Taiwan Expands AI Investment Scope to Offshore Companies
The Taiwanese government is expanding its investment scope to include offshore artificial intelligence (AI) companies that operate primarily in Taiwan. This shift follows an amendment aimed at boosting support for AI start-ups. The National Development Fund (NDF) has allocated NT$10 billion (US$314.17 million) for the Ministry of Digital Affairs to invest in AI and digital economy start-ups over a decade, with the program running from 2024 to 2034.
Administration for Digital Industries Director-General Lin Jiunn-shiow highlighted the collaboration with venture capital firms, accelerators, and corporate investors to identify and co-fund high-potential start-ups. The goal is to accelerate their growth, facilitate public trading, and help them enter international markets. The government is now considering investments in offshore entities that maintain significant operational and research-and-development (R&D) activities in Taiwan.
As of August, 10 AI start-ups have received funding, with NT$255 million from the NDF and NT$570 million from private investors. From January to August, the government invested approximately NT$194 million in seven start-ups. Notable examples include Turing Drive, which operates autonomous driving demonstration vehicles in Japan and has partnered with Tier IV, and Linker Vision Co, which is collaborating with AT&T, Cisco, and Nvidia to build AI grid infrastructure.