The International Innovation and Entrepreneurship Park is first promoted at the Yuanshan Flora Expo Hall

NDC Minister Guan Chung-min thanks Ko Wen-je; the International Innovation and Entrepreneurship Park settles at the Yuanshan Flora Expo Hall

To accelerate our country's innovation and entrepreneurship development, the NDC has drawn on foreign experience and planned to build a representative international-level startup cluster, in order to help domestic startup teams expand into global markets and raise the international visibility of our country's innovation and entrepreneurship capacity.

Regarding the opinions raised on the 23rd by Legislators Su Chen-ching, Chen Ming-wen and Chen Chi-mai about the NDC's plan to establish an International Innovation and Entrepreneurship Park at the Taipei Expo Park Hall, the NDC explains as follows:

1. Regarding the location of the startup park, the NDC has not engaged in double-dealing. To build the International Innovation and Entrepreneurship Park, the NDC had already consulted relevant industry operators beforehand, and last year also inquired whether New Taipei City, Taichung City, Kaohsiung City and other places had suitable locations; only after comprehensively considering conditions such as timeliness, expandability and the living amenities that meet the needs of domestic and international startup teams was the Expo Park selected, not chosen from the outset as the legislators claim.

The NDC recently, following suggestions from legislators, again sent letters asking local governments to provide information for assessment, but never stated that the site would be re-selected; after consultation with the Taipei City Government, support was obtained to continue promoting this case. NDC Minister Guan Chung-min stated that in the face of major trends such as the Internet of Things and mobile applications, Taiwan absolutely has the innovation strength for software-hardware integration, can become the main driving force for creating another Taiwan economic miracle, and can further create employment and dream-fulfillment opportunities for young people.

However, the problem now is that the international community cannot see us and always skips over Taiwan. Therefore, the NDC first presents the area with the most complete facilities at present, hoping to win the favor of entrepreneurs and international venture capital operators; only after the first step is taken steadily will there be follow-up momentum, and only then can the development of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country be driven. The NDC's sending of documents to counties and cities to inquire about vacant land is already preparing for the subsequent second and third steps, and it hopes all sectors can support it and give young people and startup businesses a future.

2. The use of relevant funds is handled in accordance with the Budget Act, and building renovation matters have also been adjusted according to the legislators' suggestions. Regarding the originally planned NT$200 million for building renovation of the startup park and the NT$50 million budget for entrusting a private professional firm with operation and management, both are handled in accordance with budget laws and regulations, and the Legislative Yuan can supervise them.

As for the legislators' questioning of the entrustment of building renovation to the Taipei Expo Foundation, this is because that foundation is the management unit of the Expo Park; the NDC respected the suggestion of the former city government and originally planned for this council to entrust the foundation with the renovation. Recently, after consultation with the Ko city government and with reference to the legislators' opinions, it is planned to handle the renovation of the startup park itself, and there is no situation as the legislators claim in which the NDC subsidized the Expo Foundation with NT$200 million as early as 2014.

NDC Minister Guan Chung-min further stated that the NDC has always emphasized balanced regional development; whether it is the central and southern regions, the Hualien-Taitung region or offshore islands, development there is a key policy being promoted, and he hopes legislators can also see the NDC's efforts in this regard.