2025 Taiwan's Startup Ecosystem and Investment Scene
The 2025 Taiwan’s Startup Ecosystem and Investment Scene report presents a comprehensive overview of Taiwan’s rapidly evolving innovation landscape under the national startup brand Startup Island TAIWAN. Positioned as a global technology and entrepreneurship hub, Taiwan combines world-leading semiconductor and AI industries with a strong policy foundation that fuels sustainable economic growth. The report highlights Taiwan’s transformation from a “startup island” to a global innovation powerhouse—supported by agile government initiatives such as the 5+2 Innovative Industries Policy, Six Core Strategic Industries, and Five Trusted Industry Sectors.
Strategically positioned in the heart of East Asia, Taiwan stands as a global hub of innovation and technology. It is renowned globally for its advanced computer microchip manufacturing and its dominance in the semiconductor industry. Taiwan is classified as a high-income economy, with economic competitiveness surging; in 2024, it was ranked 8th most competitive economy in the world (IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook), and its startup ecosystem ranked 22nd globally (StartupBlink 2024). Furthermore, Taiwan offers a superior quality of life, featuring world-class digital infrastructure and ranking #1 globally in the 2024 Numbeo Healthcare Index.
The foundation of this success lies in its agile policy environment. Government strategy has evolved through the 5+2 Innovative Industries Policy, the Six Core Strategic Industries Policy, and the newest Five Trusted Industry Sectors plan, prioritizing semiconductors, AI, and next-generation communications. This policy backdrop drives strong economic activity, particularly in AI-related exports.
The ecosystem is rapidly expanding, home to 9,583 startups as of December 2024. The investment scene is thriving, demonstrating resilience against global market slowdowns; 2023 saw 542 early-stage deals totaling $2.79 billion USD. Investment activity is concentrated in the Energy sector (which attracted the highest investment value at $1.07 billion USD), Health and Biotech, and Hardware, highlighting Taiwan's strengths across deep tech and manufacturing. This report details these trends, spotlights cutting-edge companies, and outlines robust support systems, including funding from the National Development Fund (NDF) and flexible visa options like the Taiwan Employment Gold Card.
For the full report, please check the attached file.
