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Title: Directions of Recognition for Startups with Innovation Capability Ch
Date: 2024.01.30
Legislative: 1.Promulgated and taken into force from March 17, 2021
2.Amended on July 12, 2022
3.Amended on January 30, 2024
Content: 1.The Ministry of Economic Affairs (hereinafter referred to as MOEA) has established the 
directions specifically to promote the innovation entrepreneurship policy of the Executive Yuan.

2.The term“startup”, as mentioned in the Direction, refers to a business that has a paid-in capital of 
less than NT$100 million, or hires less than 200 employees on a regular basis, and meets one of 
the following requirements:
(1)Domestic Startup: A business that has been registered as a company or a business in accordance 
with the Company Act or the Business Registration Act of Taiwan, and has been established for 
less than eight years (OR, WITHIN EIGHT YEARS). 
(2)Foreign Startup: A business that has been registered in accordance with foreign laws, and has 
been established for less than eight years (OR, WITHIN EIGHT YEARS).
The limitation of less than eight years (OR, WITHIN EIGHT YEARS) of establishment, as 
stipulated in the preceding paragraph, does not apply to businesses that have been approved by the 
central competent authority of the relevant industry. 

3.A domestic startup with innovation capability should meet one of the following directions:
(1)Obtain the following investment (fundraising) amounting to at least NT$2 million.
a.Investments from domestic and foreign venture capital businesses.
b.Individual cash investments, as described in Article 23-2 of the Statute for Industrial Innovation.
c.Investment reviewed and approved by the Angel Investment Project run by the National 
Develop-ment Fund, Executive Yuan.
d.Investment (fundraising) from domestic, foreign or international startup funding platforms 
recognized by the Government of Taiwan.
(2)Has registered with the Go Incubation Board for Startup and Acceleration Firms (GISA) 
operated by the Taipei Exchange. 
(3)Has obtained invention patents or design patents in Taiwan, or has been assigned or licensed 
with the invention patents or design patents by the patent owners who have completed the 
registration of such assignment/licensing at the Intellectual Property Office, MOEA. 
(4)Have applied and obtained plant variety right, or animal and plant name registration in Taiwan, 
but does not include those implemented by rights assignment or authorization.
(5)Those startups that have been physically stationed within one year, or are physically stationing 
in, the following parks or startup incubators, and have been recommended by such parks or startup 
incubators:
a.International startup parks and projects approved by the central or local governments in Taiwan.
b.The central or local government-operated startup incubators in Taiwan, or those registered in the 
MOEA international startup incubators and approved and announced by the Small and Medium 
Enterprise and Startup Administration of MOEA.
c.Foreign startup incubators recognized by the central or local governments in Taiwan.
(6)The startup or the head of the company has participated in representative entrepreneurial 
competitions or design competition in Taiwan or overseas and has received an award.
(7)The startup or the head of the company has participated in indicative domestic/international 
fashion week shows, or has been a finalist or winner in indicative domestic /international film 
festivals, or international style awards and competitions. 
(8)Others, as approved by the central competent authority of the relevant industry. 

4.A foreign startup with innovation capabilities should meet at least one of the directions, as 
stipulated in the preceding Directions, except Subparagraph 1 Item 2 and Subparagraph 2.

5.The name list under Subparagraph 5 through Subparagraph 7 of Paragraph 3 shall be publicized 
by MOEA.