Tokyo to host 2025 Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit in August

JStories — JStories, Japan’s first media platform devoted to solutions-based storytelling, will once more function the media companion for the 2025 Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit, to be held in Tokyo on Aug. 25 and 26. JStories will publish associated content material akin to summit highlights, Taiwan’s allure and improvements, and the collaborating corporations and audio system, with the goal to energise the Japan-Taiwan startup neighborhood.

Highlights from final yr’s summit can be found by way of Startup Island TAIWAN’s official YouTube channel

What’s the Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit?

Launched in 2022, the Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit has grown into the biggest occasion of its form for startup collaboration between the 2 areas. By the 2024 version, the summit had attracted over 100 startups from Taiwan, Japan, and past, with greater than 1,000 attendees from authorities, academia, enterprise, and media.

Now in its fourth yr, the 2025 summit is not going to solely characteristic startup pitches in areas akin to digital transformation and social innovation, but additionally open house for dialogue and partnership constructing with a objective of connecting daring concepts to actual enterprise development.

▼ Right here is the official occasion web page

Greater than 40 Taiwanese startups are anticipated to affix the summit. On Aug. 25, the primary day, an invitation-only session for VIPs and buyers shall be held on the Imperial Lodge Tokyo. Then, on Aug. 26, the occasion will transfer to Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB) in Marunouchi, the place the general public can attend pitch classes that includes over 40 Taiwanese startups.

Aug. 25 (Day 1) – Opening keynote by Liu Chin-Ching, minister of Taiwan’s Nationwide Improvement Council and key architect of Taiwan’s startup and innovation coverage. Additionally, a cross-border M&A session with SHIFT USA CEO Hidetaka Kojima, often called the “King of M&A,” together with keynotes from each the Tokyo and Taiwan Inventory exchanges on the outlook for capital markets.
Aug. 26 (Day 2) – Taiwan’s showcase of its newest applied sciences at TIB in one among Asia’s largest startup showcases, providing alternatives for direct change with Japanese buyers and innovators.

Why this summit issues: The backdrop to Japan-Taiwan startup ties

Cross-border exercise on the rise

Japan-Taiwan cross-border collaboration in M&A and company enterprise capital (CVC) has entered a brand new section prior to now yr.

In September 2024, Startup Island TAIWAN launched an abroad workplace in Tokyo to strengthen ties with native governments and construct a world startup ecosystem linking each markets.

In March 2025, the “Japan-Taiwan Accelerator Program” kicked off, connecting Taiwanese startups to co-develop new companies with main Japanese firms akin to AstraZeneca Japan, Shimizu Corp., and Mitsubishi Corp. These efforts lay the muse for long-term joint development, and extra packages are anticipated to observe.

Japan: Taiwan’s most vital startup companion

To capitalize on this pattern, Taiwan launched its “Bridging Taiwan to the World” initiative — selecting Japan as its first official companion nation.

Japan has labeled Taiwan as its most vital startup companion, with joint exercise spreading past semiconductors into biotech, healthcare, and digital transformation (DX).

A standout instance is the $70 million joint funding in KKday, a Taiwan-based journey tech agency, by Japan’s Cool Japan Fund and Taiwan’s Nationwide Improvement Fund. KKday has additionally partnered with Japanese journey large H.I.S., making it a flagship mannequin for collaboration within the journey and leisure house.

One other profitable instance is Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Firm (TSMC), a Taiwanese firm that expanded into Kumamoto, Japan, revitalizing the native economic system, which has raised excessive expectations for additional collaboration with Taiwanese corporations.

One other benchmark success: Taiwanese AI agency Appier. It was listed on the Tokyo Inventory Alternate in 2021, which is seen because the template for achievement for Taiwanese startups coming into Japan.

In line with a PwC Taiwan survey, Japan ranks first (25.2%) because the market Taiwanese startups need to enter inside two to a few years, forward of the U.S. (24.7%). Proximity, cultural affinity, and Japan’s supportive insurance policies make it a pure launchpad.

