Taiwanese Startups Forge Smart Partnerships With Selangor Through Startup Challenge 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- Taiwan and Malaysia have strengthened their collaboration in technology and innovation through the Startup Challenge 2025, which saw four outstanding Taiwanese startups advance to the City Category final organised by Taiwan’s Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration (SMESA).

In a statement today, SMESA said the Startup Challenge initiative promotes technological innovation that enhances social well-being and sustainability, while helping Taiwanese startups integrate into Selangor’s dynamic tech ecosystem and explore cross-border business opportunities.

Following three stages of selection — preliminary, semi-final, and final — the top four teams arrived in Selangor in mid-August to install their systems, test solutions, and collect data to validate performance before presenting their outcomes at the final pitch on Oct 15.

bootstrap slideshow

“The challenge features two themes proposed by the Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (SIDEC): a Library Control System for the Raja Tun Uda Public Library and a Low-Carbon Data Centre at the Malaysia Semiconductor IC Design Park,” it said.

These projects aim to create smarter, greener public facilities and more sustainable data infrastructure, reinforcing Selangor’s role as a leading regional innovation hub, and the final results will be announced in Taiwan next month.

James Chang, director of the Economic Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia, said that Taiwan and Malaysia have long maintained strong economic ties.

bootstrap slideshow

“Last year, Taiwan surpassed Japan to become Malaysia’s fourth-largest trading partner, and this year’s trade is expected to perform even better with a 36 per cent increase from January to August,” he said.

Chang also expressed appreciation for SIDEC’s continuous support for Taiwanese businesses, describing the Startup Challenge as “a meaningful platform to deepen collaboration and attract more investments to Selangor”.

Meanwhile, SIDEC’s chief operating officer, Loo Chuan Boon, said the corporation was delighted to work with the Taiwan Computer Association (TCA) for the second consecutive year.

“Initiatives such as enhancing the public library experience and addressing the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects of data centres reflect a shared vision to build a more dynamic and sustainable tech ecosystem,” he said.

For the Green Smart Library Transformation category, Gotspeed IT Service has developed an integrated system that enables staff to access the library terminal via a smartphone app, rather than a fixed device, thereby reducing energy use, capital investment, and maintenance needs.

Meanwhile, Skyverge Innovations has developed a paperless RFID asset-tracking system to simplify the borrowing and returning process. The system also enables users to locate books more efficiently, while its energy-efficient terminals can be customised into various designs, including animal shapes to engage children.

In the Low-Carbon Data Centre category, Meta Intelligence Ltd showcased its computational fluid dynamics simulation technology to optimise airflow in data servers by creating a digital model of the data centre that enables the system to map and adjust airflow based on load and peak usage, leading to between 20 and 30 per cent lower energy consumption.

Another finalist in the category, Chimes AI, applied its expertise in manufacturing data analytics to design a machine learning model capable of detecting abnormalities and determining optimal operating parameters, which can significantly improve efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of data centre operations.

-- BERNAMA