TW Biz News｜WK 03/17 - 03/23

Every week, we'll select Taiwan's five business news from the previous week for your review.

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• 〔Focus Taiwan〕TSMC to list NT$19.2 billion green bonds on March 28: TPEx

Taipei, March 20 (CNA) Contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) is scheduled to issue NT$19.2 billion (US$582 million) in green bonds on the local over-the-counter (OTC) market on March 28, the Taipei Exchange (TPEx) said Thursday. TSMC said the NT$19.2 billion raised from the upcoming bond sale, its first this year, will finance green architecture and renewable energy projects and related investments.

• 〔Taiwan News〕Foreign tech R&D investment in Taiwan hit record NT$24.4 billion in 2024

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Economic Affairs said that foreign technology companies invested a record NT$24.4 billion (US$805.2 million) in R&D in Taiwan last year. The National Science and Technology Council held a meeting on Wednesday with MOEA official Chiu Chiu-hui (邱求慧) in attendance. Chiu said 40 foreign technology companies have set up R&D centers in Taiwan, per CNA.

• 〔Taiwan News〕Startup incubator Plug and Play to open Taiwan branch

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Silicon Valley-based startup accelerator Plug and Play Tech Center announced Saturday its new branch will open in Taoyuan in May. Speaking at Taiwan Demo Day in Sunnyvale, California, Plug and Play Vice President of Corporate Partnerships Johannes Rott said the location will focus on artificial intelligence of things, smart mobility, and robotics, per CNA. Despite geopolitical concerns, he said the company sees potential in Taiwan.

• 〔BFI Southbank〕Myriad Voices: Reframing Taiwan New Cinema

The 1980s were a transformative period for Taiwan, marked by economic growth and rapid urbanisation. Movements for democracy and women’s rights grew in strength, culminating in the eventual lifting of martial law in 1987. In the first half of the decade, the Central Motion Picture Corporation explored new possibilities for Taiwanese cinema by producing low-budget films and supporting emerging talent, and it is from this context that Taiwan New Cinema emerged.

• 〔Taiwan Plus〕Taipei and Taichung Among World's Most Walkable Cities

A study published in “Nature Cities” examines the walkability of over 10,000 cities in terms of how long residents need to walk to essential amenities such as schools, hospitals, restaurants, and shops. Europe dominates with 45 out of the top 50 cities (including Milan at No. 1), but Taipei (35th) and Taichung (49th) have also made the leaderboard, as have Kyoto (28th), Kathmandu (45th), and Tokyo (50th) in Asia.