Research

New Taipei’s startup ecosystem is shaped by a diverse range of entrepreneurial support organizations, including local government agencies, universities, research institutions, and private-sector entities. Startup hubs and co-working spaces are largely concentrated in Banqiao, Xinzhuang, Zhonghe, Tucheng, Xindian, and Linkou, covering sectors such as cultural and creative industries, smart technologies, biomedical and healthcare, smart living, e-commerce, and manufacturing. Together, these clusters show strong linkages with established industry.

Among these, Startup Terrace Linkou, located alongside Linkou Industrial Park, Hwa Ya Technology Park, and the Linkou International Media Park, has attracted more than 132 startups since its establishment and has become a key platform for international startups entering Taiwan. In addition, InnoSquare, the first accelerator in Taiwan established by a local government, has supported more than 300 startup teams to date, highlighting the New Taipei City Government’s long-term commitment.

Beyond these major startup hubs, New Taipei has established a number of thematic youth entrepreneurship bases tailored to different industries. These span sectors such as e-sports, social innovation, green energy, e-commerce, maker industries, arts, and new media, providing startups with environments and resources for market validation, prototyping, and business model validation. Many of these facilities are designed around real-world applications, helping startups lower barriers to market entry and increase the likelihood of successful commercialization.

New Taipei’s accelerators and incubation centers reflect a diverse development approach. Accelerator types include corporate-linked, investment-oriented, resource- and mentorship-based, and academic/research-driven models, with corporate-linked accelerators accounting for the largest share. This reflects an ecosystem centered on industrial supply chains and corporate resources. Incubation centers, by contrast, tend to focus on long-term support and technology development for early-stage startups, providing workspace, training programs, advisory services, and industry-academia collaboration. These functions help startups progress from concept to operation, complementing the time-bound acceleration programs offered by accelerators.

At the same time, New Taipei’s investor landscape is strongly enterprise-oriented. Approximately 181 investment institutions are based in the city, of which around 78% are strategic investors and about 16% are venture capital firms. This structure suggests that investment activity in New Taipei is primarily driven by corporate strategic objectives rather than purely financial returns. Many corporations have established investment arms or accelerators to expand into sectors such as semiconductors, ICT, biotechnology, precision manufacturing, and green energy, while also providing market access, manufacturing capabilities, and technical resources throughout the investment lifecycle. This, in turn, accelerates the commercialization of startup innovations.

New Taipei City Government’s innovation and entrepreneurship support focuses on four main areas: providing physical spaces, offering startup services, promoting market visibility, and facilitating access to funding. By building a comprehensive support ecosystem, the government helps reduce startup risks and improve survival rates. Key initiatives include the operation of startup hubs, startup competitions, crowdfunding support programs, business matchmaking, and industry promotion initiatives. These efforts are aligned with priority areas such as smart manufacturing, biomedical and healthcare, green energy and sustainability, and the digital economy, strengthening the link between startups and industry demand.

According to data from the FINDIT platform, as of the end of October 2025, New Taipei is home to 1,365 startups, accounting for approximately 13.6% of the total in Taiwan. The distribution across districts shows a clear geographic concentration, with Zhonghe, Xindian, and Xinzhuang hosting the highest number of startups, followed by Linkou and Yonghe. This indicates that transportation accessibility, the presence of technology parks, and the density of startup hubs are key factors influencing where startups establish operations. By sector, health care and biotechnology account for the largest share, followed by hardware, food and beverage, consumer goods, manufacturing, and information services, reflecting how New Taipei’s industrial structure and market demand shape startup development.

With its comprehensive industrial base, strong corporate investment capacity, and diverse incubation resources, New Taipei has developed a startup ecosystem defined by an industry-focused approach, close corporate collaboration, and real-world validation. Backed by a broad range of entrepreneurial support organizations and application-driven environments, startups are better aligned with industrial needs and commercialization pathways. This has fostered strong industry linkages and further deepened corporate collaboration. Taken together, New Taipei has developed a representative, industry-driven startup ecosystem in northern Taiwan.