currently a member of the National Energy Council of the Republic of Indonesia for the period of 2020-2025. This high-profile position must be appointed by the President of the country after being approved by the Indonesian Parliament. Before ascending to this prominent position, he was a popular member of the Indonesian Parliament. He held numerous offices including Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the People’s Representative Council of the Republic of Indonesia, Deputy Chairman of Commission VII of the People’s Representative Council of the Republic of Indonesia, and others. He obtained his Ph.D. in Energy from Cranfield University and had executive development education in managing natural resources at the University of Oxford. —— Contact us USA Bao Hoang (PhD) Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tel: +1 501 902 8049 417 Main Street, Little Rock, AR72201, USA Email: [email protected] Vietnam Quyet Pham, Riley (PhD) Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Representative in Vietnam Tel: +84 969 963 867 #18, Road #3, Commune 4, An Khanh District, Thu Duc City, HCMC, Vietnam Email: vietnam @spaceasean.com www.spaceasean.com

THE EU’S SUSTAINABLE FINANCE DISCLOSURE REGULATION (SFDR) AND ITS CONSEQUENCES FOR INVESTMENT FIRMS IN EMERGING MARKETS Bao Hoang, Ph.D. In the past several years, the EU has passed the most regulations and measures to guide and promote sustainability and ESG activities among businesses. The SFDR was issued almost at the same time as other climate-related measures, including EU Taxonomy and the European Green Deal. It cements the leading efforts of the continent to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change. The finance sector will play a significant role in helping the world achieve the net-zero target in 2050. There will be an investment of around $ 5 trillion in the green economy yearly from now to 2030 worldwide, and 40 % of this amount will be invested in emerging economies. However, investment firms in emerging economies are still waiting to adapt to the SFDR, although it was influential in the EU in early 2023, about three years ago. The regulation includes 20 articles that require financial market participants such as investment funds, portfolio management, pension funds, and others to disclose Principle-Averse Impacts (PAIs). The PAIs are a set of mandatory indicators and metrics that display some sustainability-related risks created by investing activities. However, investment firms in emerging economies have still lagged behind the SFDR’s requirements in terms of disclosing sustainability risks associated with their investing behaviors.      Current research from Morgan Stanley Capital International indicates that investment firms in emerging economies are profoundly different from their counterparts in developed countries in social indicators disclosures. Specifically, the investment firms in emerging markets fell short far more often than those in developed countries. They also trail on GHG emissions-related indicators. The underperformance of these PAI indicators raises severe issues in capital transfer from developed countries to emerging countries. As a result, the effort to combat global warming has been significantly negatively affected. To facilitate the capital transfer from advanced countries to invest in green economies in emerging markets, investment firms here should step up the efforts of being transparent in investment activities. In addition, they should develop good practices in disclosing the PAI indicators set by the SFDR.

THE EU’S SUSTAINABLE FINANCE DISCLOSURE REGULATION (SFDR) AND ITS CONSEQUENCES FOR INVESTMENT FIRMS IN EMERGING MARKETS Bao Hoang, Ph.D. In the past several years, the EU has passed the most regulations and measures to guide and promote sustainability and ESG activities among businesses. The SFDR was issued almost at the same time as other climate-related measures, including EU Taxonomy and the European Green Deal. It cements the leading efforts of the continent to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change. The finance sector will play a significant role in helping the world achieve the net-zero target in 2050. There will be an investment of around $ 5 trillion in the green economy yearly from now to 2030 worldwide, and 40 % of this amount will be invested in emerging economies. However, investment firms in emerging economies are still waiting to adapt to the SFDR, although it was influential in the EU in early 2023, about three years ago. The regulation includes 20 articles that require financial market participants such as investment funds, portfolio management, pension funds, and others to disclose Principle-Averse Impacts (PAIs). The PAIs are a set of mandatory indicators and metrics that display some sustainability-related risks created by investing activities. However, investment firms in emerging economies have still lagged behind the SFDR’s requirements in terms of disclosing sustainability risks associated with their investing behaviors.      Current research from Morgan Stanley Capital International indicates that investment firms in emerging economies are profoundly different from their counterparts in developed countries in social indicators disclosures. Specifically, the investment firms in emerging markets fell short far more often than those in developed countries. They also trail on GHG emissions-related indicators. The underperformance of these PAI indicators raises severe issues in capital transfer from developed countries to emerging countries. As a result, the effort to combat global warming has been significantly negatively affected. To facilitate the capital transfer from advanced countries to invest in green economies in emerging markets, investment firms here should step up the efforts of being transparent in investment activities. In addition, they should develop good practices in disclosing the PAI indicators set by the SFDR.