Taipei, Taiwan’s vibrant capital city, recently played host to the EU-Taiwan Matchmaking Event organised by the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) on behalf of the European Commission. The event took place from the 30th of May to the 1st of June 2023, with the primary objective of fostering collaboration between European Clusters and SMEs and their Taiwanese counterparts. The event took place in the framework of the 2023 European Innovation Week and Computex Taipei 2023, Asia’s premier ICT show.

The event was organised in close collaboration with the Chinese National Federation of Industries (CNFI), the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), the Bureau of Foreign Trade and Ministry of Economic Affairs. The event aimed to inspire new partnerships, stimulate knowledge transfer of best practice, and encourage forward-thinking collaborations.

The main European Delegation was composed of some 11 clusters along with SMEs covering 13 countries from the EU plus countries participating in the COSME programme (i.e. Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden, and Spain). Over 40 representatives from Taiwanese clusters, SMEs and government authorities also joined the event. During the matchmaking sessions over 100 C2C/B2B meetings took place.  

In 2022 Taiwan was registered as the EU’s 14th largest trading partner, with bilateral trade in goods reaching a record of EUR 84.2 bn. As Taiwan’s most significant foreign investor, the EU recognizes the indispensable role that Taiwan plays in global supply chains. As a world leader in key developments in Information Communication Technology (ICT), artificial intelligence (AI), smart mobility, and green energy, Taiwan offers a wide variety of business opportunities for EU companies. Its reputation as a global hub for innovation and technology makes Taiwan a key partner for the EU and its Member States.

On 29th May, before the official start of the event, participants were invited to attend the 2023 EU-Taiwan Hydrogen Roundtable, a major event dedicated to the topic of hydrogen. Government officials, industry experts and academics from both Europe and Taiwan discussed policies, exchange views on international cooperation, and shared insights on infrastructure and practical experience related to hydrogen development and the major role it can play in the energy transition and net zero future.

Day One: An immersion in the world of advanced technology.

The first day of the event kicked off at Computex Taipei 2023, the second-largest ICT show in the world, and the biggest one in Asia. The 2023’s motto was ‘Together we create’.

During the opening session, delegates heard from Dr. Ing-Wen Tsai, President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) who explained Taiwan’s pivotal role in providing advanced products in technology, AI, and simulation sectors. The support given by the government to the industry aims at fortifying Taiwan’s position as a significant global supply chain partner. “We share values with other countries in the world. Collaboration is essential not only for technological advancement but also for democratic development," stated Dr. Tsai.  

Ms. Maive Rute, Deputy Director-General, Directorate for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW), pointed out the shared priorities of the EU and Taiwan, including circular economy and cybersecurity. “By combining our strengths, we can achieve our goals easily,” said Ms. Rute.

Following the inaugural session, the EU Delegation toured the COMPUTEX 2023 showground, exploring various innovative products. Among many, they visited the GIGABYTE stand, which presented ground-breaking liquid cooling technology and the AI's most powerful supercomputer, KIOXIA, the inventor of flash memory, and ECS, which showcased a range of Smart Solutions. The tour was a vivid demonstration of AI’s increasing importance and potential in revolutionizing today’s world.

Another group of EU Delegates embarked on a tour of companies in Taichung, delving into the world of robotics and machinery. They visited HIWIN Technologies Corp, a leader in the field of machinery manufacturing, demonstrating cutting-edge advancements in robotics. Delegates also explored the innovations at DELTA ELECTRONICS Inc, where the future of industrial automation was on full display.