Why did Taiwan choose Japan to host its largest innovation event abroad?

J-STORIES - Japan's first solution-focused news service, J-Stories, has been appointed as the media partner for the "Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit 2024," which will be held on September 17 and 18 at Tokyo Innovation Base (TiB), Tokyo’s startup networking hub. To support this year's summit and empower the Japan-Taiwan startup communities, J-Stories will feature related content on the Summit, the characteristics and strengths of Taiwanese startups, participating companies, guest speakers and more in the coming weeks.

About the Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit

Launched in 2022, the annual Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit is the largest startup event connecting the two East Asian democracies. It has brought together over 100 innovative startups from Taiwan, Japan, and other regions, and facilitated interactions with more than 1,000 participants from various sectors including politics, academia, industry, and media.

Highlights from last year's event. Source: Startup Island Taiwan YouTube Channel

The upcoming third edition of the summit will be hosted by “Startup Island Taiwan,” Taiwan’s government-backed national brand. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) will support the events as “special partners.”It is expected to bring together more than 30 startups from Taiwan along with 30+ venture capitalists and accelerators and over 40 Japanese companies and innovation partners.

The purpose of the Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit 2024 is to provide a platform where innovative entrepreneurs, technology experts, and investors from Japan and Taiwan can gather, fostering cross-border business partnerships and technological cooperation. The summit also aims to drive innovation and facilitate the connection of ecosystems related to innovation and entrepreneurship. It seeks to form partnerships for funding, technology, and market access, reducing barriers for startups from Japan and Taiwan to enter international markets.

▼Click here for more on the Summit:

https://togethergobig.jp/en-summit

Highlights of this year's Summit

Last year’s Japan-Taiwan Startup Summit 2023 brought about 40 startups from Taiwan to Tokyo in such categories as AI, HealthTech, Security and SaaS

1. Taiwan’s national development and strategy chief Paul Liu will attend Summit

At this year's summit, Paul Liu, minister of Taiwan's National Development Council and a pivotal figure in Taiwan’s economic, industrial and startup policies, will lead the Taiwanese delegation and deliver the opening speech. This will be Minister Liu's first overseas visit since the inauguration of Taiwan's new administration and his appointment in May, 2024. Following his participation in the summit on the first day (September 17), he will hold a press conference to discuss Taiwan's economic strategies, including its semiconductor business that the world depends on, and Taiwan's future role in the global innovation ecosystem.

Additionally, individual interviews with selected media are planned, where he is expected to address topics such as economic cooperation between Taiwan and Japan.

For media inquiries regarding exclusive interviews with Minister Paul Liu and his press conference, please contact jstories@pacificbridge.jp

Keiichi Yoshimura (left) from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Startup & Global Financial City Strategy Office and Amanda Liu (right), managing partner of Startup Island Taiwan, signed a memorandum to strengthen cooperation in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship earlier this year.     Source: Startup Island Taiwan — Keiichi Yoshimura (left) from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Startup & Global Financial City Strategy Office and Amanda Liu (right), managing partner of Startup Island Taiwan, signed a memorandum to strengthen cooperation in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship earlier this year. Source: Startup Island Taiwan

2. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) will support the events as “special partners.”

Startup Island TAIWAN, Taiwan's national brand, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to promote startup collaboration and enhance mutual cooperation in various fields related to innovation.
The Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit 2024 will be hosted by “Startup Island Taiwan,” Taiwan’s government-backed national brand. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) will support the events as “special partners.”The summit will also be supported by major Japanese companies, including prominent urban banks such as Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, Mizuho Bank, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, as well as leading trading companies. The event will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, and presentations on a range of industry themes including AI, big data, digital transformation (DX), green transformation (GX), ESG, life sciences, smart cities, semiconductors, and chips.

This year, Taiwanese and Japanese startups will mingle at Tokyo Innovation Base in Tokyo’s Yurakucho district on Sept. 17 and 18.

3. Distinguished Guests and Content

The upcoming summit is set to feature over ten prominent speakers from Japan and Taiwan. The keynote speeches will include topics such as "TSMC supply chain innovation: The secrets behind TSMC's tenfold market value increase" and "Deep tech Investment in Japan and the activities of the University of Tokyo IPC." Attendees can look forward to insightful speeches from esteemed guests and various exhibits from related companies.

J-Stories recently interviewed Keisuke Furukawa, partner and investment manager at the University of Tokyo's investment arm, Innovation Platform Center (IPC), who will deliver a keynote speech on Day 2 of the summit (Sept. 18). He will discuss startup collaboration between Japan and Taiwan. Our interview with Mr. Fukukawa will be coming up soon on J-Stories!

▼ Event Overview

Name: 2024 Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit

Dates: September 17 (Tuesday) & 18 (Wednesday), 2024, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Venue: Tokyo Innovation Base (TiB), 2nd Floor (Yurakucho Station, 3-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)

Format: On-site participation

Information & Registration link: https://togethergobig.jp/en-summit

Languages: Chinese and Japanese (Simultaneous interpretation available)

Organizer: Startup Island Taiwan

Additionally, an invitation-only gala party with investors will also be held on the evening of September 18. (To apply for your participation in the gala party, please sign up from here.)

▼ 2024 Highlights

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) will support the events as “special partners.”
Participation from over 60 Japanese large corporations, venture capitalists (VCs), corporate venture capitals (CVCs), and public-private innovation organizations, providing a platform for new business opportunities.
More than 30 startups from Taiwan and promising Japanese startups will participate.
Networking opportunities with investors and institutional investors.
A press conference by Paul Liu, Minister (Chairman) of Taiwan's National Development Council, marking his first overseas visit.