By KHT Staff. Images via KH City Govt.
KAOHSIUNG — The 2026 Meet Greater South startup conference opened Thursday at the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center, with Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) pledging to expand access to funding for startups and smart-service companies.
The two-day event, organized by Business Next, brings together more than 250 exhibitors and 30 overseas teams from more than 10 countries, according to the organizer. It runs through Friday in the exhibition center’s North Hall.
Chen said Kaohsiung had received more than NT$17 billion in investment and subsidy resources under the Asian New Bay Area development program, helping attract startups and system integrators including Pegatron, Aspeed Technology and Hon Hai Technology Group.
He said the city’s next task was to strengthen its financial support system, including through the planned Asia Asset Management Center, so that startups could more easily raise capital and grow in Kaohsiung.
Chen pointed to the city’s use of data analysis to manage traffic around major concerts as an example of how new technology can solve practical urban problems. He said cooperation with Chunghwa Telecom and other partners had helped the city analyze crowd movements and audience profiles, contributing to what the city estimates is an annual NT$18 billion concert economy.
Economic Affairs Minister Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) said Kaohsiung’s transformation extended beyond TSMC’s investment, citing the arrival of systems integrators, a carbon-trading market and the asset-management initiative.
The conference includes six themed areas covering smart manufacturing, digital management, net-zero and green energy, health care and elder care, retail and food technology, and brand transformation and cross-border marketing. More than 50 exhibitors are also scheduled to give short presentations on technology applications.
Source: Kaohsiung City Government news release.
