September 19, 2024 - Singapore - The Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI) has partnered with the DFINITY Foundation, a Swiss nonprofit specializing in blockchain and AI, to help Cambodia become a key regional player in innovation. This initiative will utilize the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) technology's scalability, immutability, transparency, and smart contracts to transform Cambodia into a knowledge hub for emerging technologies.

The DFINITY Foundation has agreed to sign a Letter of Intent (LOI) with MISTI during the Singapore Blockchain Week. This collaboration seeks to position Cambodia as a key player in blockchain, AI, and sovereign cloud technologies in Southeast Asia.

H.E. Dr. Hul Seingheng, Undersecretary of State of MISTI, said, “The collaboration will concentrate on sovereign cloud technology and investigate practical uses for smart city infrastructure, such as transparency, scalability, and security via ICP’s decentralized blockchain solutions. This diverse partnership will also provide Cambodian entities with opportunities to collaborate with both global and local academic institutions, promoting joint research and innovation projects supported by some of the world's foremost blockchain technologies.”

He also mentioned that entering a strategic partnership with the DFINITY Foundation, marking an important step in Cambodia’s path to technological advancement as guided by Cambodia’s STI Roadmap 2030. By incorporating blockchain technology into national infrastructure projects, the goal is to create secure, transparent, and scalable solutions that will advance smart city efforts and enhance the overall digital economy and society.

“This partnership will create new opportunities for research, technological innovation, and entrepreneurial growth, fostering a national innovation ecosystem where Cambodia can thrive as a regional leader in emerging technologies, particularly in blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI). Through this collaboration, we envision not only transformative technological advancements but also the cultivation of a robust technological landscape that will empower our economy and society for years to come," said H.E. Dr. Try Sophal, Director General of MISTI’s General Department of Science, Technology & Innovation.

Speaking on the importance of the Letter of Intent, Founder and Chief Scientist at DFINITY Dominic Williams said, “We are thrilled to have reached this agreement with the ambitious, forward-thinking Government of Cambodia. We believe that blockchain and AI technology can offer a truly transformative impact on Cambodia’s technological and digital infrastructure, strengthening Cambodia’s economic potential in the digital age. ICP's scalability and transparency will empower Cambodia to develop smart cities that operate on secure, transparent, and immutable infrastructure. The collaboration will position Cambodia as a regional center for knowledge, innovation, and skills in blockchain technology applications for smart cities.”

The LOI with Cambodia is part of DFINITY’s continued efforts to support innovation and knowledge sharing with governments, agencies, and organizations globally about the potential of sovereign cloud technology to ensure data sovereignty. DFINITY is also focused on engaging with entrepreneurs and tech-focused organizations in Southeast Asia.

About the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation

Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI) fulfills its mission as a government agency responsible for guiding and managing the development and governance of industry, science, technology, and innovation of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

For more information, visit: About MISTI | Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation

About DFINITY Foundation

The DFINITY Foundation was established in Zürich, Switzerland, in 2016. Since then, it has become the largest blockchain tech employer in Switzerland and the DACH Region, with talented people from local and international organizations, such as IBM Research, Google Research, Meta, etc. The DFINITY Foundation is the creator and major contributor to the Internet Computer, a third-generation blockchain that extends the functionality of the Internet from a network that connects devices globally to a computing platform that hosts systems and services directly on the blockcha​