The Small and Medium Enterprise Administration under the ROC Ministry of Economic Affairs and the European Business and Innovation Center Network have signed a one-year memorandum of understanding to enhance bilateral collaboration on incubation.
“The pact is an extension of a similar memorandum inked between the two sides in 2011 and allows further partnership on business startups and incubation, academia-industry cooperation and the mixing and matching of business opportunities,” Yeh Yun-lung, SMEA director-general, said Nov. 20. “It will benefit Taiwan in terms of internationalizing our incubation sector,” he added.
“Through the establishment of a collaborative model, we hope to develop reciprocal markets for enterprises and incubation centers.”
Lennard Drogendijk, EBN vice president, said that under the deal, his agency will tighten the connections between Europe and Taiwan’s small and medium enterprises as well as innovative and incubation centers.
Details of the memorandum include the establishment in Taiwan of a Soft Landing Club, which “is a new co-incubation service for innovation-led companies who wish to explore new markets”; participation in seminars and international forums held by the two sides; the exchange of information on incubation and industry through appropriate channels; and the execution of plans that meet the interests of both sides, Yeh said.
Founded in Belgium in 1984, the EBN is “a joint initiative of the European Commission, European industry leaders and the first pioneering Business and Innovation Centres,” dedicated to the promotion of entrepreneurship, innovation and incubation, according to its website. (THN)
Write to Grace Kuo at mlkuo@mofa.gov.tw