Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs said 81 companies have applied for a factory upgrade subsidy program offering up to US$95,000 per applicant to support operational transformation.
The program, launched under a special statute aimed at strengthening economic resilience, is designed to help small and mid-sized manufacturers enhance research and development, modernize facilities, and integrate into formal industrial policy frameworks. The ministry estimates the initiative could generate about US$28.5 million in related investment and assist roughly 300 firms.
Many of the eligible “special-registered” factories trace their origins to Taiwan’s early industrialization and historically faced land-use and regulatory constraints. Following legal amendments in 2019, the government has accelerated efforts to formalize and upgrade these operations.
Officials said firms leveraging public resources amid currency volatility and global competition would be better positioned to improve productivity and competitiveness. One Taoyuan-based machinery maker reported cutting production changeover time from two days to 15 minutes after adopting smart automation, enabling entry into a European supply chain.
