Taiwan's NDC Tokyo Hub Assists 20 Startups in Japanese Market Entry

(CNA, Taipei, 18th) The National Development Council (NDC) established the national startup brand Startup Island TAIWAN's Tokyo Hub in Japan in September of year 113 (2024). Today, the NDC issued a press release to report on its phased achievements, indicating that the Tokyo Hub has provided services to over 200 Taiwanese startups and facilitated the establishment of 20 in Japan. The NDC pointed out that the government is actively promoting the 'New Top 10 AI Construction Projects,' with the creation of an innovative and entrepreneurial rainforest ecosystem being a key task. Consequently, the NDC has set up overseas startup hubs, with Tokyo being the first. It continues to connect with innovation ecosystem partners in major Japanese economic zones, including the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Osaka Prefecture, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Tokyo and Osaka Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mitsubishi Group, Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, and Mizuho Bank. The NDC's Tokyo Hub, located in Minato, Tokyo, provides co-working spaces, conference rooms, and event venues for startups. It also collaborates with professional consultants to offer landing consultation services such as registration and legal guidance for Taiwanese startups. Additionally, it helps Taiwanese startups gain exposure and enter the Japanese market through a logo wall, physical product displays, and video presentations. Reviewing the phased achievements, the NDC has so far assisted 6 Taiwanese startups in obtaining a JPY 100 million subsidy from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Among them, AI dental digital solutions startup dentall, after receiving the subsidy in year 113, officially established its Tokyo office in year 115 (2026), continuing to advance cooperation and application with Japanese medical institutions. Furthermore, AI anti-drowning system startup Ophim (Anxin-yong), after being featured on NHK television news in year 114 (2025), has had its service adopted by a resort hotel in Okinawa. Turing Drive, a Taiwanese smart driving startup, after completing a proof-of-concept (PoC) test for an unmanned shuttle with an Okinawan transportation service provider, signed a cooperation agreement with the Japanese company Macnica at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 to deepen autonomous driving system integration and ecosystem partner collaboration. The Tokyo Hub continues to cooperate with JETRO, Tokyo Innovation Base (TiB), Plug and Play Japan, and Mitsubishi Group. It has also formed an alliance with the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, successfully connecting to Japan's largest pharmaceutical and biotech platform, DSANJ (Drug Seeds Alliance Network Japan). This has led to the platform opening applications for Taiwanese biomedical startups to join its database, with over 20 Taiwanese biomedical startups having applied so far. The NDC stated that the Tokyo Hub will continue to deepen its roots in Japan and focus on deep tech fields like AI, assisting more startups in securing cooperation and investment opportunities with Japanese companies, thereby consolidating the mutually trusting industrial chain between Taiwan and Japan. (Editor: Pan Yi-Jing) 1150518