Chiayi City, in collaboration with the Chinese Entrepreneurship Incubation Association, has announced a total prize pool of NT$3.8 million for its startup competition, with submissions open from now until May 13, 2025. Mayor Huang Ming-hui is promoting the "Chiayi City Youth Entrepreneurship Reward Subsidy Program" for the fifth consecutive year, and this year, the city is hosting the 20th "National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition" to demonstrate its commitment to supporting youth entrepreneurship.

The competition is divided into two categories: the "Innovation and Creativity Group" and the "Chiayi Local Entrepreneurship Group." The "Innovation and Creativity Group" is further split into categories for "Students" and "Startup Companies," with an added category for "Health and Sustainability." The "Chiayi Local Entrepreneurship Group" continues from the previous four years' subsidy plan, divided into "Startup Activation" and "Operational Optimization" categories.

Mayor Huang expressed hope that the subsidy program will elevate Chiayi's outstanding youth entrepreneurship teams to a national stage and showcase the incredible entrepreneurial potential within Chiayi City. The city government will continue to optimize its various entrepreneurial support policies, aspiring to make Chiayi a truly happy city where ideas can be tested, practiced, and realized.

According to the Director of the Construction Bureau, Tien Chang-pei, the program has successfully supported 45 excellent teams, generating over NT$500 million in remarkable output across multiple fields, including dining, design, culture, and sports. This year, the city government is offering grants of up to NT$900,000 per project, in hopes that the infusion of government resources will help these young startups grow and shine brightly. Any youth teams with innovative entrepreneurial ideas or those already involved in entrepreneurship can apply, and submissions will be accepted until May 13, 2025.