NDF's Hundred-Billion Platform Investment Surpasses NT$20 Billion, Focusing on AI Drones and Aerospace

The National Development Fund (NDF) has announced the phased achievements of its thematic hundred-billion investment program, which guides capital into national key industries. To date, it has invested in over 500 companies, with total investment exceeding NT$20 billion, reaching NT$21.6 billion. Investment areas include drones, aerospace applications, and artificial intelligence (AI).

To support the development of Taiwan's startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the NDF has collaborated with various ministries to launch thematic hundred-billion fund investment programs. Themes cover strategic manufacturing, strategic services, SMEs, cultural and creative industries, AI startups, green growth, and smart robotics.

The NDF released a press statement indicating that it established the 'Inter-ministerial Integrated Management Platform for Thematic Hundred-Billion Funds' (abbreviated as the Hundred-Billion Platform) this year. After two working-level meetings in the first half of the year, the platform convened its first 'Steering Committee' meeting today.

The meeting was chaired by Yeh Jyun-hsien, Minister and Convener of the NDF, and attended by deputy ministers overseeing thematic projects from various ministries, including Economic Affairs Vice Minister Jiang Wen-ruo, Environment Vice Minister Hsieh Yen-ju, Culture Vice Minister Wang Shih-ssu, Digital Development Vice Minister Yang Chia-ling, Sports Administration Vice Minister Huang Chi-huang, and National Science and Technology Council Vice Chairperson Su Chen-kang. The committee reached a consensus on establishing a permanent inter-ministerial communication mechanism.

Yeh emphasized that due to the increasing complexity and uncertainty in global industrial competition, and differing policy priorities across ministries, the Hundred-Billion Platform adopts a two-tier structure: strategic oversight by the Steering Committee and operational integration by subordinate working groups, aiming to achieve macro governance and agile deployment.

He further noted that through the Hundred-Billion Platform and the introduction of professional consulting teams, inter-ministerial coordination and investment information integration will be strengthened, enhancing investment efficiency and risk management. This ensures alignment with national policies and deepens pre-investment evaluation as well as mid- and post-investment management, enabling real-time monitoring of investment progress, risks, and outcomes.

The NDF also summarized current achievements: the investment program has funded over 500 companies with NT$21.6 billion, leveraging NT$89.6 billion in private investment. Aligned with the 'AI New Ten Major Construction' initiative, investments have targeted internationally competitive and strategically valuable flagship enterprises, including:

- Yicai Technology, deeply involved in aerospace applications and integrated into the National Space Organization's key supply chain; - Hsuan Yuan Technology, an autonomous drone manufacturer with in-house vehicle design capabilities; - Taiwan Smart Drive, whose autonomous driving solutions have been validated in the Japanese market; - Zhen Sheng Semiconductor, specializing in hardware security IP licensing; - Tong Bao Semiconductor, focusing on smart imaging and edge computing SoC chips; - Hsin Yun Lin Technology, Taiwan's first visual language model (VLM) AI software company, which has attracted investment from NVIDIA.