Industrial Transformation in ASEAN A Cluster-Driven Model for Regional and Global Collaboration 2026

Images: Adobe Stock, Getty Images Contents Foreword 3 Executive summary 4 1 Context and opportunity 5 2 Clusters as catalysts of ASEAN’s energy transition 7 and industrial transformation 2.1 ASEAN – the region’s energy transition 7 and industrial transformation enabler 2.2 ASEAN nations overview: balancing industrial 10 growth and decarbonization 2.3 Challenges to ASEAN’s energy transition 12 2.4 Strengthening industrial clusters’ role in 13 ASEAN’s transition 3 From strategy to scale: how ASEAN’s industrial 15 clusters are driving transition today 3.1 Partnerships 16 3.2 Policy 20 3.3 Technology 22 3.4 Finance 24 4 Industrial cluster playbook 26 4.1 Formation stage 27 4.2 Developing stage 28 4.3 Scaling stage 29 5 Expanding ASEAN’s global connectivity 30 Conclusion 33 Contributors 34 Endnotes 37 Disclaimer This document is published by the World Economic Forum as a contribution to a project, insight area or interaction. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed herein are a result of a collaborative process facilitated and endorsed by the World Economic Forum but whose results do not necessarily represent the views of the World Economic Forum, nor the entirety of its Members, Partners or other stakeholders. © 2026 World Economic Forum. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system. Industrial Transformation in ASEAN: A Cluster-Driven Model for Regional and Global Collaboration 2