ITRI and Creww Launch "Taiwan-Japan Accelerator Program 2023! Creating Innovations Across Borders

About the "Taiwan-Japan Accelerator Program 2023

Taiwan's startup ecosystem is growing and developing at an astonishing rate due to a number of strategic government policies, an increase in investment funds flowing into the ecosystem, and the active involvement of companies during the startup phase.

Following the 2022 program, this program will be held with the aim of creating business partnerships and new business opportunities with Japanese companies in the Japanese market, where both the public and private sectors have been working together for many years, in order to contribute to further growth support for Taiwanese startups.

In FY2023, five Japanese companies with a track record of collaboration and business partnerships with many startups have been selected to participate in the program. We will work to create cross-border innovation by combining the diverse and abundant management resources of Japanese companies with the fresh ideas and innovative technology of Taiwanese startups.

In conjunction with the launch of this program, a dedicated website* was opened on the Creww website to disclose the management resources of the five participating companies. All matching and commercialization activities, including proposals for collaboration from Taiwanese startups that have passed the document screening process, will be held online through a simultaneous Japanese-English translation system, and will be promoted through a strong support system between ITRI and Creww.
A presentation on the results of this program is planned for March 2024.

Creww will continue its efforts to create innovation on a global scale by collaborating with overseas startup ecosystem centers and supporting matchmaking between Japanese companies and overseas startups.

*Open only to eligible Taiwanese startups

Participating companies (in alphabetical order)

Kumadaira Corporation
＜Kumadaira Seisakusho develops and manufactures total security products that meet customer needs, such as vault doors and safe deposit box equipment for financial institutions, and security systems such as security gates and access control systems, backed by technical capabilities and know-how cultivated over more than a century of history.
Based on detailed market analysis and information fed back to us, we work to develop and improve new products.

Japan Cosmetic Center, Inc.
＜The organization aims to contribute to the creation of a cosmetics industry cluster and employment in Saga Prefecture, centering on Karatsu City and Genkai Town, as well as in Northern Kyushu, by developing a business environment in the cosmetics field through collaboration between industry, academia, and government, stimulating economic activities utilizing local resources through the exchange of diverse human resources and the accumulation of technologies, and creating a promotion system to expand into the global market. The organization aims to contribute to the concentration of the cosmetics industry and the creation of employment in Saga Prefecture, centering on Karatsu City and Genkai Town, as well as in Northern Kyushu.

Star Micronics Co.
＜Star Micronics' Special Products Division has been supplying "Special Products" to the world for over 40 years. We are currently developing, manufacturing, and selling business-use devices used in stores, centering on receipt printers, while changing the form of our products in accordance with the needs of the times.

Nitto Mesh Co.
＜Nitto Seimo is a comprehensive manufacturer of fishing nets used in various fisheries, including set nets, aquaculture nets, purse seines, seine nets, and nori nets, under the vision of "making the world's nets knotless.

Established in 1910, we have contributed to the development of the fishing industry as a pioneer in the netting industry, having succeeded in the mass production of the world's first knotless "knotless net". We will continue to respond sincerely to the voices of our customers in Japan and abroad, and to manufacture products that support the safety and security of the fishing industry.

Nippon Life Insurance Company
Since its establishment in 1889, in the spirit of co-existence and mutual prosperity and mutual support, the company has been working to contribute to the stability and improvement of people's lives, with a focus on the life insurance business. With approximately 5,000 sales staff and 2,000 internal employees, the company operates nationwide and has policies in force for more than 14 million people, including those of its group companies.

In order to continue to be a company that can respond to changing customer needs and changes in society, all executives and employees of Nippon Life Insurance will maintain the tradition of "respect for customers," which has been passed down from generation to generation, while actively embracing change and continuing to boldly take on the challenge of reform. We will continue to take on the challenge of change.

Outline of "Japan-Taiwan Accelerator Program 2023

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About Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI for short)

Founded in 1973, it is a world-class research and development organization with more than 6,000 researchers. Its mission is to promote industrial development, create economic value, and promote social welfare through research and development of science and technology. In recent years, ITRI has also been focusing on startup creation, fostering and supporting domestic and international startups. This program is implemented by ITRI's Service System Technology Center.
URL:https://www.itri.org.tw/english(English website)

About Creww

Creww, Inc. is a total support company for startups, entrepreneurs, business companies, and individuals who want to take on new challenges. Creww Inc. is a total support company for startups, entrepreneurs, business companies, and individuals who want to take on challenges, providing a variety of services that match the needs of each individual.

Since its establishment in 2012, the company has held more than 400 open innovation programs between companies, local governments, and startups, and has achieved about 1,000 collaborations, making it one of the largest in Japan, and about 7,500 startups are registered on its open innovation platform. The Open Innovation Program is the largest of its kind in Japan, with more than 400 collaborations and approximately 1,000 cases.

In November 2022, Google became the Japan partner of "Google for Startups," a startup support program that Google operates in 125 countries around the world. In order to contribute to the development of the startup ecosystem not only in Japan but also in Asia, we are promoting the creation of open innovation in South Korea, Taiwan, and other countries around the world.