Taipei City Government empowers startup entrepreneurs to create a new future - 臺北產經資訊網

Taipei City Government is dedicated to technical applications and transformation of new technology, and actively fosters the development of innovative startups. Department of Economic Development, Taipei City Government works closely with Business Next and other units to host the 4th Future Commerce, which took place in the Taipei Expo Park-Expo Dome from April 26 to April 28, 2018. There are four theme sectors available on site including "Future Business ", “Future Technology”, “Future Experience”, and “Future Connection”, plus AI living application new entertainment experience, Product Next Collection, automatic guided shops, Bitcoin and other experiences during the show. It’s possible to foresee the new look of future businesses through the top 10 blocks.

Stepping into the conference venue, one can feel the smart environment that gives everyone a sense of the future. The exhibition hall adopts Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) inductive sensing technology for admission, and combines the content of Line@ services for attending the exhibition. With 1 smartphone, anyone will be guided to learn more about the features and hot events at each zone. More than 100 enterprises have joined the exhibition on site, offering 200 booths for user experiences. This exhibition has attracted nearly 30,000 people to visit. Not only the general public will go crazy for the experience, but the expo also showcases bountiful business opportunities for smart technology and the power of startups.

AI has become a hot topic among the startup circle. An exclusive zone for AI Experiences has been held at the 2018 Future Commerce. Among these, the Self-Driving bus has attracted the most attention where attendees would go hustle to queue up for a trial ride. The usage rate of public transportation in Taipei City exceeds 42.8%. There are more than 2 million passengers who take the MRT in Taipei where the highest passenger traffic can be found. As everyone can see, the traffic is very convenient. Yet, Taipei City Government wanted to do more by building connections between the MRT lines for the last mile away from home. It works with the vendors to initiate the project known as “Self-Driving Shuttle EZ10 Experimental Project”. The self-driving bus named as “EZ10” sits on a virtual track and follows the route when it’s on the move, which can lower the risk of occurrence of an accident. It can also collect data when it’s on the move to ferret out bumpy road, illegal parking, double parking next to a double yellow line, or other situation. All this data collected will be counted as feedback for road management. A self-driving bus has been launched for a trial ride along the exclusive bus lane at Shuiyuan Campus of NTU and on Xinyi Rd. in Taipei City successively. Currently, a “road test” is being held at Beitou-Shilin Technology Park to simulate the real-world scenario on the road. In the future, it is expected that people can see the bus at a zoo, or Neihu Technology Park, Expo Park, and make that vision of taking a ride anywhere a reality to enjoy the shared-ride shuttle.

Taipei City Government keeps promoting the digital economy to support the emerging technology development through real action. To help startup companies engage in R&D in emerging technology, the Department of Economic Development, Taipei City Government has launched the “StartUP@Taipei Office” and “Investment Taipei Office” to integrate 48 resources from the central government and 16 resources from the local government. It offers one-stop startup and investment consultancy and consulting, and provides real incentives through Project of Subsidies & Incentives for Taipei Industry. It allows the startup teams based in Taiwan or overseas countries to stop worrying about the future and start a new life here in Taipei City. According to statistics, starting from March, 2011 up to May, 2018, the subsidy has reached 1.4 billion after 1,199 applications have been approved. Enterprises were driven to invest more than 20.9 billion in innovations, and offer 8,934 jobs. Among these, it focuses on AR/VR, AI, Fintech, blockchain, data security, gaming, Elderly Care, sports, and other emerging technology domains with a subsidy that exceeds 150 million.

Besides having funds collected from subsidies and incentives, Taipei City Government also actively builds up all types of startup bases, and provides reasonable space rental and equipment to drastically reduce the cost of startup. Currently, 21 industrial bases were on schedule, and 8 bases were opened for business. The government focuses on the startup base of future emerging industrial development including the “Taipei digiBlock” that focuses on AR/VR digital contents, and “Taipei Co-Space” that offers co-working office space for entrepreneurs who run micro businesses. Plenty of young entrepreneurs have moved into the space from abroad or this country to form an industrial settlement and connect to the international world. Taipei City Government plans to build up more startup bases within the next 5-6 years. These bases have become a dreamland for entrepreneurs who are eager to make dreams come true.

For more information and to learn more, please visit the Startup Taipei Official Site: http://www.startup.taipei/

Taipei City has been proactive in the startup trend. CNBC, a financial media channel based in the U.S., has officially announced the list in May, 2018 and Taipei City was on the list of TOP 8 Startup Cities in East Asia. Not only are domestic startup vendors actively exploring business opportunities, but foreign startup teams have also gathered here one by one. According to statistics, more than 1,500 foreign startup companies moved to Taipei City during 2015-2017 each year, about 2,000 domestic startup companies have joined the activities here, and the number of new establishments of foreign companies in Taipei occupies 60% of the national business activities, which show that Taipei City is a popular location for domestic or foreign startup businesses.

To expand international connections, Taipei City Government signed 4 MOUs concerning collaboration with innovative startups during a visit to the Netherlands in January, 2018, and visited the Mayor of Eindhoven City Mr. John Jorritsma to boost mutual exchange, collaboration and innovations. Since the mayor of Eindhoven City looked up to the strength of innovation and technology in Taiwan, he led 17 startup companies based in the Netherlands to visit Taipei City on June 6, 2018. A “Holland Lounge” was launched at the 2018 InnoVEX startup expo. The team started business exchange and collaboration with the startup teams based in Taipei City and those from around the world, and has become the largest foreign delegate of InnoVEX. These startup teams showcased technology and the innovations at the exhibition hall, including the magical translation machine Travis the Translator that supports 80 spoken languages, the camera Sorama that can eliminate noise, wearable camera Roader that can record the screen within 10 seconds, and the electric car Lightyear that uses solar power and does not require charging for several months. Among these, the smart underwear Carin known as the “hybrid of Taiwan and the Netherlands” that can support women who suffer from urinary disorder to train the pelvic floor muscle was made of fabrics produced by the startup company based in the Netherlands and Taiwan Textile Research Institute. On top of that, the mayor of Eindhoven City has signed an MOU with Taipei City Government concerning smart cities to work hard for smart city development and sustainable development. Hopefully, both parties can start a variety of collaborations and business exchange to benefit each other and prosper together.

In addition to enhancing the connections among international cities, Taipei City Government also actively snares international startup talents, and launched the “Global Startup Talents @ Taipei” at the 2018 InnoVEX Expo. It has invited the international startup teams awarded the “2018 Global Startup Talents@Taipei Program” to join the exhibition in 2018. New technologies and innovative products were introduced by 25 teams coming from 16 countries. Hopefully, it can facilitate international startup teams to launch operating locations in Taipei City, and startup collaboration with the industries based in Taipei City.

Hundreds of innovative startup institutions gathered in Taipei City where it provides plenty of startup bases, boosters, social media platforms, and angel investment. The ecosystem of startup innovation started to boom, and has become the cradle for entrepreneurs. Besides signing the MOU with Eindhoven City, Netherlands, Taipei City Government has signed MOUs for innovative startup with Fukuoka, Japan and Sapporo, Japan as well as Selangor, Malaysia. It also led startup enterprises to join a travel group and visit the new south bound countries to start industrial match, facilitate economy and commerce of Taipei City introduced to overseas countries, and increase international visibility. Smart evolution, startup business models will be launched soon. Taipei City Government will not only take the local enterprises and startup owners to move forward into the international world, but also lead international investment and startup power and introduce them to Taipei City. Hopefully, Taipei City will become the new center for Asian startups.