Asia’s research-tech companies: Millions of users and nearly invisible to funders and customers

AI-powered research tools, developed primarily in Asia, have transformed the way scientists gather and present their work. These tools can rapidly sift through thousands of papers, identify fabricated data, and even assist in drug discovery. However, despite millions of users, these companies remain largely unknown outside the research community.

Many Asian-founded companies have raised significant funding, yet they face challenges in securing investments and customers. Government funders, ministry officials, and analysts in sovereign and university endowments are the key decision-makers in research funding. These decision-makers often rely on mainstream media and AI searches for information, rather than scholarly publications.

Research integrity, a topic frequently covered in mainstream media, can provide a hook for these tools to gain visibility and credibility. To reach a wider audience, research tech companies should focus on showcasing tangible benefits and results, such as accuracy benchmarks, adoption figures, or cases of fraud caught by their tools.

By framing these achievements as news stories and placing them in mainstream outlets, companies can attract the attention of government funders, ministry officials, and analysts, ultimately leading to increased funding and visibility.