MOEA program offers R&D, technology support to small and medium businesses

October 29, 2007

A special program by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) is helping
small companies like Ze-yu Development make product breakthroughs by
providing technology and R&D support.

The MOEA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program provided
funding and subsidies to Zeyu Development while arranging for the company
to cooperate with Feng Chia University to develop its product, a new
microfiber for use as material for artificial leather.

Feng Chia University’s incubation center provided Ze-yu with the R&D and
technology resources it needed to develop its product.

This is just one example of the SBIR program at work.

Established in 1999 and based on a similar program in the US, the SBIR
program provides funding and subsidies to help small and medium sized
businesses (Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs) mitigate the risks
commonly associated with R&D for industrial technology, which generally
require longer development times and larger investment scale.

In addition, the SBIR program utilizes other programs promoting
industry-academia cooperation to help with Taiwan’s transition to a
knowledge-based economy.

According to sources, Taiwan’s small and medium businesses have
submitted over 3,649 research proposals to the SBIR program. 2,164 of
these projects are currently receiving subsidies, worth a total of NTD
4.545 billion. The program has also brought on matching research
expenditures from SMEs of nearly NTD 9.344 billion, which has been
invested into research manpower totaling over 22,000 people.

(Economic Daily News)

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