Recent financial challenges have forced Asian companies to engage with each other more intensely as they can no longer rely entirely on American and European capital and markets. Nevertheless, despite the tremendous amount of economic interaction between Asian nations, the cooperation between institutions and universities throughout Asia, particularly between the Middle East, Central Asia and Northeast Asia, remains fragmented and uneven.

The Asia Institute envisions a fully integrated Asian continent in which experts working on current critical issues (the environment, finance, energy, technology, and non-proliferation) at institutes throughout Asia can cooperate closely. The Asia Institute is actively involved in building necessary collaborative networks committed to similar goals that can realize that vision.

The Asia Institute works to encourage greater exchange between the nations of the Middle East and those of Northeast Asia. These two regions are increasingly linked by energy sales and industrial trade, but lack close institutional ties. By leading joint projects involving institutions in Northeast Asia and the Middle East, through the East Asia Middle East Initiative (EAMEI) the Asia Institute will set the foundations for unprecedented cooperation between the two regions.

The same holds true for the emerging South Asian giant: India. The Asia Institute has established a Korea India Business and Technology Initiative (KIBTI) to lead Korea's engagement with Indian usiness and research institutes.

In addition, the Asia Institute is expanding efforts to include institutional collaboration with Central Asia and Southeast Asia.