Tainan City allocates $149 million to boost SME upgrades

The Tainan City government has earmarked a budget exceeding 149 million NT dollars for the current year, combining city funds and central government subsidies, to bolster the upgrading of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This financial commitment aims to drive innovation and enhance the competitiveness of local businesses.

Through programs such as the "Tainan City Local Industry Innovation and Research and Development Promotion Plan" (Local SBIR), which has been running since 2011, the city has actively secured central government resources. To date, 1,035 projects have received subsidies totaling 780 million NT dollars, generating over 11.7 billion NT dollars in industrial output and establishing itself as a key driver for local industrial transformation.

Further initiatives include the "Tainan City Promotion of Technology and Startup Industry Development Autonomous Regulations," the aforementioned Local SBIR, and the "Tainan City Industry Digital Transformation Guidance Program." Jielian Technology Company, specializing in automated and smart bathroom research and manufacturing, exemplifies the program's success. After receiving Local SBIR subsidies in 2023, the company utilized innovative technology to achieve energy-saving and carbon-reduction results, earning recognition as a "Tainan City Local SBIR Program Outstanding Enterprise" in 2024 and securing prestigious awards like the German iF Design Award, ARCHIDEX-Star Award, and Taiwan Excellence Award, while also expanding its products internationally.

Additionally, the "Tainan City Industry Digital Transformation Guidance Program," launched in 2023, focuses on assisting the catering and agricultural sectors with digital transformation. This program engages "service provider companies" to offer various digital solutions, enhancing the digitalization and operational capabilities of Tainan's enterprises. So far, 201 cases have received digital transformation consulting services, 96 service provider companies have been recruited, and 25 applications for domestic subsidy plans have been assisted, securing 9.426 million NT dollars in funding. Examples include the Bo Ren Tang Chinese herbal medicine shop, which integrates traditional Chinese culture with digital technology for intelligent management and online services, and Guagguayan Sweet Potato Ecological Story Hall, which is implementing digital guidance and interactive displays to promote smart agriculture and sustainable local development.