Assist manufacturers with R&D and innovation, foster startup teams, and accumulate the momentum for technical innovation in the park

1. The Start-up Workshop

STSP set up the Start-up Workshop to guide start-up teams to participate in the From IP to IPO Program (FITI), and fruitful results were achieved in 2023. The NCKU Center for Genomic Medicine developed the "intelligent cOmputing Noble Embryo" (icONE), which integrates preimplantation genetic screening data with maternal physiological features to predict probability of pregnancy with an accuracy of 92%, winning the Outstanding Entrepreneurship Award. In addition, there are five teams winning the Startup Potential Award, including "Natural Plant Product Development Team", "Oxygen Cube", "Crunchbase Company", "Tricuss", and "Vasscan".

In addition to tutoring and coaching startup teams to participate in FITI program, STSP Start-up Workshop also provides analysis and guidance to new startup teams in different fields and development phase, and assists the teams in linking various experts, funds, subsidies, and industry resources. On September 7, 2023, the Optimal Overall Professional Service (OOPS) the Start-up Workshop guided, Taiwan Occupational Therapy Association, Showba, Service Corporation Taiwan and others from industry, academia, and research institutions jointly set up an exhibition at the Cares Expo Taipei 2023 with the theme of "Oops! My Life, My Pavilion (Management)" and joined hands with new start-up teams such as aiFREE, KG MedTech Co., Ltd., IAMNITIOM TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., and others in this exhibition. The concept of "Life Journey Station" was used to integrate various resources for the exhibition, and the four teams mainly displayed innovative products that combined technologies and long-term care concept in the fields of remote life optimization system services and care aids, rehabilitation treatment with smart knee pads and nostalgic games, intelligence feedback lightweight activity training system, and innovative smart assistive AI care sensor system, attracting many to participate in and experience.

To assist startup teams in raising funds and linking cooperation resources, STSP Startup Workshop organized the Exchanges of Startups and Briefing Session of NDF's Business Angel Investment Program. Three startup teams, including LeXiang Wash, Environmental and Human Technologies, and Loopick shared their stories on the road to new ventures. Manager of Bridging Ventures was also invited to give advice concerning fundraising to new startup teams from the perspective of venture capital. The event created a chance for face-to-face communication for startups and venture capital investors. The director from Taiwan Venture Capital Association was also invited to explain the latest content of NDF's Business Angel Investment Program and provided one-on-one consultations with 7 teams with fundraising needs to clarify their questions and provided suggestions. Federal Intelligence CO., LTD that actually received investment in recent years was also invited to the event, and the chairman shared the successful case of applying for national development fund (NDF) from the perspective of a startup company.

2. AI_ROBOT Base at STSP

With the advantages of the smart machinery in STSP, combined with the park manufacturers and surrounding scientific research institutions, STSP's AI_ROBOT Base focuses on AI, robotics, and other related technologies, using the self-production field and facilities to assist with development.

With the concept of sharing resources, the well-constructed sites and multiple equipment instruments are shared with manufacturers in need. We are also committed to promoting talent development, and our programs include individual participation, corporate-sponsored and campus-based courses, assisting businesses to address talent shortages, enhance their competitive edges, and provide pathways for aspiring entrepreneurs.

(1) Promoting 5G technological innovation

On August 3, 2023, STSP Bureau led the associates of the AI_ROBOT Base and STSP Start-up Workshop to visit the Startup Terrace Kaohsiung established by MOEA for the promotion of the development of startup industry. The two parties exchanged and negotiated on topics such as 5G, AIoT, startups, and traditional industries, shared their respective resources, and discussed the vision of cooperation to build STSP's AI_ROBOT Base focusing on the platform of providing technical guidance, which will be equipped with 3D design, AI application and relevant equipment, assisting start-up companies to upgrade and integrate at technical level through technological value-addition.

