Taiwan's commerce-side industrial policy explicitly funds the modernization of long-established and culturally significant businesses. The Legacy Shop Renewal Program targets companies in continuous operation for 60+ years; Starlight Markets rates and upgrades traditional retail markets and night markets. These are smaller-dollar programs (typically NT$200K–550K per case) but extremely high-impact for the right operator — and increasingly relevant for foreign brands acquiring or partnering with heritage Taiwanese businesses to access the cultural-tourism segment.

The programs

  • Conventional Industry Technology Development Program (CITD) — up to NT$10M · Industrial Development Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs. Encourages applicants to adopt new technologies — either solo or in consortia — and develop new products, improving the market viability and success rate of those innovations. Also funds innovation-method consulting and coaching that strengthens product-development capability and product value.
  • Starlight Markets — Star-Rating & Market Upgrade Program — up to NT$200K · Commerce Development Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs. Two parallel tracks: (1) a star-rating accreditation that recognizes outstanding markets and stalls, and (2) hands-on market-upgrade counseling for selected markets.
  • Bakery Innovation & Sustainable Development Program · Commerce Development Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs. In-depth counseling for the bakery sector anchored on sustainable development and international expansion — covering innovation, supply integration, creative potential, product innovation, environmental upgrade, and brand value-add.
  • Commercial District Revitalisation Subsidy Program · Commerce Development Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs. Subsidies for commercial districts (shopping streets / night markets / cluster zones) to upgrade environment, run signature marketing, adopt digital tools, drive sensory promotion, and join cross-district exchange & learning.
  • Digital Commercial District Capability Uplift Program · Commerce Development Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs. Helps commercial-district organisations and their member stores adopt digital tools, train digital-savvy talent, and link up via shared digital infrastructure.
  • Distribution Services Smart Value-Add Acceleration Program · Commerce Development Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs. Cloud-based smart-tooling counseling for distribution / retail / logistics — cloud inventory management, AI-driven sales forecasting, virtual + physical store integration, and AI-generated marketing content.
  • Food-Service Industry Quality Growth & International Promotion Program · Commerce Development Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs. Counseling tracks for restaurants and food-service operators: bilingual-service uplift, product development & test marketing, restaurant-chain system counseling, and overseas distribution channel-expansion.
  • Franchise International Value-Creation Growth Program · Commerce Development Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs. Helps Taiwanese chain/franchise brands strengthen core capabilities and link into international supply chains — through resource introduction, structured international-expansion counseling, and joint / individual track counseling.
  • Legacy Shop Renewal Program (60+ Year Businesses) · Commerce Development Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs. Helps Taiwan's heritage businesses carry their cultural legacy forward while adapting to today's market and consumer trends — strengthening their ability to continue operating sustainably for the next generation.
  • Lifestyle Services Innovation & Growth Program · Commerce Development Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs. Helps lifestyle-service operators respond to the shift toward composite service formats — building capability in service self-help, fit-for-purpose adaptation, venue capacity, and flexible staffing models.

How to use this list

Click any program above to open its full profile — eligibility, services, application process, deadlines, contact information. To browse all 147 programs by industry chapter or to apply other filters, see the master directory. For chapter-by-chapter coverage, see the 14 chapter roundups.

These programs are not headline subsidies, but they're often overlooked entry points for foreign brands wanting a credible Taiwan heritage-business partnership. For F&B, design, and lifestyle brands evaluating Taiwan market entry through partnership with a heritage operator, the Legacy Shop counseling stack is a meaningful operating subsidy.

Source: 115年度產業輔導資源手冊 (FY2026 Industry Counseling Resource Handbook), Ministry of Economic Affairs. Translated and indexed by Compass Global.