he Bakery, a UK-based startup accelerator, launched its Asia Operations Center at Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP) through a collaboration with STSP and Flag Digital Corporation. On July 9, Minister of Science and Technology Chen Liang-gee, joined by Tainan City Mayor Huang Wei-che, presided over the inauguration ceremony. Minister Chen also announced the initiation of the SuperStartup! Business Innovation Program for which a total value of NT$100 million SuperStartup! marketing plan will be provided.
Mayor Huang pointed out that STSP is a significant place for the science and technology development in southern Taiwan. Since the inauguration of The SME Incubator at STSP in 2003, many innovation makerspaces and projects create opportunities for the youth. Integrating the resources from Ministry of Economic Affairs and National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), STSP has formed a precious high-tech corridor. All the groups supported by the From IP to IPO Program (FITI) launched since 2013 not only continue to run their business but also stay in STSP as new blood.
Mayor Huang further expressed his expectation of keeping the youth to work in community through building an innovative brand base in STSP. He also delivered his appreciation for The Bakery’s choosing STSP as operations center in Asia, which offers a better future to the youth in Taiwan.
Minister Chen showed strong confidence in technological talents cultivated by Taiwan. He indicated that, more importantly, the country has the image of software and hardware integration, which is the trend and core ability of future technological development that places great emphasis on AI and smart services. The trend shows that Taiwan’s talents in software and hardware integration and supply chain are the most essential source of Industrial collaboration and that these exclusive strengths of Taiwan should be used to the fullest. The SuperStartup! Business Innovation Program aims to unite experts in STSP and NCKU, to attract funds, especially international funds via The Bakery, to integrate innovation environment and to create unique advantages of Taiwan.
According to STSP, the park already has some startup promotion platforms such as TAIRA accelerator, AI_ROBOT makerspace and NCKU Start-up Workshop. With the participation of The Bakery Asia Operations Center, the innovation network of STSP will be more complete, leading a new wave of innovation and entrepreneurship in southern Taiwan.
As a result of limited capital, startups’ investment priority is usually product research and development; while hence insufficient marketing funding or channels to generate actual revenue becomes their common difficulty. Therefore, The Bakery will host competitions of the 4-year SuperStartup! Business Innovation Program, which will grant marketing service valued at NT$1 million to each year’s 25 winning companies. Through comprehensive marketing plan, startups can advance brand recognition after developing quality products. It is expected that with multiple initiatives, startup industries in Taiwan will grow and thrive.