• A presentation of the latest Business Confidence Survey, highlighting key political and economic developments, challenges, and expectations shaping German companies’ operations in Taiwan.
• A forward-looking economic outlook on Taiwan’s growth and prospects in the year ahead.
• Industry-focused insights from representatives of leading German companies in Taiwan.
• A relaxed and vibrant Get-together session.

• Date: Thursday, March 5, 2026
• Venue: 1F, Noble House, Regent Taipei
• Address: No. 3, Ln. 39, Sec. 2 ZhongShan N. Rd., Taipei 104, Taiwan
• Event Time: 14:30 – 17:30 (Registration Time: 14:00 – 14:30)
• Price: 1,700 NT$ incl. refreshments and drinks.

As the highest‑level bilateral economic exchange platform between Germany and Taiwan, the JBC serves as a cornerstone for advancing economic cooperation, strengthening strategic partnerships, and expanding investment opportunities between both sides.

This year’s meeting is jointly organized by the International Trade Administration (ITA), the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA), the Asia‑Pacific Association of Taiwan (APA), and the German Trade Office Taipei (AHK Taiwan). Companies are welcome to register to participate in the JBC.

More details will follow soon—stay tuned!

The rising production of semiconductors in Taiwan is fueling the demand for related technical equipment. In 2025, equipment orders doubled year-on-year, and the industry association SEMI forecasts that demand will remain high over the next two years. In 2025 alone, Taiwan absorbed $28 billion worth of semiconductor manufacturing, packaging, and testing equipment. As Taiwan expands its position as the leading manufacturer of high-performance chips globally, it will remain a significant buyer of high-end equipment as well as advanced packaging and testing machinery.

While TSMC, Taiwan’s largest contract semiconductor manufacturer, is in the spotlight, other companies in Taiwan's semiconductor ecosystem are also expanding production. This bodes well for suppliers of semiconductor equipment and necessary components. German companies are among the key suppliers of semiconductor equipment in the areas of lithography, metrology, bonding, and testing. In 2025, Taiwan imported $1.6 billion worth of semiconductor production, control, and testing equipment from Germany.

One prominent example is SUSS MicroTec, a German company whose production in Taiwan has grown to about 40 percent of the company’s total output in recent years, according to Andy Kao, General Manager Operations at SUSS MicroTec (Taiwan). This growth has been driven by demand for AI technology. Other German semiconductor equipment suppliers, such as Aixtron, Trumpf, and Zeiss, are expanding their presence in Taiwan by establishing local service and innovation centers. These centers aim to meet the high demand for on-site support, advanced technology solutions, and continuous process optimization.

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

Built as a compact, four‑wheeled transport robot, the ReBeLMove Pro can navigate autonomously at speeds up to 2 m/s, carry loads of up to 250 kg, and tow up to 900 kg. With an eight‑hour battery life, it supports a wide range of add‑ons such as conveyor belts, cobot arms, trailers, and shelving systems for order picking. igus already uses the robot internally for automated material transport, demonstrating its capability to streamline routine intralogistics tasks and reduce manual intervention.

A key advantage of the system is its simple and cost‑effective commissioning. The robot can map a 200 m² area in under three minutes using LIDAR, 3D sensors, and a Realsense camera, enabling autonomous navigation without floor markers. Programming takes just minutes and requires no coding expertise, while open interfaces allow seamless integration into existing IT environments, including IoT and ERP systems. Thanks to its low price and ease of deployment, igus estimates an average return on investment within twelve months, with no compromise on performance compared to higher‑priced market alternatives.

To support international participation, the Taiwan Marine Tech & Unmanned Vehicle Expo (MATURE) 2026 has established an Overseas Buyer Subsidy Program in accordance with the regulations of the International Trade Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan. 

Detailed information regarding the subsidy coverage, eligibility requirements, and documentation procedures can be found on the official website. 

Interested and qualified buyers can register through the online form until April 15, 2026 - sign up now to make use of of this unique opportunity!

• German Space Agency Challenge: Groundbreaking Cross-Sector Innovations
• ESA BIC Challenge: Join the New Space Economy
• ESA BA Challenge: Space for a Resilient Society
• Airbus Challenge: Boosting Earth-Space Industry Partnerships
• Mercedes-Benz car2space Challenge: Space up your Drive
• OHB Challenge: Sovereign End-to-End Systems

Taiwan Ranks No. 2 in Global Startup Business Environment: GEM

Taiwan has climbed to second place globally in the 2025–2026 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor’s Entrepreneurship Index, raising its score to 6.5 and trailing only the UAE. The report credits Taiwan’s strong infrastructure, policy support, and pro‑entrepreneurship culture. It also highlights Taiwan as one of four economies rated “Excellent” in both sustainability‑focused business development and AI readiness.

Unemployment Drops to 26-Year Low

Taiwan’s unemployment rate fell again in January to 3.29 percent, the lowest in 26 years, supported by solid economic growth, rising wages and a strong stock market. Fewer people left jobs due to dissatisfaction as companies raised pay and bonuses, helping keep labor demand stable. Layoffs linked to business downsizing rose slightly, but overall conditions remained firm as exports improved.

New “resident population” data, which includes migrant and foreign workers, showed an even lower unemployment rate of 3.25 percent. Youth unemployment stayed high at 11.44 percent, while university graduates had the highest jobless rate among education groups. Average unemployment lengthened slightly to 21.2 weeks, and officials expect some upward pressure in the coming months as workers change jobs after year‑end bonuses.

TSMC Receives NT$151 Billion in Subsidies from Four Countries Including Germany

TSMC received NT$151.42 billion in government subsidies from the U.S., Japan, Germany, and China over 2024–2025 as it expanded its global manufacturing footprint. The funding supported new fabs in Arizona, Kumamoto, Dresden, and added capacity in Nanjing, covering costs for land, construction, equipment, and early production. TSMC’s Arizona fab began mass production in late 2024, with several additional fabs, packaging plants and an R&D center planned in the U.S.

Japan is building a second TSMC plant, Germany has begun construction of its first fab, and Nanjing continues to expand capacity. Financial performance varied across sites: the Arizona factory turned a NT$16.14 billion profit in 2025, while the Kumamoto and Dresden projects posted losses as they ramped up operations.