What a busy week it was!

We were delighted to welcome a delegation of eight leading German companies specializing in Industry 4.0 applications to Taiwan as part of the Foreign Market Entry Programme funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). Following the Taiwanese-German Conference on Industry 4.0 Applications on Tuesday, our team accompanied the delegation members to nearly 40 B2B meetings with Taiwanese companies. For us, it was a tremendous success, and we look forward to welcoming more delegations next year. Check our GTO News for a brief event recap.

We also celebrated our GTO German Oktoberfest X German Business Day 2024 with over 550 guests on Thursday. It was a lively networking event, during which our guests enjoyed German food, beer, and even a traditional Oktoberfest band. Aside from these two events, one of our trade fair colleagues traveled to Singapore to accompany a Taiwanese delegation to ITB Asia 2024. I had the pleasure of attending the 18th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business in New Delhi from Thursday to Saturday. The event featured keynotes from political leaders such as Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hosted the inaugural German Asia-Pacific Startup Award. We are proud that the Taiwanese startup VM-Fi was among the finalists competing for first place. Read more about these events in our GTO News.

Next week, we will hold our online conference Shaping the Future of Europe’s Mobility in Hamburg - Opportunities for Market Expansion and Investment for Taiwanese Companies. You can sign up now to learn more about investment opportunities and gain insights into Hamburg’s thriving mobility landscape. See our Top News section for registration details.

On November 12, the 22nd Taiwan-Germany Joint Business Council Meeting (JBC) will take place at the Taipei International Convention Center. Established in 1988, the JBC has become a key event in the Taiwanese-German business calendar, annually bringing together more than 100 representatives from business, industry, and politics. This year’s JBC in Taipei will highlight Taiwanese-German collaboration in semiconductor and chip production. Read more about the event in our Top News section.

We also received some exciting news from one of our Business Alliance members: BASF and Fraunhofer IPMS recently celebrated ten years of R&D collaboration on innovative solutions in semiconductor manufacturing. See our Business Alliance News section and our website for more information on this remarkable milestone.

Last but not least, a typhoon is currently approaching Taiwan. Be prepared and stay safe!

Kind regards,

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Time: 09:30 – 12:40 (Taipei time)*
Venue: Taipei International Convention Center (TICC), 4th floor, VIP Room*
Address: No. 1, Section 5, Xinyi Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei City, 110*
Fee: Free of charge
Language: English
Target group: This event is aimed at business representatives and representatives of associations

*Venue and timing can be subject to change.

Registration

If you are interested, please register by November 8, 2024, at the following link:

Shaping the Future of Europe’s Mobility in Hamburg - Opportunities for Market Expansion and Investment for Taiwanese Companies

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Time: 16:00 - 17:30 (Taiwan Time)
Platform: Microsoft Teams
Fee: Free of charge
Language: English


Registration

Shaping the Future of Europe’s Mobility in Hamburg - Opportunities for Market Expansion and Investment for Taiwanese Companies
05.11.2024 | Platform: Microsoft Teams

22nd Taiwan-Germany Joint Business Council Meeting (JBC)
12.11.2024 | Location: Taipei

2024 German Christmas Market
29.11.2024 - 01.12.2024 | Location: Taipei

2024 German Christmasland in New Taipei City
06.12.2024 - 08.12.2024 | Location: New Taipei City

Last week, a delegation of eight leading German companies specializing in Industry 4.0 applications visited Taiwan to explore business opportunities and foster collaborations. This visit, part of the Foreign Market Entry Programme funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), began with a conference at Illume Taipei, attracting over 90 attendees.

Opening remarks were given by our Executive Director, Dr. Eva Langerbeck, who highlighted German-Taiwanese trade relations. Mr. Andreas Faath, Managing Director at VDMA e.V., provided insights into the German Industry 4.0 market, while Dr. Albert Yea-Ping Chen from TEEMA introduced Taiwan’s smart manufacturing landscape.

The event featured presentations from several companies, including CampusGenius GmbH, Lidrotec GmbH, Luminovo GmbH, Micro Resist Technology GmbH, Nexustec GmbH, NOFFZ Technologies GmbH, Peakboard GmbH, Stratus Vision GmbH, and Wälzlagertechnik GmbH, showcasing their innovative solutions.

