In 2010, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), in collaboration with seed companies, launched the International Maize Improvement Consortium – Asia (IMIC-Asia), a consortium of organizations engaged in maize research, breeding, hybrid production, seed sales and marketing in South and Southeast Asia. Objectives included (1) developing and testing inbred and hybrid maize with abiotic and biotic stress tolerance and high yield potential based on needs and priorities identified by consortium members; (2) improving maize productivity and livelihoods of farmers in rain-fed farming areas that have not yet benefited from improved and adapted seeds; and (3) developing capacities of breeders and technical personnel of consortium members in modern maize breeding and breeding informatics. Core component is the establishment of a consortium of small- and medium-size enterprises and research organizations in which all partners contribute to building capacities and technical expertise in maize breeding. Together, they established a strong collaborative testing network for identifying promising pre-release products for further evaluation at the national or state level as a part of the varietal release process. CIMMYT hybrid combinations are in the process of being allocated to interested members for commercialization and deployment to farmers.