To promote AI innovation and foster emerging talent, Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) hosted the inaugural Best AI Awards Finals and Awards Ceremony on May 3 at the Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1. The competition attracted 1,253 elite teams from 36 countries. From the 233 finalists, 93 awards were presented, including eight Gold Prizes awarded to leading companies and academic teams from HiTRUST Incorporated, eYs3D Microelectronics, Data Yoo Application CO., Jmem Technology, National Central University, National Taiwan University, as well as standout international entries from the UK and the Philippines.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Ho Chin-Tsang highlighted that the competition served as a platform to bring together talent cultivation, real-world application, and industry demand. This year's entries, he noted, exemplify how AI innovation can be combined with creativity to meet real-world needs. Looking ahead, the Ministry will continue to align policy direction and resource investment with industry needs to bring more AI innovations to market and create meaningful local impact.

Kuo Chao-Chung, Director General of the Department of Industrial Technology, noted that in addition to enthusiastic participation from domestic companies and universities, the inaugural competition also attracted 353 international entrants from 36 countries, including India, the Philippines, the United States, and the United Kingdom. This strong turnout highlights the Awards' growing significance as not just a Taiwanese initiative, but a global platform for AI innovation and exchange. Beyond the competition itself, the Ministry of Economic Affairs is working with academic and research institutions to support enterprises in design, product development, and prototyping. It is also partnering with agencies such as the Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration and the Industrial Development Administration to help accelerate AI-driven transformation across industries.

Chiou Chyou-Huey, Director General of the Industrial Development Administration and a key advocate behind the competition, described the Best AI Awards as Taiwan's largest and most prestigious AI contest. The Award offers some of the highest prizes and maintains a highly competitive selection process with a winning rate of just 7.4%. He expressed hopes that through further efforts, AI can be integrated across all sectors to drive widespread industrial innovation.

This year's entries spanned a diverse range of industries, including ICT (18.4%), manufacturing (16.2%), healthcare (15.9%), wholesale and retail (10.2%), education (8.6%), and finance (7.8%). More than 100 startups, SMEs, and publicly listed companies took part, accelerating the adoption of AI across Taiwan's industrial landscape.

Looking ahead, the Ministry of Economic Affairs plans to make the Best AI Awards an annual flagship event for advancing AI development, talent cultivation, and innovation. The finals will be held each May alongside COMPUTEX, with over 20 domestic and international investors and buyers invited to participate in matchmaking sessions. Through this series of initiatives, the Ministry aims to foster new AI applications, accelerate workforce development, and help realize Taiwan's vision of becoming a global AI Island.