Throughout the week, the delegation participated in approximately 40 B2B meetings with Taiwanese companies across the electronics, semiconductor, and manufacturing sectors. These meetings facilitated key discussions with major players, including TSMC and Foxconn Group, allowing for potential partnerships and collaborations.

Participants also enjoyed networking opportunities and a joint lunch, which further encouraged connections between German and Taiwanese businesses. A big thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the success of the conference! We are excited to have supported this delegation and look forward to future German-Taiwanese partnerships.

Taiwan’s stunning landscapes, rich culture, and vibrant traditions shined at ITB Asia 2024, one of the top travel trade shows in Asia-Pacific. Team Taiwan — including the Taiwan Tourism Administration, MICE One-stop Service, Taipei City Government, and the Council of Indigenous Peoples — showcased unique travel packages to attract global visitors.

Visitors enjoyed interactive activities like a fun object-sensing game featuring Taiwan’s food and cultural products, plus a Happy Hour with Taiwan’s signature drink. On stage, the Council of Indigenous Peoples introduced the Truku Tribe with dance, music, and handmade crafts.

With over 85 global tourism organizations attending, ITB Asia 2024 was the perfect platform to show off Taiwan’s beauty and cultural roots. A great success for Team Taiwan!

Last Thursday, we had an incredible time at the GTO German Oktoberfest X German Business Day 2024, the biggest German-Taiwanese networking event of the year! With over 550 guests in attendance, the celebration was filled with authentic German food, beer, and music.

The festivities kicked off with the traditional "Tapping the Beer Barrel" by Mr. Andreas Hofem, Deputy Director General of the German Institute Taipei, together with our colleague Ms. Linda Blechert, General Manager of our service unit DEinternational Taiwan Ltd. The guests enjoyed all-you-can-drink Hofbräu beer alongside a delicious German set menu, and a special performance from the MÜNCHNER BUAM band brought the spirit of Germany to Taipei!

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our premium partners, EVA Airways Corp., Allianz, and BASF, as well as our regular partners, Bosch, EFCO , Häfele, Lufthansa, KEYPASCO LYDSEC DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY, Mercedes-Benz AG, Merck Group, and 3rd Enterprise. Your support was invaluable in making this event a success!

Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating the best of German culture right here in Taipei!  We look forward to seeing you again next year!

The 18th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK) took place in New Delhi from October 24–26, focusing on strengthening ties between Germany and the Asia-Pacific region. Co-chaired by German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck and India’s Minister of Commerce Piyush Goyal, the event brought together policymakers, business leaders, and innovators for three days of dynamic discussions.

The conference kicked off with an exhilarating hockey match between India and Germany, setting an energetic tone for the gathering. It featured keynote addresses from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, inspiring attendees with insights on globalization, sustainability, and innovation. Business luncheons connected key regions such as Greater China, ASEAN, and Japan-Korea, paving the way for new opportunities for collaboration. Notably, our Chief Representative & Executive Director, Dr. Eva Langerbeck moderated the Greater China panel, facilitating important discussions on regional dynamics.

A standout moment was the inaugural German Asia-Pacific Startup Award, where Pergamon Labs from Hong Kong, Capsio Technology from Shanghai, and Vietsol from Hanoi were named winners after an engaging live vote. We were particularly excited to see the Taiwanese startup, VM-Fi, among the finalists, showcasing the strength of Taiwan's innovation ecosystem! Congratulations to all the outstanding innovators! They took the stage and shared their insights during a lively Tech Talk with Dr. Roland Busch, Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA) and CEO of Siemens, and Vice Chancellor Habeck.

The event concluded with a closing ceremony at the Taj Mahal conference venue, where the chairs delivered inspiring speeches. It was a fantastic celebration of partnership, innovation, and future opportunities! We look forward to the next APK, which will take place 2026 in Soeul, Korea!

