TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Three investment programs led by Taiwan’s economics ministry have supported 550 cases and generated more than NT$40 billion (US$1.23 billion) in investment, CNA reported Saturday.
The programs support key industries, service companies, and small and medium-sized enterprises. They are part of seven major investment plans backed by a government development fund and run by different government agencies.
The economics ministry said the government fund has invested about NT$15.4 billion through the three programs. Private investors have added at least NT$24.7 billion.
The strategic manufacturing program began in May 2015 and had invested in 33 companies through 38 cases by the end of April. Total investment under the program reached NT$7.53 billion, including NT$1.01 billion from the government fund and NT$6.52 billion from private investors.
The ministry said 18 companies backed by the manufacturing program have gone public or entered public trading markets. Biotech and medical companies made up the largest share at 30%, followed by green energy and environmental companies at 18%.
Semiconductor companies and information hardware companies each made up 12% of the program. Other supported areas included chemical materials, functional textiles, and agricultural technology, per CTEE.
The strategic services program began in February 2013 and had invested in 89 companies through 101 cases by the end of April. Total investment reached NT$10.25 billion, including NT$3.02 billion from the government fund and NT$7.23 billion from private investors.
Information and communications services accounted for 47% of the services program. The ministry said one backed startup focuses on computer vision and has expanded into smart cities, self-driving vehicles, and industrial inspection, per Economic Daily News.
The small business program has two stages. The first stage began in 2007 and had invested in 285 companies through 350 cases by the end of April, drawing about NT$18.25 billion in total investment.
The second stage began in 2023 with an additional NT$10 billion and had invested in 50 companies through 61 cases by the end of April. It drew about NT$4.09 billion in total investment, including NT$1.96 billion from the government fund and NT$2.19 billion from other investors.
The ministry said the second stage has accepted 89 applications after removing ineligible and withdrawn cases. Of those, 61 have completed investment and four are still under review.
The ministry said each pre-investment assessment and review usually takes 1.5 to two months. It said the timeline was set to meet small businesses’ funding needs.
National Development Council Minister Yeh Chun-hsien (葉俊顯) said the government is planning an investment management platform for the seven major programs. The platform would improve cross-agency management, oversight, and performance reviews.
The economics ministry said it may allow offshore companies with main operations in Taiwan to join the manufacturing and service programs. It will also assess raising matching investment ratios for early startups, increasing single-case funding, and easing rules for matching investors.
