The Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkiye (TEPAV), which is the economic thinktank of the Union of Chambers of Commerce and Commodities of Turkiye (TOBB) – a CACCI Primary Member – held a highly informative webinar on “Competing and Cooperating in the Asia-Pacific Region Amid a Changing Technology Landscape” on December 2, 2025.

The 60-minute session featured as speakers Dr. Güven Sak, Managing Director of TEPAV; Ms. Selin Arslanhan, Innovation Studies Program at TEPAV; and Ms. Sibel Güven, Sustainability Governance Program at TEPAV.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTATION

The webinar explored how rapid technological change is transforming competitiveness in the Asia-Pacific region and how CACCI members can position themselves through cooperation. Prof. Güven Sak emphasized that technology’s accelerating impact has prompted governments worldwide—including Singapore, Sweden, and the UAE—to create strategic foresight institutions. In a global race led primarily by the U.S. and China, countries must rethink cooperation models to strengthen technological sovereignty and resilience.

Trade competitiveness trends from 1995 to 2023 revealed a global shift: Western dominance has given way to rising performance by China, India, and Turkey in both the number and reach of competitively exported products. High-tech exports, especially electronics, now play a central role in CACCI trade, but these often depend on imported components and technologies developed elsewhere—meaning that export success does not automatically indicate strong domestic technological ecosystems.

Selin Arslanhan noted that between 2008 and 2023, many CACCI members introduced new export products, but sophistication varies. Vietnam, for example, added highly advanced products, while Turkey added similar quantities with lower technological value—illustrating that the quality of new exports matters more than quantity. The Frontier Technology Readiness Index shows wide disparities among CACCI members: Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Australia are well prepared for advanced technologies, while countries such as Vietnam are still building foundational capabilities.

A persistent challenge across the region is the gap between scientific strength and industrial capacity. Some countries have strong research output but weak commercialization, while others excel in industry but lack research depth. Corporate R&D concentration—85% conducted by just 2,000 global companies, mostly in the U.S. and China—further widens the gap.

Across four critical technologies—AI, advanced connectivity, biotechnology, and energy technologies—CACCI economies are relatively strong in AI and connectivity but lag in biotechnology and energy technologies. This highlights priority areas for cooperation. The speakers outlined a three-stage technology transformation model: (1) applying existing technologies in value chains, (2) scaling emerging technologies, and (3) developing frontier innovations through strong domestic ecosystems. These stages occur simultaneously and require coordinated strategies.

The presentation concluded that CACCI’s diversity can be turned into a regional strength. Stronger foresight capabilities, joint R&D efforts, and improved links between research and industry will be essential for sustainable competitiveness in a fast-changing technological landscape.

SUMMARY OF THE PANEL DISCUSSION

The panel discussion brought together Professor Güven Sak, Selin Arslanhan, and Dr. Sibel Güven from TEPAV to expand on the policy recommendations presented earlier and address audience questions. The conversation centered on how CACCI member economies can prepare for rapid technological transitions, shifts in global value chains, and the disruptive effects of artificial intelligence.

The panelists emphasized that implementing foresight-driven policies will indeed be challenging. Professor Sak noted that future-readiness requires understanding global technological shifts and building the institutional capacity to anticipate multiple possible futures. Because firms in CACCI economies tend to be smaller than their U.S. or Chinese counterparts, business support organizations such as CACCI play a crucial role in developing shared foresight mechanisms—something that individual companies cannot do alone.

Dr. Sibel Güven added that cooperation at the regional level is essential, as joint action makes foresight and technology adoption more feasible than isolated national efforts. Selin Arslanhan highlighted joint R&D platforms, shared investment funds, and foresight units as practical tools to accelerate innovation while reducing costs for governments, companies, startups, and academia.

On artificial intelligence, Professor Sak warned that many countries—including advanced economies—will face significant labor-market disruptions. The backlash against globalization and the political responses in developed countries (such as renewed tariffs and reshoring policies) mean that CACCI economies should not rely on old export-driven models. Instead, they must strengthen domestic and regional value chains and develop their own technological capabilities. Dr. Güven emphasized that AI regulation must not be overlooked, as countries need to manage both benefits and risks.

The panel also discussed the CACCI Strategic Foresight Alliance, noting that its purpose is not merely export promotion but supporting long-term technological preparedness. Singapore’s “Center for Strategic Futures” was cited as an example of a national-level model to draw from. Selin Arslanhan suggested starting with pilot programs in specific technology areas where CACCI countries already show strength—such as advanced connectivity—to demonstrate early success and establish momentum.

In closing remarks, Professor Sak stressed that technological changes are reshaping globalization itself. As advanced economies respond to domestic discontent by reshoring production and tightening technological control, CACCI countries must prepare to build new forms of regional cooperation and new value chains. The future, he noted, will depend on the region’s collective ability to understand these shifts and act proactively.

Key Takeaways

• Old globalization models are weakening, and CACCI economies must prepare by developing regional value chains and domestic technological capabilities.
• Strategic foresight mechanisms are essential, and business support organizations like CACCI should lead the creation of shared units, R&D platforms, and investment funds.
• AI brings both opportunity and risk, requiring coordination on regulation, labor-market adaptation, and innovation to prevent widening gaps between advanced and developing economies.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Among the key takeaways cited by the speakers are the following:

(1) CACCI's mix of technology leaders, growing technological ecosystems, and developing members is a strength. It allows for partnerships where different countries can specialize in different parts of a broader technological ecosystem.

(2) High-tech export success does not automatically reflect strong technology ecosystems or long-term innovation capacity in critical technologies.

(3) CACCI countries are more connected to global powers like China and the US in high-tech trade than to each other.

(4) A recurring pattern is the gap between CACCI's scientific performance and its industrial strength

CONCLUSION

The speakers concluded that there is a growing need to re-think new models of cooperation, noting the following:

(1) In the deepening global technological race, competitiveness now depends on building capabilities in new technologies and deploying new technologies in major global markets.

(2) CACCI’s diversity is an asset if leveraged for complementary specialization and technology cooperation.

(3) Innovation is no longer linear: new technologies need different skills, tools, and policies at each stage of development and diffusion.

(4) Strong science alone is not enough; success depends on turning research into real industry impact.

(5) Export growth does not always mean domestic innovation strength; technology capacity building remains essential.

(6) There is a need to move from a single national approach to collaborative regional ecosystems.

(7) Cross-border technology clusters, joint R&D platforms, and shared investment funds can turn diversity into strength.

(8) Building shared technology capabilities and policy alignment can increase technological sovereignty in critical technologies.

A video recording of the webinar can be viewed at the CACCI YouTube HERE.

A copy of the presentation can be downloaded HERE.

A copy of the TEPAV Policy Paper can be downloaded HERE.