Arizona Delegation Visits Startup Terrace Kaohsiung, Seeking Deeper AI and Tech Cooperation

Central News Agency, Taipei, May 31. A high-level delegation led by Sandra Watson, Director of the Arizona Commerce Authority, visited Startup Terrace Kaohsiung. The Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration (SMESA) stated today that in the face of global supply chain restructuring and the AI wave, it will continue to assist Taiwanese startups in expanding into international markets through Startup Terrace Kaohsiung and deepen the connection between the Taiwan-US tech ecosystems. SMESA stated in a press release today that it hosted the high-level delegation led by Sandra Watson, along with the Kaohsiung City Government's Economic Development Bureau. The delegation included representatives from the Arizona state government, chambers of commerce, the University of Arizona, and the City of Tucson, demonstrating Arizona's high regard for deepening cooperation with Taiwan's industrial and startup ecosystems. SMESA Director-General Lee Kuan-chih stated that Kaohsiung's Asia New Bay Area is not only an important field for promoting 5G AIoT, artificial intelligence applications, smart manufacturing, biotech health technology, energy technology, and transportation technology, but also a key platform for Taiwanese startups to link with overseas resources and connect to international markets. Watson stated that Arizona is transforming from a semiconductor hub into an AI infrastructure hub, and its economic development has been significantly driven by years of cooperation with Taiwan. In the future, in addition to the semiconductor field, both sides will continue to deepen cooperation in AI infrastructure and related technologies. Watson also pointed out that the delegation is deeply interested in the cooperation model between Startup Terrace Kaohsiung and academic research institutions, as well as the guidance mechanism for resident startups, and will participate in the 2026 COMPUTEX TAIPEI and the InnoVEX startup exhibition area to engage in business exchanges with Taiwanese companies and startup teams. Lin Liao-Chia-Hung, Deputy Director of the Kaohsiung City Government's Economic Development Bureau, stated that Kaohsiung and Arizona are both important locations for TSMC's layout and are actively developing high-tech and semiconductor industries. With the cooperation between the central and local governments, Startup Terrace Kaohsiung has become an important international startup base and ecosystem resource hub in southern Taiwan. SMESA pointed out that this exchange event invited three Taiwanese startups—SenseFabric, Dudu, and Zero-Waste Recycling Technology—to share their innovative applications. SMESA emphasized that as an important international entrepreneurship cluster, Startup Terrace has established bases in Linkou and Kaohsiung, providing one-stop incubation services, office space, and market matching opportunities, while also building 5G AIoT innovation fields, smart technology testing environments, and innovation verification zones to accelerate the implementation of innovative technologies.