Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council, or 國家科學及技術委員會, has opened applications for the first 2027 round of its Scientific Research Entrepreneurship Program.
The programme is designed to move original technology out of universities and research institutions and towards commercial use. Selected projects can receive up to NT$8 million, approximately US$248,000, for early commercial validation, or up to NT$15 million, approximately US$465,000, for more advanced ventures.
Applications opened on 3 August and close on 3 September 2026. Funded projects are expected to begin on 1 January 2027 and normally run for no longer than one year.
This is not a general grant that any existing startup can apply for directly. Applications must originate from eligible Taiwanese research institutions and pass through one of the country’s approved research commercialisation platforms.
Two routes from research to market
The programme offers two principal funding tracks.
The Germination track, or 萌芽案, supports research results that demonstrate commercial potential but still require market validation.
Teams can request up to NT$8 million to investigate customer demand, construct a viable business model and produce a commercial prototype. The objective is not simply to continue academic research, but to establish whether the technology can solve a sufficiently valuable problem outside the laboratory.
The Acceleration track, or 拔尖案, is intended for technologies with greater development potential.
Projects applying through this route can request up to NT$15 million. However, the requirements are more demanding: applicants must provide an assessment from a qualified investor and identify a suitable future CEO or COO for the company that may emerge from the project.
This distinction matters. Taiwan is not funding research alone; it is asking teams to demonstrate how intellectual property, technical expertise and market demand could be assembled into an operational business.
Who can apply?
The direct applicants are approved institutions participating in Taiwan’s research commercialisation system.
Researchers interested in the programme normally need to approach the commercialisation platform associated with their university or research institution. That platform evaluates the project, helps prepare the commercial proposal and submits selected applications to the NSTC.
Individual universities may therefore impose an internal deadline earlier than the national deadline of 3 September.
The programme is most relevant to teams holding original, institution-owned research with a credible path towards commercialisation. Potential fields could include semiconductors, biotechnology, medical devices, advanced materials, robotics, energy and other deep-technology sectors, although selection depends on the commercial and technical merits of each proposal.
Existing companies cannot treat the programme as an unrestricted funding round. Its purpose is specifically to commercialise research results and encourage the creation of new ventures or their progression into other public startup-support programmes.
What applicants must prove
Technical originality alone will not be sufficient.
A strong application must explain which market problem the technology addresses, who could become its first customer and what must be demonstrated before a company can be formed.
For the Germination track, the central question is whether a scientific result can become a usable product with identifiable demand.
For the Acceleration track, the standard is higher. The project must show not only technical potential but also investor interest and the beginnings of a credible management team.
This is where many university technologies struggle. A research team may understand the science better than anyone else, while lacking experience in customer discovery, pricing, regulation, manufacturing or company building.
Taiwan’s programme attempts to finance that missing transition.
An opportunity—with a restricted entry point
The application window remains open until 3 September 2026, but teams should not wait until that date. Their university or commercialisation platform may need time to conduct an internal assessment and could close submissions earlier.
Researchers should first identify the platform responsible for their institution, confirm ownership of the relevant intellectual property and prepare a clear commercial case before submitting their materials.
Applications are processed through the official Taiwan Germination Program platform.
Application period: 3 August–3 September 2026
Germination funding: Up to NT$8 million
Acceleration funding: Up to NT$15 million
Expected project start: 1 January 2027
Direct applicants: Eligible Taiwanese research institutions through approved commercialisation platforms
SAKIME
SAKIME tracks East Asian technology companies, startup funding and opportunities connecting founders, investors and commercial partners.
This article is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice or a guarantee of funding.
Author — Adrià Mas Rodríguez