Taiwan breaks into global top 20 startup ecosystems

台灣躋身全球前20大新創生態系

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan entered the world’s top 20 startup ecosystems for the first time this year, posting the fastest growth rate among leading global startup hubs, the National Development Council said Tuesday.

The ranking, published by research organization StartupBlink, covers 120 countries, per CNA. The NDC said the result reflects strong growth momentum and international competitiveness in Taiwan’s startup scene.

Taiwan also ranked seventh globally in the Hardware and IoT category. The NDC said the result reflects Taiwan’s semiconductor foundation, while initiatives such as the 10 Major AI Infrastructure Projects are providing startups with support in technical talent and supply chains.

At the city level, three Taiwanese regions ranked within the top quarter among more than 1,500 regions worldwide. The Taipei Tech Corridor, covering Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Miaoli, ranked 39th globally, a record high, while the Tainan-Kaohsiung region surged 257 places to 194th.

The NDC credited the rise to government programs, including the national startup brand Startup Island Taiwan and overseas startup hubs in Silicon Valley. Initiatives such as Taiwan Tech Arena and the Employment Gold Card program to attract international talent have also helped build out the ecosystem.

The NDC said the top-20 ranking is the result of joint efforts by the government, industry, and startup communities. It said it hopes to position Taiwan as an innovation hub.