The largest platform for the global energy industry, Smarter E Europe, was a phenomenal success in June! We are excited to announce that the next Smarter E Europe will be held from May 7 – 9, 2025, at Messe München, Germany. Smarter E Europe unites four major exhibitions: Intersolar Europe, ees Europe, Power2Drive Europe, and EM-Power Europe. These exhibitions will cover renewable energy, batteries and energy storage systems, charging equipment and e-mobility, as well as energy management and integrated solutions. 

In 2024, Smarter E Europe featured over 3,000 exhibitors showcasing their innovative products and attracted approximately 110,000 visitors from around the globe. Additionally, more than 2,500 attendees participated in the conference and various side events, setting a new record. 

Next year, in corporation with TAITRA we will organize the Taiwan Pavilion in the Intersolar Sector (Hall A3). We welcome all Taiwanese companies to join us! Smarter E also exhibits globally, not just in Munich but in Mumbai, Dubai, South America, and North America. 

From April 8-10, 2025, Messe Berlin will host Europe's leading event for digital health, DMEA. It brings together decision-makers from across the healthcare sector, including IT specialists, physicians, hospital and nursing care executives, and experts from politics, science, and research.

DMEA 2024 was a massive success, attracting over 800 exhibitors, more than 19,000 visitors, and nearly 300 speakers from around the globe. The event covered a wide range of topics beyond healthcare in Germany, such as patient care in Europe, the electronic patient record in Denmark, and AI transparency in Europe.

DMEA is an excellent platform for system and hardware/software vendors worldwide to seize market opportunities and engage with the digital healthcare community.

Don't miss your chance to be part of next year’s DMEA! To exhibit at DMEA 2025, please contact our colleague Mr. Pinchao Huang.

In the summer of 2024, Porsche Taiwan reaffirmed its dedication to inspiring future generations through the Boyo Summer Class Tour, a key initiative under its “Dream Together” program in partnership with the Boyo Social Welfare Foundation. This year’s tour marked significant progress, completing a full circuit around Taiwan with engagements with a total of 11 Boyo centres since the event was established in 2022. The tour also reached new milestones with the grand opening of the Porsche Driving Centre and extended into some of Taiwan’s most remote regions, including the Sha Noh tribe near Mount Syue in Yilan and the offshore islands of Penghu. Covering more than 3,000 kilometres, the tour embodied Porsche’s “one family” spirit by bringing the excitement of dreaming, learning, and driving to areas that are often difficult to access.

Read more about the Boyo Summer Class Tour on our website.

MR, the world market leader in energy technology, is looking for a Team Assistant to join their team in Taipei! In this role, you'll contribute to keeping the energy supply stable for the future, supporting sales, service, HR, and finance while helping maintain office operations and organizing events. This is an opportunity to be part of a global team of 3,800 passionate colleagues, driving the energy transition with MR’s smart digital and analog solutions.

The ideal candidate should have:

• 3-5 years’ experience in an office setting, ideally in an international company.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (SAP experience is a plus).
• Strong communication skills in English and the local language.

Interested in shaping the future of energy with MR?

Click here to read more about this position on their website.

Taiwan’s science parks are key to its economic growth, housing both local and foreign companies, including German firms such as Merck. These parks focus on semiconductors, biotech, and precision machinery, with semiconductor production leading the way. In the first half of 2024, the parks generated US$68.5 billion, with projected revenues of US$140 billion by year-end and US$200 billion by 2030.

TSMC plays a central role, driving a 45% increase in chip exports in 2023, fueled by AI demand, which has skyrocketed further this year. However, growth is hindered by space limitations, with parks like Hsinchu operating at 91% capacity. To address this, new expansions are planned, particularly in the Southern and Central regions.

Taiwan’s first park, founded in 1979 in Hsinchu, laid the foundation for its semiconductor industry, and the government’s success inspires the creation of a similar park in Japan’s Kyushu. Contributing around 20% to Taiwan’s GDP in 2024, these parks remain vital to the island’s economic development.

Read the full article on the GTAI website (in German).

