JStories ー As Osaka continues to buzz with excitement about the ongoing Expo 2025, around 30 startups from Taiwan, sometimes referred to as “Tech Island,” will gather in the city. These startups are at the forefront of innovation in fields such as AI and smart cities.
These companies are actively collaborating with local governments and businesses in the Kansai region, and most of their initiatives are aligned with the expo’s theme of “sustainability.”
These Taiwanese companies, along with Japanese startups, companies, and local government officials, will come together for a networking event on Aug. 20 and 21 at NORIBA10 Umeda, Osaka. The Osaka Prefectural Government, the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Osaka will also participate.
This two-day gathering is part of a bigger event called “2025 Taiwan Tech Week” (Aug. 19-22) supported by the country’s national startup brand, Startup Island TAIWAN. Several sessions will be open to the public and private sectors. This forum is a valuable opportunity for local governments, companies, venture capitalists (VCs), corporate venture capitalists (CVCs), and startup stakeholders in Kansai to engage with Taiwanese startups that have strong ties with Japan.
Startup Island TAIWAN also attracts foreign startups to the country. The event is a great venue for networking and information exchange for Japanese startups and companies looking to enter Taiwan, or expand into Southeast Asian or Western markets via Taiwan.
Prominent startups from Taiwan gather in Umeda
Among the notable Taiwanese startups participating are Yallvend, which promotes cashless vending machines in Osaka; Turing Drive, which offers autonomous driving technology solutions to vehicles used in factories and other facilities in Kansai; and TMY Technology, which showed the foundational technology for next-generation 6G communication in collaboration with international research teams at the Osaka Expo.
Yallvend has already partnered with vending machine operators in Osaka and converted 300 vending machines to cashless. Its proprietary technology enables it to upgrade cash-only vending machines to accept electronic payment in just minutes.
“There are many Japanese vending machines in Taiwan, so we are familiar with the mechanisms of these machines,” said Duncan Huang, CEO of Yallvend. “Japan has about 4 million vending machines, but nearly 80% still don’t support cashless payment. We aim to make 800,000 vending machines in Japan cashless in the next seven to eight years,” he said.
By installing 4G SIM cards in the vending machines, the technology not only enables cashless payment but also cloud-based inventory management. Currently, Japan generates 40% of the company’s revenue. It plans to go public in Taiwan by the end of next year.
Turing Drive, an autonomous driving technology company, is working with a major company with a factory in the Kansai region to hold joint tests of low-speed autonomous driving technology.
“In Taiwan, our technology is already widely used in golf carts to solve the shortage of caddies,” said Hsiung Ko Ching, the company’s Japan representative, speaking in fluent Japanese. Having studied in Kansai, Hsiung is familiar with the area and proficient in communicating with Japanese companies.
“By automating vehicles in factories and other facilities, we can address labor shortages. Our unmanned vehicles can help patrol factories to ensure safety. We are currently conducting implementation trials.”
Working with local companies and supported by JETRO, the company has successfully conducted pilot tests this year in Kansai, as well as on Miyakojima Island in Okinawa. The company is developing automated public transportation to address the shortage of drivers due to an aging and shrinking population.
Below, we will introduce the highlights and other details of the 2025 Taiwan Tech Week, including the participating startups. (JStories Editorial Department)
2025 Taiwan Tech Week Event Highlights
This year’s “2025 Taiwan Tech Week” will be held on Aug. 20 and 21 in Umeda, Osaka, as a supporting event in conjunction with the 2025 Japan International Exposition Association (Osaka-Kansai Expo). It will showcase the latest technologies from Taiwanese startups, many of which are hailed as the “next-generation unicorns.” From autonomous driving technology to next-generation 6G communication technology, Taiwanese entrepreneurs with strong ties to the Kansai region will showcase their innovations and discuss future prospects for Japan.
– Around 30 startups from Taiwan working on AI, autonomous driving, smart cities, and ESG tech will gather to showcase their cutting-edge technologies (some of which can be experienced firsthand).
– Click here for the list of participating startups (updated regularly).
– On Aug. 20, a one-day event called AI Solutions Shaping the Future of Urban Innovation” will be held. It will give attendees the opportunity to experience AI solutions from Taiwanese startups. Echoing the Osaka-Kansai Expo’s vision, “Designing a Future Society where Life Shines Brightly,” the event will have presentations on technologies aimed at improving human welfare and creating a sustainable future. It will also have special lectures and networking sessions.
The keynote session will introduce smart cities initiatives, ESG tech, and AI-driven solutions to societal challenges. The international panel will explore collaboration and partnership possibilities among Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, ASEAN, and Australia. Selected Taiwanese startups will also take the stage.
(Some of the participating companies)
- Yallvend (promoting the digital transformation of vending machines in Japan): Currently rolling out cashless vending machines in the Kansai region, including Dotonbori and Awaji Island. Will also be exhibiting at Foodex Japan Kansai in July 2025.
