Taiwan-funded project to help Romanian startups officially launched

Prague, April 8 (CNA) A Taiwan-funded project to support high potential startup companies in Romania was officially launched in Bucharest on Tuesday, with a top Taiwanese envoy saying he hoped it would promote closer Taiwan-Romania cooperation.

Taiwan's representative to Slovakia, Lee Nan-yang (李南陽), attended the ceremony to mark the launch of the "Star Venture Programme" in the Romanian capital, according to a statement issued by Taiwan's office in Slovakia, which also covers Romania.

The program in Romania is being run by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) with a 500,000-euro donation from the TaiwanBusiness-EBRD Technical Cooperation Fund, the statement said.

On Tuesday, 10 startups in electronic vehicle rentals, robot learning, energy, and education were shortlisted to pitch their business ideas at an in-person event in Bucharest. The EBRD is expected to announce the finalists in two to three weeks.

They will be selected to join the intensive 18-month program, which includes a range of support to help them succeed in the competitive global market, including help from Garage+ accelerator programs in Taiwan, according to Lee.

Lee said he expected the program to help Romanian startups prosper and promote bilateral cooperation with Taiwan.