Leading Over 30 Startups in Smart City, Smart Manufacturing, and Healthcare to Osaka this July
Everiii & Partners International Co. Ltd | May 24, 2024, 12:00 PM
As the Expo 2025 Osaka approaches, Startup Island TAIWAN continues to proactively facilitate the entry of startups into the Kansai market.
Startup Island TAIWAN is the first organization dedicated to supporting the expansion of Taiwanese startups into the Kansai region. Last year, the organization led 20 startups to Japan, receiving high acclaim from Japanese stakeholders. This year, the initiative has expanded to over 30 companies under the newly established “Alliance WEST.” This alliance aims to consolidate the Taiwanese startup community interested in the Kansai market and serve as a bridge for information exchange and matchmaking with major Osaka Expo-related organizations.
“Alliance WEST” supports Taiwanese startups eyeing the Kansai market. Latest updates regarding the Expo will be promptly communicated to partners through Startup Island TAIWAN. The collective portfolio of “Alliance WEST” members exceeds 300 startups, and the alliance will continue to provide extensive support during next year’s Expo.
Members of “Alliance WEST” include: TMU BioMed Accelerator, BE Accelerator, AppWorks, Hive Ventures, IAPS (Center of Industry Accelerator and Patent Strategy), AAMA (Asia America Multi-Technology Association), PIDC (Plastics Industry Development Center), FET Startups Accelerator, SYSTEX CORPORATION, Taiwan New Economy Alliance (NEAT), and CISA (Information Service Industry Association of ROC). These representative organizations span across Taiwan. Furthermore, the recommended startups are closely aligned with the Expo’s key focus areas: Smart Cities, Smart Manufacturing, and Healthcare.
On Thursday, May 23, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Startup Island TAIWAN held the launch event for “Alliance WEST” along with a pre-departure briefing for the Kansai business expansion plan. Major organizations associated with the Osaka Expo—including Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), OIH (Osaka Innovation Hub), IBPC, and the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI)—were invited to share insights on Osaka’s market prospects and resources for overseas startups. Additionally, Authme and Ubestream were invited to analyze success stories of Taiwanese startups entering the Osaka market. These major organizations expressed high levels of support and affirmation for Taiwan’s entry and expansion in the Kansai region.
Member Highlights & Past Performance in the Kansai Area
▪︎ Plastics Industry Development Center (PIDC) Established in 1993, PIDC has been a specialized R&D institution in the field of plastic polymers for 30 years. It serves diverse industries including medical devices, automotive/aerospace, electronics/telecommunications, construction materials, agriculture, and lifestyle chemistry. PIDC provides comprehensive consulting services, including technology development, testing/analysis, and professional training. Recently, it has focused on medical device startups, offering customized commercialization and design services. Their team of experienced designers and engineers rapidly converts clinical needs and prototype concepts into mass-producible medical products. From rapid prototyping and supply chain integration to regulatory support for validation and market entry, PIDC significantly accelerates the realization of new medical devices. Recently, PIDC partnered with a Kansai-based enterprise to promote its proprietary medical coating technology. They look forward to deeper technical cooperation with Japanese medical device manufacturers.
▪︎ BE Health BE Health is a “Hospital VC” specializing in innovative medical technology investments and is Taiwan’s largest MedTech startup accelerator. Since its founding in 2018, it has supported over 140 teams, invested in 30 disruptive companies, and helped raise a total of $200 million. Focused on innovative medical devices and digital health, BE Health maintains a local team in Japan to assist Japanese startups with clinical validation and design/production in Taiwan. Serving as a gateway for global medical startups to enter Asia, BE Health continues to link biomedical platforms in Taiwan and Japan. This connects startups with essential partners such as hospitals, R&D centers, commercialization partners, and international investors.
-
Osaka Biodesign: Leveraging Biodesign’s physician resources to support startups in PoC (Proof of Concept) and market validation.
-
2023 Taiwan X Japan Investment Forum: Hosted by BE Health and Startup Island TAIWAN, featuring representatives from SMBC and the Osaka Industry 21 Foundation to introduce Japanese startup policies. Health2Sync, which has received multiple Japanese investments, shared its expansion experience.
▪︎ FET Startups Accelerator Led by CEO Hu De-min (Executive VP of Far EasTone’s Digital Transformation Technology Group), the accelerator has held 65 “Startup Clinics” over two cohorts, successfully guiding 37 startups and creating over 170 million (NTD) in digital transformation business opportunities, with investment attraction exceeding 450 million (NTD). Several startups supported by FET have established branches in Japan or partnered with major local firms. For instance, Mapxus collaborates with Mitsui Group and Kawasaki Heavy Industries; Transgene Biotechnology is in talks with the Japanese insurance industry; IHH visited Kyoto via invitations from ITRI and the Taiwan-Japan Semiconductor Association; and Humetrics has secured orders and is conducting PoC tests with long-term care facilities.
▪︎ CISA (Information Service Industry Association of ROC) Founded in 1983, CISA is Taiwan’s oldest and largest information industry association, with over 840 members. It assists the government in digital policy implementation and promotes the growth of Taiwan’s software industry. Japan is the primary international target for Taiwan’s IT service providers. Since 2006, CISA has worked to bridge Taiwanese and Japanese industries, signing cooperation agreements with 15 associations across Kansai, Kanto, Tohoku, and Okinawa. This July, CISA will lead a delegation of outstanding IT providers to Osaka and Nagoya. In collaboration with the OCCI, they will host business matching sessions and visit landmark enterprises to help Taiwanese firms secure new digital business opportunities in Western Japan.
