February 12, 2026 — In celebration of the Lunar New Year and in recognition of the deep cultural and economic ties across the Asia-Pacific region, the Australian Technology and Information Industry Association (ATIIA) convened the Lunar TechBridge exchange event this week—a special platform to foster international dialogue and cooperation in the new year.
Held in a hybrid format with participation from regional technology associations, research institutions, and digital innovation agencies across Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and Malaysia, the event marked the symbolic beginning of the 2026 collaborative calendar. The focus was clear: how can cross-border collaboration in digital innovation accelerate resilience, sustainability, and inclusion in the Asia-Pacific region?
ATIIA Chairperson Dr. Michael Torres opened the session by emphasizing the importance of cultural moments like the Lunar New Year in creating space for shared reflection and renewed commitment across borders. “In a fragmented global environment, trust is built not only through standards and platforms, but through rituals of respect and moments of collective renewal,” he noted.
The dialogue centered on three primary topics: expanding joint research initiatives in climate technology and data infrastructure; co-developing ethical frameworks for AI governance; and improving regional interoperability in digital trade systems. Participants also shared case studies of effective government–industry partnerships and discussed scalable models for supporting early-stage technology companies with regional ambitions.
Several new intentions for cooperation were voiced during the session. A joint pilot program between Australian and Japanese AI researchers will explore interoperable standards for explainable machine learning in cross-lingual applications. In parallel, innovation agencies from Southeast Asia expressed interest in forming a Spring Startups Circle—a seasonal knowledge-sharing forum for early-stage founders working on public-good technologies.
ATIIA also used the occasion to announce its 2026 Asia-Pacific Engagement Plan, which will include quarterly exchange briefings, collaborative white papers, and multi-stakeholder dialogues on responsible innovation, particularly in areas of digital trust, health tech, and sustainable supply chain technologies.
Beyond its policy and technical dimensions, the Lunar TechBridge event served a symbolic role in bridging cultural moments with strategic foresight. As part of the opening, each country shared a short “Spring Statement” reflecting both traditional messages of renewal and future-oriented visions for digital cooperation. The messages, later compiled into a bilingual multimedia piece, will be shared on ATIIA’s public platforms during the Lunar New Year week.
The event concluded with a shared affirmation that future-focused cooperation must also be rooted in empathy, cultural literacy, and sustained personal connection. ATIIA reaffirmed its long-standing belief that regional cooperation is not an auxiliary task, but a central pillar of Australia’s technology future.