Taiwan’s largest entrepreneurship competition, the "Startup Bloom – Entrepreneurship Alliance Competition" (創業綻放－創業大聯盟競賽), held its finals and awards ceremony this Wednesday. With a total prize pool exceeding NT$300 million (US$9.5 million), the competition has the largest number of participants and highest level of startup support in Taiwan.

The 30 finalist teams presented their results on Wednesday, vying for three “Presidential Awards” (總統獎) which each grant NT$10 million (US$318,000) in startup capital, and six “Premier Awards” (院長獎) which grant NT$6 million (US$190,800) in startup capital.

Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said he hopes the prize money will help empower innovation and entrepreneurship, noting that it could boost economic performance, strengthen industrial linkages, and contribute to GDP growth. He says this would allow the government to better allocate national resources to areas such as childcare, SME transformation and development, and national defense.

Cho acknowledged the record-high trading volume in Taiwan's stock market on Wednesday, May 27, but stressed that the government aims to ensure that economic benefits are fairly shared among all citizens. He emphasized that investing in innovation and entrepreneurship is key to the nation's future and thanked the startup teams present, saying, "Thank you to the future heroes of our country."

The Presidential Award winners are Astron Medtech Co., Phasetrum, and BacuNova BioTech Co. Six companies won the Premier Award: EZAQUACULTURE, Asia Pathogenomics, Hao Juen Technology, Atomic Precision, Ahead Medicine, and Good Food Everyday.