FAQ
Q : How do foreign businesses go about establishing subsidiaries or branch offices in Taiwan?
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Foreign firms designing to set up subsidiaries in Taiwan must log in to the MOEA’s Company Name Pre-Inspection Online Request System and register the name of the subsidiary. Once the subsidiary’s name has been duly appropriated, the foreign firm must then apply with the Investment Commission for approval to invest. After obtaining approval, the foreign firm can register as a profit-seeking enterprise with the MOEA after which the foreign firm can subsequently apply to the Construction Bureau to submit a construction bid for the subsidiary
(http://gcis.nat.gov.tw/main/English/index.jsp) -
Foreign firms setting up branch offices in Taiwan must fill out the MOEA’s Branch of Foreign Company Registration Form to register as a foreign profit-seeking enterprise designing to set up a branch office in Taiwan.
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After registering as a branch office with the MOEA, the foreign firm can then log into the MOEA’s Company Name Pre-Inspection Online Request System to appropriate the name of the branch office. Once the business is registered with and approved by the MOEA, the foreign firm can subsequently apply to the Construction Bureau to submit a construction bid for the branch office.
Q : Does the Taiwanese government offer any type of financial aid or incentive programs to foreign businesses?
Foreign firms with subsidiaries in Taiwan can, pursuant to current law, submit to the MOEA any technology project proposal for consideration of the government’s R&D subsidy schemes. The mission of the MOEA’s Department of Industrial Technology is to encourage enterprises to engage in technological innovation and applied research by advancing corporate R&D capabilities and systems as part of its ongoing efforts to support the development of a formidable knowledge services industry in Taiwan. Research grant programs are aligned as closely as possible to developments in the domestic industry. Please refer to the DOIT’s website for the most up-to-date application forms and instructions for the research subsidy schemes currently available: (http://innovation.tdp.org.tw/group/application/tdp_innovation/ )
Q : What services does the MOEA’s Taiwan-USA Industrial Cooperation and Promotion Office provide? Do you charge fees?
The Taiwan-USA Industrial Cooperation and Promotion Office (TUSA) offers the following services:
Matchmaking services for U.S. firms designing to invest in or expand to the Taiwan market as well as partnering services for research and manufacturing projects
Assistance to U.S. firms designing to establish R&D centers in Taiwan, especially as regards to applying to the relevant government subsidy and grant programs or incentive schemes
Support of domestic firms designing to invest in the U.S. as well as connecting domestic firms to U.S. tech partners
Support of U.S. firms targeting Taiwan for investment
Support of Taiwan-U.S. entrepreneurship with emphasis on innovation-driven ventures and exchange activity
TUSA and its staff are very close to industry developments in the U.S., putting TUSA in the best position to effectively promote industrial collaboration between Taiwan and the U.S. TUSA offers all the aforementioned services free of charge.
Q : What's the difference between TUSA and TAITRA?
TUSA's business activities focus primarily on bilateral cooperation between Taiwan and U.S. industrial sectors. That means that TUSA acts as a commercial platform for Taiwan and U.S. firms to forge alliances, bolster innovation, and provide support to U.S. firms designing to invest in Taiwan or, likewise, support efforts by Taiwanese firms to establish a presence in the U.S. TUSA connects businesses, industry associations, and researchers for the purpose of creating innovation-driven and industry-based collaboration and exchange.
TAITRA's focus is the development of overseas trade, marketing the Taiwan brand, promoting trade in services, cultivating international business talent across the globe, and hosting trade exhibitions . Accordingly, TAITRA is a key business partner for TUSA .
Q : What was the purpose behind establishing TUSA?
The United States is Taiwan's third largest trading partner, while Taiwan is the 12th largest trading partner for the U.S. The MOEA established TUSA in August of 2012 for the purpose of helping to commercialize innovation and attract foreign investment. This mission underpins its strategies to target hot industries, create innovation links, and provide location-based marketing to promote Taiwan-U.S. industrial collaboration. In addition to fostering trade and R&D, TUSA also maintains a broader view of economic developments in Taiwan, such as striking the optimal balance between the manufacturing and service sectors, and how to achieve what is ultimately best for Taiwan's industries as a whole .
Q : Which industries is TUSA targeting in particular for creating business cooperation opportunities?
TUSA targets the green energy, biomedical and biotech, intellectual property, and information technology sectors . TUSA approaches creating industrial collaboration in these sectors in terms of the innovation, creativity, entrepreneurialism, and venture capital opportunities they provide in order to step up mutual innovation commercialization between Taiwan and the U . S .
Q : What are TUSA’s main activities?
TUSA's main business activities can be categorized into two parts:
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Promote and support mutual innovation commercialization between the industries of Taiwan and the United States.
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Promote and support bilateral investment opportunities.
