Sufficient funds for start-ups

• The National Development Fund launched the NT$1 billion "Business Angel Investment Program" in 2018. In 2019, a number of refined measures were proposed and the funds have been increased to NT$5 billion in 2020. The National Development Council has approved investment in 261 start-up companies, totaling nearly NT$14 billion.
• Conducted a relief loans and interest subsidy enhance scheme for startups majorly impacted by COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme has accepted 1,158 applications and issued NT$12.29 billion loans since June, 2021.
• Assisting186start-up companies to succeed, and facilitating45start-up companies exits successfully.

Mobilize innovation

• Issued 9,393 Employment Gold Cards. YouTube co-founder Steve Chen received the first Employment Gold Card so as to return to Taiwan for helping local startups
  Implemented the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals. Lifted regulatory restrictions on foreign professional talents coming to Taiwan and working and living in Taiwan. The measures included approving income tax incentives for foreigners working for the first time in Taiwan, applying for the Employment Gold Card Permit without an employer and other regulations, further making the job opportunities in Taiwan more friendly to foreign professionals.
• The Asia Silicon Valley Development Agency has collaborated with Draper University in Silicon Valley to organize the Hero Training since 2018 and sent 84 students to the US for training in order to develop Taiwan's talents and help the domestic start-ups to connect to the international venture capital market.
• Established the Asia Silicon Valley Academy and collaborated with Google, Microsoft and other global firms to offer a total of more than 380+ online courses covering AI/big data, IoT, innovation and entrepreneurship and other diverse topics. Professional certification exams are given to cultivate innovative talents. Attracted over 350 thousand views, as of December 2023.

Improve regulatory environment

• Helped clarify 46 startup regulatory issues
  Established a startup regulation adaptation platform to facilitate the interpretation and adaptation of laws for startup companies' business models through a single point of contact. The cross-functional communication platform helped business operators and the authority communicate and coordinate to reduce the cost of regulatory compliance for startup companies.
• Proposed 10 measures favorable to development of startups
  Amended the Company Act, and the amendments included the issuance of non-denomination shares, multiple voting shares, convertible corporate bonds and others favorable to the development of startups. They loosened the restrictions on fundraising, offered operating flexibility, created a good startup investment environment and encouraged the development of startups.
• Enforced two acts,“Financial Technology Development and Innovative Experimentation Act” and “Unmanned Vehicles Technology Innovative Experimentation Act” to set up regulatory sandboxes. Approved 28 cases including 9 FinTech and 19 unmanned vehicle experiments.

Expanded Domestic & Global Market

• Promoted public procurement for startups. As of December 2023, more than 105 startup solutions has been adopted by government agencies, driving over NT$300 million business value.
• Assisted startups in participating in international exhibitions for business opportunities
  1. Assisted over 1,400 startups in participating in international exhibitions (including 174 online participants in 2020), such as the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in the US, France Viva Tech, etc.
  2. Total business opportunities reachedNT$4.476billion from 2018 to 2024.
• Established 5 international-level startup clusters
  1. Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA): Attracted 10 foreign accelerators, and mentored849 startups(including 396international groups).
  2. TTA South: Stationed by43startups.
  3. Startup Terrace: Stationed by 634(including422startups and 29accelerators).
  4. Startup Terrace Kaohsiung: Stationed by 137startups and11 accelerators.
  5. Fintech Space : Stationed by 57 startups and accelerators.
• Proliferated Startup clusters nationwide：93startup bases、78 accelerators、150 incubators throughout Taiwan
  Promoted the establishment of startup bases and incubators throughout Taiwan and helped domestic and foreign accelerators to take the residency. Connected resources available to startups and cultivated talents. Enhanced momentum of local incubators and helped startups to participate in international exhibitions. Provided a friendlier entrepreneurship environment to startups and obtained more diverse assistance.