The National Development Fund (NDF), leveraging an inter-ministerial integration platform, is actively coordinating with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), and other agencies to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in Taiwan through three key strategies: “activating capital,” “expanding targets,” and “increasing success rates.” In 2024, Taiwan’s startup fundraising reached US$3.34 billion, surpassing the NT$100 billion mark, with NDF investments accounting for approximately 13.2% of total investment. The NDF aims to achieve NT$150 billion in startup fundraising by 2027.

President Lai Ching-te has emphasized building a “rainforest ecosystem” for innovation and entrepreneurship. Starting in 2024, the goal is to create 20,000 new startup jobs over five years, with an annual investment target of NT$150 billion.

Hsiao Chen-jung, Director of the Industrial Development Department at the NDF, noted that Taiwan’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem has grown robustly in recent years, with startup fundraising repeatedly hitting record highs. According to the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER) statistics released at the Venture Capital Annual Forum, 2024 fundraising reached US$3.34 billion, exceeding NT$100 billion, reflecting a maturing domestic startup environment. The NDF plans to continue coordinating with relevant agencies under the three-pronged strategy to achieve the 2027 target of NT$150 billion in startup fundraising.

Activating Capital:
Through its angel investment program, the NDF has invested in 292 startups with over NT$4 billion, successfully leveraging NT$16.5 billion in private capital. The NDF also collaborates with ministries to implement thematic investments, accumulating 505 portfolio companies and NT$22.053 billion in total investments, which have driven NT$83.135 billion in private investment. This year, the NDF has established NT$10 billion funds for AI, green growth, and smart robotics, with future plans to expand into sectors such as health, sports, and defense. To guide private investment into key industries, the NDF has invested in 114 domestic venture capital firms and is negotiating collaboration with Kyoto University’s iCAP Fund and NTU Venture Capital Consulting for future NDF co-investment.

Expanding Targets:
The NDF continues to attract international high-potential startups to Taiwan. Since 2015, 316 teams from 30 countries have participated, with one-third already collaborating with local enterprises. Future initiatives will leverage foreign office resources to bring in more international startups.

Hsiao also mentioned the planned “Startup Blossom Program,” where the top three teams will receive NT$10 million each, six teams NT$6 million each, and other teams NT$3 million each, totaling over NT$300 million in awards. The NDF is also actively promoting local revitalization projects to encourage youth to return to or move to rural areas for entrepreneurship. To date, 130 youth empowerment workstations have been established, 99 of which are run by returning or relocating entrepreneurs, generating NT$8.6 million in local output.

Increasing Success Rates:
The NDF assists startups in connecting with international resources, particularly in Japan, a key market for Taiwanese startups. For three consecutive years, Taiwan-Japan Innovation Summits were held in Tokyo, engaging 126 startups, with the next summit scheduled for August 25 in cooperation with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The NDF also partners with UC Berkeley on a biomedical acceleration program, providing professional courses and mentorship; over four years, this has facilitated eight successful investments. In addition, JP Morgan has consecutively hosted biotech forums in Taiwan for two years, bringing international biomedical resources and networks.

The NDF noted that past initiatives, such as events, exhibitions, and accelerator programs, were largely single-point efforts. To deepen international connections, startup bases were established in Tokyo (September 2023) and Silicon Valley (January 2025) to create a permanent service mechanism serving as a bridge for two-way exchanges.

Resource: 2024新創募資破億 國發會盼2027達到1500億