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Meet Greater South 2025 Kicks Off in Kaohsiung, Featuring 300 Startups from 9 Countries
The fifth Meet Greater South opened this morning at the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center, drawing 300 startups from nine countries and dozens of international and industry leaders. Over the next two days, the event will focus on semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and sustainability, three areas that are increasingly shaping both Kaohsiung’s future and Taiwan’s place in the global technology landscape.
At the ceremony, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai described the city as standing at the center of a fast-moving wave of global innovation. With companies like TSMC, NVIDIA, and Cisco investing locally, he said a full technology corridor is beginning to take shape in the south. “Semiconductors, AI, and sustainability are not just visions of the future. They are already our reality in Kaohsiung,” he told the audience. He added that the city government intends to remain a strong supporter of industries and startups, while also giving young professionals a reason to return home.
Minister of Economic Affairs Kuo Jyh-huei built on that theme by underlining how the central government is working hand in hand with the local ecosystem. He pointed to the Yawan Innovation Park, which has brought in 13 international accelerators and billions in investment opportunities, and spoke about new efforts to link 15 research institutes with small and medium enterprises to bring AI into traditional production lines.
“From the very first edition, the Ministry has fully supported Meet Greater South, standing alongside the growth of startups in southern Taiwan,” Kuo Jyh-huei said, noting that the festival has become a reference point for innovation in the region.
Strengthening International Ties and Startup Collaboration
The international dimension of the event was underscored by Neil Gibson, Director of the American Institute in Taiwan’s Kaohsiung Branch. “The United States sees tremendous potential in southern Taiwan’s development, and companies such as NVIDIA, AMD, and IBM are already investing and partnering here,” he said. For Gibson, Meet Greater South is an opportunity to continue building those bridges, with AIT committed to deepening exchanges between U.S. and Taiwanese startups.
That sense of continuity and long-term commitment was echoed by He Feipeng, Honorary Publisher of Business Next.
He reflected on the significance of the event reaching its fifth year, describing persistence as rare in such a fast-changing era. “If you can stay committed to the same endeavor for five years in such a rapidly changing time, that is something remarkable,” he said. For him, the heart of Meet Greater South lies in encouraging collaboration between established corporations and new ventures. Even small partnerships, he suggested, can eventually grow into forces that reshape the industrial landscape of southern Taiwan.
Two Days of Innovation and Exchange
The festival’s program includes ten stage events and three headline forums.
On August 22, the AI and Semiconductor Economy Forum featured speakers such as former TSMC R&D head Dr. Konrad Young and Korea’s DEEPX, alongside Chunghwa Telecom and GoEdge.ai.
On August 23, attention will shift to how F&B brands cultivate loyalty at the Food Entrepreneurship Salon, and to the future of digital finance at the Web3+ Investment Forum, where topics range from crypto strategy to green finance.
Exhibitions cover AI and semiconductors, digital content, smart healthcare, green energy, smart cities, and Web3.
International startups from Asia, Europe, and North America are joining local teams on the floor. Other new features this year include a lifestyle market organized with Meinong Village and a Technology Talent Exchange Zone set up with 1111 Job Bank and leading employers.
Over two days, Meet Greater South aims to create a space where startups, industry leaders, and international partners can meet and exchange ideas, reflecting both the growth of Kaohsiung as a technology hub and its connection to the wider global market.
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