The start-up achievement presentation and exchange meeting were held on September 26. The themes of exchanges were on 5G, AIoT, and Net-zero carbon emissions. Experts in different fields from National Science and Technology Council, enterprises and corporations, as well as academia gathered together to share cases of using the nature of 5G to assist traditional industries to eliminate abnormalities through real-time monitoring equipment and increase production to further transform into smart manufacturing. Issues concerning net-zero emissions was also covered. Relevant technical platform concerning carbon inventory and ESG that enterprises would face was also proposed to serve as a key driver for businesses to engage in sustainable development through guidance and resource integration. Startup Terrace Kaohsiung and global accelerators were especially invited to participate in the exchanges to inject international resources into the team and drive industry prosperity through mutual cooperation and resource sharing.

(2) Promotion of Talent Cultivation

"Net zero emissions by 2050" is a global goal. To respond to the trends and the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Taiwan has also joined the global climate action movement. To assist metal industry operators to rapidly grasp the carbon emission status in the factories, MOEA's Industrial Development Bureau held a 3-day related courses in STSP's AI_ROBOT Base, with about 40 participants.

The Kiss Science theme activity guided by National Science and Technology Council focused on opening a scientific field and allowing young students to experience technology in an interesting way. This event was held in STSP's AI_ROBOT Base on November 4th, 2023. The base not only provided DIY activities, talent cultivation, technology value-added services, there were also equipment and interactive tools. The guided tour allowed participants of all ages to understand the context of technological trends and further understand the equipment in the AI_ROBOT Base. Through the 3D pen, they could actually make 3D glasses and learn the technological principles in it. The final VR paragliding experience enabled them to enjoy the sense of flying by wearing the VR helmet. The half-day experience allowed participants to gradually understand, engage with, and experience technology, leading them through a progression to appreciate the development and mysteries of technology, and was widely acclaimed.

3. STSP's TAIRA Accelerator

STSP Bureau and StarFab Accelerator jointly created the TAIRA (Taiwan AI Robotics Accelerator), an international accelerator that integrates AI smart application, and starts from the advantageous industries in southern Taiwan, focusing on manufacturing, medical care, agriculture, and other related fields. The TAIRA Accelerator uses the cooperation mode of large-scale businesses working with small scale corporations, and the provision of R&D subsidies and business cooperation opportunities attract high-quality start-ups to Southern Taiwan for co-creation of innovation with businesses, linking with international resources to access to the international cooperation network, assisting these entrepreneurs with rapid growth in the most direct way.

Five start-up teams under TAIRA, including New Ip Innovation Technology Corp., MedFluid, Nuwa Robotics, Singular Wings Medical, and Ubestream participated in the largest Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in the United States and have achieved fruitful results.

Kitakyushu City, Japan, is one of Japan's startup ecosystem base cities. It has incubation facilities, and an accelerator program is implemented. Its Regional Economy Revitalization Division for Start-up Business Promotion, Kitakyushu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry visited Taiwan. The visiting units included Accelerators (TAIRA) in Taipei, Tainan, and Kaohsiung, government departments and new ventures in Taiwan. Exchanges were also made with new start-up companies interested in developing in Japan, which further expanded cooperation opportunities with science parks and start-up businesses in Taiwan.

4. Academia-Industry Exchange in Newly Established Science Parks

To plan future industrial development of the newly established science parks in advance, STSP Bureau has set smart agriculture and medicine and precision health as the base to develop Pingtung Science Park and Chiayi Science Park, integrating related industrial resources. Two forums were held in cooperation with the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology and Puzi Hospital in Chiayi on April 10 and April 12 respectively in 2023, inviting sectors of industry, government, academia, research institutions, and medicine to participate and jointly discuss the strategies and prospects for industrial transformation and upgrading in southern Taiwan.

On September 23, 2023, the Smart Agriculture and Medicine Forum was held in Pingtung Digital Youth Center to share successful experiences of the application of AI technology to agricultural production and create a new model for future agriculture. Most of the participants were local high-tech agricultural companies and young farmers who plan to introduce AI technology into agricultural products. Through the exchanges among the participants, the cross-domain forward-looking technologies will be introduced into the innovative development of local industries.