2024 EU Investment Forum

Event Details

Date: Monday, November 18, 2024
Registration: 12:30 - 13:30
Time: 13:30 - 17:00
Venue: Taipei International Convention Center (TICC)

Registration

TASTI (Taiwan International Assembly of Space Science, Technology, and Industry), APAS (Asia-Pacific Remote Sensing), and IWSCFF 2024 (International Workshop on Satellite Constellations and Formation Flying) will take place from November 30 to December 4, 2024, at the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center in Taiwan. TASTI will host forums and exhibitions to promote exchange among international organizations, research institutions, and companies, enhancing opportunities for business matchmaking and collaboration.

APAS 2024 (Asia-Pacific Remote Sensing) will focus on the use of remote sensing data to foster cooperation between industry, academia, and research institutions, exploring the latest applications and technologies. IWSCFF 2024 (International Workshop on Satellite Constellations and Formation Flying) will address challenges and solutions related to satellite constellations and formation flying.

In 2023, the event featured over 200 forums, posters, and presentations, drew more than 2,000 visitors from 30 countries, and hosted 42 international enterprises. This year, participation is expected to surpass 5,000, including over 500 international attendees. Key themes will include space policy and law, AI in space, moon exploration, space security, women in space, GNSS-based applications, and formation flying.

TASTI, APAS, and IWSCFF 2024 will provide a unique platform for professionals across sectors to explore cutting-edge advancements in space science and technology.

To read more about this exciting science event, go to their website.

Think Tank Raises Taiwan's 2024 GDP Growth Forecast to 3.96%

Taiwan's Jobless Rate Falls to 24-Year Low

Taiwan's unemployment rate in September fell to 3.43%, the lowest for that month in 24 years, as the graduation season ended and job market conditions stabilized, according to the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS). This marked a 0.05 percentage point drop from August, halting three consecutive months of increases.

The number of unemployed fell by 7,000 to 412,000, driven by decreases in both dissatisfied workers and first-time job seekers. However, job losses from business closures or downsizing slightly increased to 101,000.

After seasonal adjustments, the unemployment rate rose to 3.38%, the second consecutive month of growth. Youth unemployment remained high, with rates at 12.14% for those aged 20-24 and 9.88% for those aged 15-19. DGBAS expects further improvements in October barring unforeseen changes.

(Last access: 28.10.2024 / Focus Taiwan)

CPC Corporation Begins Drilling Taiwan’s First Deep Geothermal Well

Academia Sinica and CPC Corporation began drilling Taiwan’s first deep geothermal exploratory well in Yuanshan, Yilan, on Oct. 21. Minister of Economic Affairs Kuo Jyh-huei stated that Taiwan’s geothermal potential could reach 40 GW, with plans to develop up to 1,000 wells.

Academia Sinica President James Liao noted that identifying heat sources has been difficult due to exploration and drilling technology limitations. Collaborating with CPC, geologists and engineers used advanced techniques, such as magnetotellurics and seismic imaging, to create a 3D model of the underground reservoir, confirming the site after two years of research.

Taiwan’s geothermal resources, located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, provide a stable energy supply independent of weather. CPC plans to allocate NT$1.68 billion (US$52.5 million) in 2024 to land exploration, with four wells scheduled for drilling.

(Last access: 28.10.2024 / Taiwan News)

Starlux Shares Soar Over 53% on Stock Market Debut

Starlux Airlines saw its shares surge 53.75% to NT$30.75 on its first day of trading on the Taiwan stock exchange, briefly peaking at a 60% rise from the NT$20 IPO price. Chairman Chang Kuo-wei announced the airline's continued expansion, including new long-haul and short-haul routes, with a focus on increasing flights to the U.S. and Europe.

By the end of 2024, Starlux aims to operate 31 routes across 27 destinations, with plans to grow its fleet from 24 to 26 aircraft. The airline targets a fleet of over 50 planes by 2026, with additional A320s to support new flights from Taichung and Kaohsiung. Starlux also plans to strengthen its cargo operations, having secured five A350 cargo planes with an option for five more.

Starlux reported net profits of NT$149 million last year, marking its first profitable year, and saw significant growth in sales and earnings in the first half of 2024. The company is preparing to join the Oneworld global airline alliance by the end of 2025 to expand its international reach.