- Turing Drive (addressing Japan’s declining birthrate, aging population and labor shortage issues with autonomous driving technology): Partnering with major companies in Kansai for autonomous driving technology solutions for special vehicles in factories and logistics facilities.
- TMY Technology (joint development of next-generation communication technology with Japanese companies): Jointly developing next-generation 6G communications with companies such as Sky PerfectTV. Exhibiting at the Osaka-Kansai Expo.
– At the international roundtable discussion on the 20th, in addition to Japanese and Taiwanese startups, representatives from South Korea, Malaysia, and Australia will also join to discuss case studies co-creation and possibilities for future collaboration.
– On Aug. 21, the next event will be called “Meet the Tech Founders,” featuring CEOs, CTOs, and other executives from Taiwanese startups. Using a pitch style, they will present the latest technologies and business strategies that support future lifestyles. The participating startups include Turing Drive (autonomous driving), nextDrive (energy IoT technology), USPACE (smart parking), and TMY (satellite communications), among others. Additionally, startups like Yallvend (IoT) and BearVFX (3D AI avatars) will hold interactive tech showcases to give attendees hands-on experiences.
How to participate in Taiwan Tech Week 2025
Advance registration is required, but anyone can join for free.
– For details and registration for Aug. 20, please click here: “AI Solutions for Creating the Future of Urban Innovation”.
– For details and registration for Aug. 21, please click here: “Taiwan Entrepreneurs Day”.
2025 Taiwan Tech Week Event Overview
<Aug. 20>
Event Overview
- Event Name: AI Solutions for Creating the Future of Urban Innovation
- Date and Time: Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Venue: NORIBA 10 Umeda (inside Hankyu Hanshin MEETS) 1-1-3 Shibata, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0012 (outside the central ticket gate on the 2nd floor of Hankyu Osaka Umeda Station)
- Participation Fee: Free (advance registration required)
- Languages: English and Japanese (AI simultaneous interpretation available)
- Sponsor: 2025 Japan International Exposition Association
Main Contents
- 【Special Lecture】The Future of Cities and Society Created by Technology
- 【Keynote Session】Smart Cities, ESG Tech, and Case Studies of Problem Solving Using AI
- 【International Roundtable Discussion】Co-creation Case Studies between Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, ASEAN, and Australia, and Future Possibilities for Collaboration
- 【Taiwan Startup Pitch】C-Level Presentations and Introduction of Cutting-Edge Tech
- 【Networking】Direct Interaction Time with Taiwanese Startups
Participating Startups (Excerpt)
– 稜研科技 TMY
– 桓竑智聯 IHH
This event is recommended for:
- The general public interested in issues such as AI, ESG, and smart cities
- Universities and research institutions (faculty and students)
- NGOs/NPOs working on SDGs and ESG
- Government agencies and local government officials
- Large and medium-sized companies considering partnerships with overseas startups
- VCs, CVCs, and financial professionals considering investments in tech startups
- Anyone interested in technology and international collaboration
<Aug. 21>
Event Overview
- Event Name: Taiwanese Entrepreneurs Day
- Date and Time: Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2025, 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Venue: NORIBA10 Umeda (inside Hankyu Hanshin MEETS) 1-1-3 Shibata, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0015 (immediately outside the central ticket gate on the 2nd floor of Hankyu Osaka Umeda Station)
- Participation Fee: Free (advance registration required)
Main Contents
- [Special Guided Tour] A guided tour of each booth with the theme of “Not the future – Technology that’s already around us”
- [Featured Pitches & Sessions] C-level executives (CEOs, CTOs, etc.) from each company will give presentations on their latest technologies and their social impact.
- [Networking] There will also be valuable opportunities to connect directly with Taiwanese government officials, startup founders, and Japanese corporate executives.
Participating Startups (partial list)
– DeepWave
– HiTRUST
This event is recommended for:
- Members of the general public interested in social issues such as AI, ESG, and smart cities
- Universities and research institutions (faculty and students)
- Large and medium-sized companies considering collaboration with overseas startups
- VCs, CVCs, and financial professionals considering investment in tech startups
- Investors
- Anyone interested in technology and international collaboration
JStories has been appointed as the official media partner for Taiwan Tech Week 2025. We plan to provide you with timely and easy-to-understand information about this event and related events.
Visit JStories’ special website here:
Japanese: https://jstories.media/jp/specials/japan_taiwan_special_features_2025
English: https://jstories.media/specials/japan_taiwan_special_features_2025
Article by JStories
Edited by Mark Goldsmith
Top photo: Photo courtesy of Startup Island TAIWAN
For inquiries regarding this article, please contact jstories@pacificbridge.jp
Click here for the Japanese version of the article