Summit highlights: CVC and M&A at heart stage

As cross-border startup funding deepens between Japan and Taiwan, there are two scorching subject classes within the summit: one about mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and the opposite about company enterprise capital (CVC).

Spotlight 1: M&A session with SHIFT’s Hidetaka Kojima

A serious characteristic of this yr’s summit is the M&A panel dialogue, moderated by Hidetaka Kojima, head of Group Technique at SHIFT. Identified for executing almost 40 acquisitions per yr, Kojima’s experience presents crucial perception into rising capital methods between Japan and Taiwan. (For Kojima’s interview article from JStories click on right here)

Spotlight 2: CVC panel with main VCs from each nations

The second spotlight is a panel on the way forward for CVC, the place Taiwan and Japan are already forging new floor.

A joint fund between CDIB Capital (Taiwan) and Cool Japan Fund (Japan) has grown to $62 million, hinting at a rising curiosity in joint funding. Different main gamers, akin to Z Enterprise Capital (LINE Yahoo) and Darwin Ventures (Taiwan), are anticipated to broaden co-investment methods that prioritize strategic synergy over short-term return on funding (ROI). That is what others name the daybreak of “CVC 4.0,” a brand new period of company funding centered on long-term partnerships, innovation pipelines, and regional impression.

This session, which can happen on the morning of Aug. 25 on the Imperial Lodge, will characteristic leaders from Z Enterprise Capital, Sony Ventures, and a number of other Taiwanese VC corporations. The dialogue shall be moderated by Edgar Chiu, managing companion at SparkLabs Taiwan, one of many area’s most influential accelerators and enterprise capital platforms.

Collectively, these classes will underscore how capital is being redeployed not simply throughout borders, however throughout capabilities — from funding to co-building.

Japan-Taiwan startup ties are transferring past “pleasant neighbor” standing. The connection is evolving right into a next-generation partnership mannequin that leverages mutual strengths to enter third markets and deal with shared challenges.

The fourth Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit will supply a glimpse into the way forward for cross-border innovation in East Asia — one powered by technique, capital, and shared ambition.

attend the 2025 Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit

Participation is freed from cost and open to all, however advance registration is required.

Occasion Particulars – Aug. 25 (Monday): Bridging Day

Occasion: Bridging Day
Date: Monday, Aug. 25, 2025
Venue: Imperial Lodge Tokyo (1-1-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
Organizer: Startup Island TAIWAN (supported by Taiwan’s Nationwide Improvement Council)
Admission: Free
Languages: Chinese language and Japanese (simultaneous interpretation offered)

A particular keynote titled “Pioneers Altering the World – Contributions of Deep Tech to Sustainable Improvement” will discover broad options to shared societal challenges, with a concentrate on Japan-Taiwan Enterprise Cooperation from the attitude of Mitsubishi Analysis Institute.
The CVC 4.0 session will have a look at how business and capital markets can construct win-win relationships.
The M&A session will present insights into new fashions of Japan-Taiwan capital collaboration and techniques for coming into new markets.

Occasion Particulars – Aug. 26 (Tuesday): Startup Pitch

Occasion: Startup Pitch
Date: Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025
Venue: Tokyo Innovation Base (3-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
Organizer: Startup Island TAIWAN (supported by Taiwan’s Nationwide Improvement Council)
Admission: Free
Languages: Chinese language and Japanese (with AI-based interpretation)

Taking part startups (chosen):

This summit is advisable for:

Massive and midsize corporations exploring partnerships or co-creation with startups
Japanese corporations fascinated with abroad startups
Traders, VCs, CVCs, and monetary establishments searching for new funding alternatives
These fascinated with Taiwan’s startup ecosystem
Authorities officers and native municipalities

JStories has been appointed because the official media companion for Taiwan Tech Week 2025. We plan to offer you well timed and easy-to-understand details about this occasion and associated occasions.

Go to JStories’ particular web site right here:

High picture: Picture courtesy of Startup Island TAIWAN

For inquiries concerning this text, please contact [email protected]

Click on right here for the Japanese model of the article