Ulaanbaatar, November 5, 2025 /MONTSAME/. KITE Mongolia LLC successfully concluded Social Innovation Week 2025 (SIW 2025), celebrating its 5th anniversary as Mongolia’s leading platform for advancing social innovation, sustainable development, and startup ecosystem growth. On October 27-28, 2025, the event convened government agencies, international partners, investors, and startups to exchange knowledge, shape collaboration, and accelerate innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The key highlight of the event was the workshop by Unicorns Lithuania delivered by Rūta Pukenė, the Head of Ecosystem growth and Community Relations, to share Lithuania’s experience in building an open, dynamic, and globally connected innovation and startup ecosystem. Lithuania is one of the fastest growing in Central and Eastern Europe. In just a decade, its ecosystem has grown 39 times, from only 419 million euros to an impressive 16 billion euros today. With a population of just 2.8 million, Lithuania is home to around 2,000 startups and four unicorns.

The founders of the newly established Startup Association Mongolia, startups, as well as other participants were able to ask questions and participate in the discussions. This event was made possible by the support of Lithuania’s development cooperation initiative in Mongolia. In her welcoming remarks, Agne Sakalauskaite, Deputy Head of the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania noted that “this support reflects our belief that innovation and entrepreneurship know no borders. Today, we are building bridges between our ecosystems — creating new opportunities for sustainable growth and lasting collaboration”.

During the “Social Innovation Week 2025,” Mr. Yoshimura, Deputy Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Mongolia Office, delivered remarks and presented the outcomes of the “MICS (Mongolia Open Innovation and Co-Creation for SDGs)” program. “The MICS program is designed to foster collaboration between the public and private sectors, universities, and research institutions of Mongolia and Japan, to co-create innovative ideas and technologies that contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We are very pleased to hear that KITE and the IT Park have expressed their strong intention to continue implementing the MICS model,” Mr. Yoshimura stated. 

The second day focused on green innovation and sustainable finance. Sessions led by Mongolian Nature’s Legacy Foundation, Nomad Earth Pte Ltd highlighted the importance of nature based solutions while UNDP, Ureca Pte Ltd, Basalt Wool JSC, and Nemu Energy discussed potential solutions for renewable energy, passive housing and low-carbon technologies in combating air pollution in Mongolia. Nomad Earth Pte Ltd initial project is co-developed with the Singaporean partners and has a high potential given the recently signed agreement of carbon trade between Singapore and Mongolia.  In parallel, KITE Mongolia co-hosted the Digital Startup Awards 2025 Semi-Finals in Mongolia with IT Park Uzbekistan and IT Park Mongolia showcasing emerging tech startups from our country.

Five Years of Impact
Since its inception, KITE Mongolia, through its Social Innovation Week(s), has raised awareness of philanthropy capital and collaborative solutions to empower innovators, bridge local initiatives with international partners, and strengthen Mongolia’s innovation ecosystem.

About KITE Mongolia
KITE Mongolia LLC is a social innovation and ecosystem development organization that connects people, ideas, and institutions for sustainable growth. Its programs promote entrepreneurship, inclusive innovation, and cross-sector cooperation in Mongolia and beyond.