To strengthen connections between faculty and students from universities and colleges in the Yunlin–Chiayi–Tainan (Yun-Chia-Nan) region and the startup needs of local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), integrate government-supported entrepreneurship resources, and share emerging trends in startup development, the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hub of National Chung Cheng University (hereinafter referred to as CCU Startup Hub) held the 7th Innovation & Entrepreneurship Alliance Meeting on December 15, 2023, at the Main Conference Hall of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hub.

The meeting was co-chaired by President Feng Chan-Hua of National Chung Cheng University and Vice President for Academic Affairs Hung Hsin-Yuan (also Director of the CCU Startup Hub). Distinguished guests included Deputy Director Lin Chun-Chieh of the Labor and Youth Development Department, Chiayi County Government, Chairman Ho Yung-Wei of the Chiayi City Industrial Association, Secretary-General Lo Wen-Yu of the Chiayi County Chamber of Commerce, along with several well-known local entrepreneurs and startup teams from the Yun-Chia-Nan region. The meeting focused on sharing trends and resources in startup development, and discussing collaboration opportunities among industry, government, academia, and startup ventures, with the aim of continuously fostering a strong startup culture and creating a high-quality entrepreneurial environment that integrates cross-sector resources in the region.

In the current year, student teams mentored by the CCU Startup Hub achieved outstanding results. In 2023, six teams received a total of NTD 4.9 million in funding through the Ministry of Education’s U-start Program, across both Phase I and Phase II. In Phase I, all six teams received NTD 3 million in total funding, ranking among the top two nationwide, while in Phase II, three teams secured a combined NTD 1.9 million, placing them among the top three nationwide.

Additionally, three student teams participated in youth entrepreneurship subsidy programs organized by the Chiayi City and Chiayi County governments, receiving a total of NTD 1.24 million in funding. Among them, one team was awarded NTD 700,000 through the Chiayi City Youth Entrepreneurship Incentive Program, while two teams received NTD 540,000 through the Chiayi County Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incentive Program.

Furthermore, the student team AOD Design won a Gold Medal at the 18th Ukraine International Invention Exhibition in 2022, and in April of this year, the team was honored with an audience with the Minister of Education of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Director Hung Hsin-Yuan noted that the CCU Startup Hub has demonstrated exceptional capability in cultivating a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem through its team mentoring programs, nurturing many promising startup teams each year. He expressed confidence that these teams will continue to grow and succeed in the market, becoming high-performing emerging enterprises in the future.

On the same day, the CCU Startup Hub also invited two outstanding startup teams of the year to deliver keynote talks, sharing their entrepreneurial origins, challenges encountered during the startup journey, support received from industry mentors and faculty advisors, and their future development blueprints. Following the talks, mentoring teams engaged in a networking luncheon with guests, faculty, and students, fostering further交流 and collaboration. The Hub aims to continue strengthening industry–government–academia partnerships, supporting entrepreneurial activities and community development among faculty, students, and local enterprises, and cultivating a vibrant innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

In addition, the CCU Startup Hub has continued to actively pursue international partnerships. This year, it signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with Thammasat University (Thailand) and Western Michigan University (USA). An online matchmaking event was held with Western Michigan University to facilitate collaboration among Taiwanese SMEs, CCU faculty and students, and U.S. partners to jointly explore the American market. The Hub also organized entrepreneurship exchange programs with Thammasat University, forming joint teams to participate in the 2023 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition (International Division) hosted by the CCU Startup Hub. Among these teams, two achieved excellent results, with one receiving the International Division Excellence Award and another winning First Place in the International Division.

Through the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Alliance Meeting, cross-institutional and interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities were provided, with the expectation that more innovative ideas will shine in the future.

The 2023 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Alliance Meeting concluded successfully. The next meeting is scheduled to be held in December 2024 at the CCU Startup Hub, continuing to serve as a matchmaking platform that connects faculty and student startup teams with local enterprises, venture capital firms, startup accelerators, and government-supported SME entrepreneurship resources.