JStories — JStories, Japan’s first media platform dedicated to solutions-based storytelling, will again serve as the media partner for the 2025 Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit, to be held in Tokyo on Aug. 25 and 26. JStories will publish related content such as summit highlights, Taiwan’s charm and innovations, and the participating companies and speakers, with the aim to energize the Japan-Taiwan startup community.
What is the Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit?
Launched in 2022, the Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit has grown into the largest event of its kind for startup collaboration between the two regions. By the 2024 edition, the summit had attracted over 100 startups from Taiwan, Japan, and beyond, with more than 1,000 attendees from government, academia, business, and media.
Taiwan’s national startup brand, Startup Island TAIWAN, organized the summit, with support from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).
Now in its fourth year, the 2025 summit will not only feature startup pitches in areas such as digital transformation and social innovation, but also open space for dialogue and partnership building with a goal of connecting bold ideas to real business growth.
▼ Here is the official event page
https://togethergobig.jp/en-main
Summit overview
More than 40 Taiwanese startups are expected to join the summit. On Aug. 25, the first day, an invitation-only session for VIPs and investors will be held at the Imperial Hotel Tokyo. Then, on Aug. 26, the event will move to Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB) in Marunouchi, where the public can attend pitch sessions featuring over 40 Taiwanese startups.
- Aug. 25 (Day 1) – Opening keynote by Liu Chin-Ching, minister of Taiwan’s National Development Council and key architect of Taiwan’s startup and innovation policy. Also, a cross-border M&A session with SHIFT USA CEO Hidetaka Kojima, known as the “King of M&A,” along with keynotes from both the Tokyo and Taiwan Stock exchanges on the outlook for capital markets.
- Aug. 26 (Day 2) – Taiwan’s showcase of its latest technologies at TIB in one of Asia’s largest startup showcases, offering opportunities for direct exchange with Japanese investors and innovators.
Why this summit matters: The backdrop to Japan-Taiwan startup ties
Cross-border activity on the rise
Japan-Taiwan cross-border collaboration in M&A and corporate venture capital (CVC) has entered a new phase in the past year.
In September 2024, Startup Island TAIWAN launched an overseas office in Tokyo to strengthen ties with local governments and build a global startup ecosystem linking both markets.
In March 2025, the “Japan-Taiwan Accelerator Program” kicked off, connecting Taiwanese startups to co-develop new businesses with major Japanese corporations such as AstraZeneca Japan, Shimizu Corp., and Mitsubishi Corp. These efforts lay the foundation for long-term joint growth, and more programs are expected to follow.
Japan: Taiwan’s most important startup partner
Behind these successful cross-border initiatives is the rapid rise of Taiwan’s startup ecosystem. In 2023 alone, Taiwan recorded 542 deals totaling $2.8 billion — an all-time high. By 2024, the number of startups reached nearly 10,000, with VC/CVC investment accounting for over 60% of funding.
To capitalize on this trend, Taiwan launched its “Bridging Taiwan to the World” initiative — choosing Japan as its first official partner country.
Japan returns the favor
Japan has labeled Taiwan as its most important startup partner, with joint activity spreading beyond semiconductors into biotech, healthcare, and digital transformation (DX).
A standout example is the $70 million joint investment in KKday, a Taiwan-based travel tech firm, by Japan’s Cool Japan Fund and Taiwan’s National Development Fund. KKday has also partnered with Japanese travel giant H.I.S., making it a flagship model for collaboration in the travel and entertainment space.
Another successful example is Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), a Taiwanese company that expanded into Kumamoto, Japan, revitalizing the local economy, which has raised high expectations for further collaboration with Taiwanese companies.
Another benchmark success: Taiwanese AI firm Appier. It was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2021, which is viewed as the template for success for Taiwanese startups entering Japan.
According to a PwC Taiwan survey, Japan ranks first (25.2%) as the market Taiwanese startups want to enter within two to three years, ahead of the U.S. (24.7%). Proximity, cultural affinity, and Japan’s supportive policies make it a natural launchpad.
Summit highlights: CVC and M&A at center stage
As cross-border startup investment deepens between Japan and Taiwan, there are two hot topic sessions in the summit: one about mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and the other about corporate venture capital (CVC).
Highlight 1: M&A session with SHIFT’s Hidetaka Kojima
A major feature of this year’s summit is the M&A panel discussion, moderated by Hidetaka Kojima, head of Group Strategy at SHIFT. Known for executing nearly 40 acquisitions per year, Kojima’s expertise offers critical insight into emerging capital strategies between Japan and Taiwan. (For Kojima’s interview article from JStories click here)
Highlight 2: CVC panel with leading VCs from both countries
The second highlight is a panel on the future of CVC, where Taiwan and Japan are already forging new ground.
A joint fund between CDIB Capital (Taiwan) and Cool Japan Fund (Japan) has grown to $62 million, hinting at a growing interest in joint investment. Other major players, such as Z Venture Capital (LINE Yahoo) and Darwin Ventures (Taiwan), are expected to expand co-investment strategies that prioritize strategic synergy over short-term return on investment (ROI). This is what others call the dawn of “CVC 4.0,” a new era of corporate investment focused on long-term partnerships, innovation pipelines, and regional impact.
This session, which will take place on the morning of Aug. 25 at the Imperial Hotel, will feature leaders from Z Venture Capital, Sony Ventures, and several Taiwanese VC firms. The discussion will be moderated by Edgar Chiu, managing partner at SparkLabs Taiwan, one of the region’s most influential accelerators and venture capital platforms.
Together, these sessions will underscore how capital is being redeployed not just across borders, but across functions — from funding to co-building.
Japan-Taiwan startup ties are moving beyond “friendly neighbor” status. The relationship is evolving into a next-generation partnership model that leverages mutual strengths to enter third markets and tackle shared challenges.
The fourth Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit will offer a glimpse into the future of cross-border innovation in East Asia — one powered by strategy, capital, and shared ambition.
How to attend the 2025 Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit
Participation is free of charge and open to all, but advance registration is required.
– Aug. 25 – Day 1: Bridging Day
– Aug. 26 – Day 2: Startup Pitch
Event Details – Aug. 25 (Monday): Bridging Day
- Event: Bridging Day
- Date: Monday, Aug. 25, 2025
- Venue: Imperial Hotel Tokyo (1-1-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
- Organizer: Startup Island TAIWAN (supported by Taiwan’s National Development Council)
- Admission: Free
- Languages: Chinese and Japanese (simultaneous interpretation provided)
Program Highlights:
- A special keynote titled “Pioneers Changing the World – Contributions of Deep Tech to Sustainable Development” will explore broad solutions to shared societal challenges, with a focus on Japan-Taiwan Business Cooperation from the perspective of Mitsubishi Research Institute.
- The CVC 4.0 session will look at how industry and capital markets can build win-win relationships.
- The M&A session will provide insights into new models of Japan-Taiwan capital collaboration and strategies for entering new markets.
Event Details – Aug. 26 (Tuesday): Startup Pitch
- Event: 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 National Development Council)
- Admission: Free
- Languages: Chinese and Japanese (with AI-based interpretation)
Participating startups (selected):
– KKday
– iKala
…and more
Who should attend
This summit is recommended for:
- Large and midsize companies exploring partnerships or co-creation with startups
- Japanese companies interested in overseas startups
- Investors, VCs, CVCs, and financial institutions looking for new investment opportunities
- Those interested in Taiwan’s startup ecosystem
- Government officials and local municipalities
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
