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TIMELINE
The award selection process includes two types: ONLINE and ON-SITE competitions. Teams can participate in both with no entry limits.
ONLINE COMPETITION
- The award selection process is through online competitions. There are two rounds of application. Teams can participate with no entry limits.
- Application will be initially reviewed. Candidates will be notified based on the results if they proceed to secondary review.
- Candidates that pass the initial review must submit the “IC Innovation Acceleration Platform Resource Requirement Application Form”.
- Secondary review consists of a 20-minute online presentation and Q&A.
- Results will be announced two weeks after review, based on application volume.
ON-SITE COMPETITION
- Participate in designated international benchmark exhibitions like Viva Technology 2024 and CES 2025. Results will be announced after the pitch during the exhibition.
- May. 14
- Jun. 30
- Sep. 4
- Oct. 17-19
- Jan. 31, 2025
CATEGORIES & ELIGIBILITY
All participants must comply with the 2024 IC Taiwan Grand Challenge Pilot Program.
IC Taiwan Grand Challenge consists of 2 categories
IC DESIGN INNOVATIONS
Academic research or startup with proprietary IC design technology and core IP, planning and developing innovative chips.
CHIP-BASED INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS
Academic research or startup with domain knowledge in various industries and planning to combine existing chip technologies for implementation:
-
Smart Data & Security
-
Smart Medtech
-
Smart Mobility
-
Sustainability
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Smart Manufacturing
Am I eligible to apply?
We welcome teams that are:
- Startups, legal entities, academic research institutions, and individuals that plan to collaborate with Taiwan’s semiconductor industry.
- Must be a startup set up after January 1, 2016.
- Must own or have legal access to the intellectual property rights of the product, technology, or solution.
- Teams applying for Online Competition must submit Concept Paper detailing core technology, solved situations, future issues and solutions for Taiwan, business model, and market expansion plans.
JUDGING CRITERIA
Experts from Taiwan’s industry, venture capital, and relevant government departments form a committee to select the winning team.
- Have resource needs and specific development plans in Taiwan.
- Can provide broader development space for Taiwan’s industry.
- Can drive technological innovation potential and create social welfare.
- Contribution to promoting new industrial links or promoting industrial upgrading.
- The effectiveness of introducing derivative investments or creating high economic value.
- Innovation in emerging application fields.
- Pioneering in the fields of manufacturing process, design, and application of new materials.
- Able to integrate the advantages of diversified innovation and integrated cross-domain thinking.
40%LOCAL
CONNECTIVITY
40%VALUE CREATIVITY
20%TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION
- Have resource needs and specific development plans in Taiwan.
- Can provide broader development space for Taiwan’s industry.
- Can drive technological innovation potential and create social welfare.
- Contribution to promoting new industrial links or promoting industrial upgrading.
- The effectiveness of introducing derivative investments or creating high economic value.
- Innovation in emerging application fields.
- Pioneering in the fields of manufacturing process, design, and application of new materials.
- Able to integrate the advantages of diversified innovation and integrated cross-domain thinking.
INCENTIVES
Experts from Taiwan’s industry, venture capital, and relevant government departments form a committee to select the winning team.
An initial funding of USD 30,000 will be provided for teams coming to Taiwan. Based on actual needs, teams will be offered in chip development during the project execution period, including access to EDA tools, silicon intellectual property licensing services, IC professional design services, and shuttle services for multi-project wafer (MPW) runs, with a total cap of USD 3 million. This will primarily be conducted through a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) model for equity exchange. If the SAFE is not applicable under the regulations of the respective country, alternative equity exchange methods will be negotiated.
A review committee will be formed by senior technical experts from Taiwan's semiconductor industry and venture capitalists. The committee will review the resource requirements proposed by startups on the platform. Based on the identified needs, mentors will be arranged to provide professional guidance and consultation to the selected startups.
Provide the winning team with the access for office space rental at Taiwan International Start-up Base - Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA) and TTA South (https://www.taiwanarena.tech/) and related business development. The coaching manager serves as a bridge between selected teams and consultants/industry mentors, helping entrepreneurs connect with the necessary resources.
IC INNOVATION ACCELERATION PLATFORM INDUSTRY LINKS AND GUIDANCE OF CHIP DEVELOPMENT IN TAIWAN
INDUSTRY EXPERT REVIEW AND
MENTORSHIP
MENTORSHIP
LANDING RESOURCES
An initial funding of USD 30,000 will be provided for teams coming to Taiwan. Based on actual needs, teams will be offered in chip development during the project execution period, including access to EDA tools, silicon intellectual property licensing services, IC professional design services, and shuttle services for multi-project wafer (MPW) runs, with a total cap of USD 3 million. This will primarily be conducted through a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) model for equity exchange. If the SAFE is not applicable under the regulations of the respective country, alternative equity exchange methods will be negotiated.
A review committee will be formed by senior technical experts from Taiwan's semiconductor industry and venture capitalists. The committee will review the resource requirements proposed by startups on the platform. Based on the identified needs, mentors will be arranged to provide professional guidance and consultation to the selected startups.
Provide the winning team with the access for office space rental at Taiwan International Start-up Base - Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA) and TTA South (https://www.taiwanarena.tech/) and related business development. The coaching manager serves as a bridge between selected teams and consultants/industry mentors, helping entrepreneurs connect with the necessary resources.