Lai Ching-te: Taiwan's AI, Semiconductor Strength to Boost Global Competitiveness

President Lai Ching-te is pushing Taiwan to leverage its prowess in semiconductors and artificial intelligence to attract global capital and enhance its international standing. Speaking at the 2026 Taiwan Venture Capital and Private Equity Investment Annual Meeting, Lai emphasized the need to move beyond existing advantages in a landscape reshaped by supply chain shifts, AI advancements, and geopolitical changes.

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We cannot just hold onto our existing advantages, but must transform the industrial strength of semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), and emerging technologies into capital market attractiveness and international competitiveness.

"We cannot just hold onto our existing advantages," Lai stated, outlining a strategy to convert Taiwan's industrial strength in AI, semiconductors, and emerging technologies into capital market attractiveness. The government is actively building an "innovative capital market with Taiwanese characteristics, based in Asia, and facing the world," aiming to transform Taiwan from a technology manufacturing hub into a technology investment center.

This initiative includes the launch of the "Asia Innovation Capital Platform" by the Financial Supervisory Commission, focusing on strategic industries such as AI, semiconductors, smart manufacturing, biotech, and aerospace. The platform connects various stock market tiers, from over-the-counter to listed companies, and utilizes both equity and debt markets to support companies at different growth stages. Lai also highlighted recent amendments to the "Industry Innovation Act," offering tax incentives for venture capital and angel investors to stimulate AI and digital transformation.

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The government is building an innovative capital market with Taiwanese characteristics, based in Asia, and facing the world, aiming to transform Taiwan from a technology manufacturing hub into a technology investment center.

Lai stressed that venture capital and private equity are crucial for nurturing innovation from its early stages to the establishment of strategic industry ecosystems. Taiwan's existing advantages, a complete tech industry chain, democratic governance, a free market, entrepreneurial spirit, and reliable partnerships, provide a strong foundation for attracting global enterprises, talent, and capital. The president urged continued international collaboration within the venture capital and private equity sectors to fuel Taiwan's next phase of industrial growth.

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The Financial Supervisory Commission officially launched the Asia Innovation Capital Platform last October, focusing on national key industries such as AI, semiconductors, smart manufacturing, biotech, and aerospace.