At the 2013 Innovation & Startups seminar today, Premier Jiang Yi-huah said the people of Taiwan need to encourage each other and help young people channel their abundant creativity into producing innovative products which can become globally known brands, occupy an important place in the world's production and supply chains and help ensure the nation's sustainable economic development.
The premier noted that in line with the National Science Council's "From IP to IPO" plan, the government will set up an ad hoc agency to provide capital, mentoring services and assistance with factory rentals. Jiang expects this plan, along with the Council for Economic Planning and Development's free economic pilot zones, to allow the nation's pent-up creativity to be fully unleashed for growth.
The premier encouraged the seminar participants to capitalize on the opportunity to learn the many other important elements of a successful business besides innovative ideas and concepts—such as management techniques and branding—so that their companies can go faster, higher and farther during the startup process.
When the current Cabinet was formed on February 18, its members were expected to bring creativity and reform in light of nation's depressing economic circumstances and social atmosphere, Jiang said. "The government had the potential to break through this situation with the correct means," he stated. For this reason, the premier encouraged members of the Cabinet to boldly innovate and implement changes to blaze a bright path for Taiwan's future.
Two things must be done to bring the nation out of its economic doldrums, the premier stated: firstly, more investment must be attracted to Taiwan to generate more jobs; secondly and more importantly, businesses must transform themselves and innovate.
The premier reiterated that Taiwan has competitive edges for development that other countries cannot immediately match—creativity and innovative ideas. If innovation and capital can join hands, then Taiwan's businesses can transform themselves, producing more job opportunities and raising workers' salaries in the process. In this way, Taiwan can maintain its leading position in the world economy, he said.
A few days ago, the premier attended the premiere of the documentary Sock'n Roll, whose protagonist is Lee Tung-lin, a hosier in Shetou, Changhua County who transforms his business from original equipment manufacturing to original design manufacturing, creating his own brand to adapt to the changing global economy. Lee displayed persistence and a never-give-up spirit, and the story of his business mirrored the story of Taiwan's economic development, Jiang said.
The premier closed his remarks by expressing gratitude to the conference's business sponsors. He also thanked the business mentors, leaders in their fields who are willingly sharing their most valuable management and start-up experiences with future entrepreneurs. "Such selfless spirit and devotion to help entrepreneurs-to-be is a pillar of sustainable national economic development," he said.