Twenty Kampong Thom Tourism, Agri SMEs to Join InnoLab Kampong Thom

Twenty Kampong Thom small and medium enterprises (SMEs) involved in tourism, handicraft and agriculture were chosen by Angkor Social Innovation Park to join the InnoLab Kampong Thom project where they will be mentored, and provided skills and resources to innovate and grow over eight months.

The businesses underwent a three-stage selection process, which included shortlisting, online interviews and on-site preliminary visits to their production sites to ensure that only “SMEs with the strongest potential to innovate” and a clear commitment to grow advance to the next stage of the project.

“The rigorous selection process ensures that they are well-prepared to innovate, scale, and contribute to Kampong Thom’s economic transformation,” said Angkor Social Innovation Park chairman Dr Chheang Vannarith.

The project supports and equips business owners with the skills, mentorship, and resources they need to innovate and grow sustainably under the slogan “Connect SMEs, Connect Innovation”.

In the next eight months, the SMEs will engage in a transformative process that includes specialised training in business development, as well as product, process, and digital innovation.

“They will receive continuous mentorship to guide and support them throughout the project, alongside in-kind grant support and access to innovation labs to test and refine their ideas,” according to Angkor Social Innovation.

The project will end with a final pitching session where participants get the chance to showcase their innovation and compete for the grand prize. “This next phase will not only strengthen the innovation capacity of these SMEs but also contribute to building sustainable growth in Tourism, Handicraft, and Agriculture in Kampong Thom province,” it said.

The project is supported by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation; funded by Skills Development Fund; sponsored by Khmer Enterprise, and organised by Angkor Social Innovation Park. It collaborates with Polytechnic Institute of Kampong Thom, CONSA Tech, i- Shop, Kiripost, Khmer Times, and Cambodia Women Entrepreneurs Association.

Angkor Social Innovation Park is dedicated to supporting these SMEs throughout their innovative journey, providing continued guidance, mentorship, and resources to help them embed creativity into their businesses and achieve sustainable growth that benefits both their enterprises and the broader Kampong Thom community, it said.