Taipei Report

Taipei—Korea IT Times Reporting Team

Walking through COMPUTEX 2026, one pattern stood out clearly. Startups and small and midsize enterprises were the visible protagonists of the exhibition, but behind many of them stood governments, trade promotion agencies and public-sector support organizations.

AI, semiconductors and robotics companies drew the spotlight, but another competition was taking place beneath the surface. Nations were competing to help their own companies enter global markets.

This trend was particularly visible inside the InnoVEX startup zone at TaiNEX Hall 2. Although COMPUTEX 2026 brought together participants from 33 countries, government-backed national pavilions were concentrated among nine countries: Korea, Japan, France, Israel, Canada, Australia, Italy, Czechia and Thailand. These countries supported startups and SMEs through national or public-sector programs aimed at overseas expansion.

National Pavilions Become Platforms for Industrial Diplomacy

The national pavilions at InnoVEX were not simply shared exhibition spaces. Governments supported participating companies across the full process, from company selection and booth operation to business matching, investment promotion, local market intelligence and global partner connections.

The most common model was the joint pavilion. By participating under a national brand, individual companies could reduce the cost burden of running their own booths while gaining credibility and visibility in front of international buyers and investors.

Pre-arranged business matching and investor networking added practical value. For many startups, entering a foreign market is often harder than developing the technology itself. National pavilions helped lower that barrier.

Another notable trend was the expansion of post-event support. More countries are treating exhibitions not as one-off promotional events, but as long-term export platforms that continue through follow-up consultations and business development after the show.

Canada, France and Israel Show Distinct Support Models

Canada was one of the most notable examples at COMPUTEX 2026. Rather than relying only on the federal government, Canada organized a targeted mission led by the Ontario government, working with the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei.

The program provided participating companies with market briefings, one-on-one export consultations and local networking opportunities. Its model stood out for lowering participation costs while focusing on a smaller number of companies through a more concentrated mission structure. The emphasis was not simply on exhibition presence, but on measurable export outcomes and partnership building.

France took a different approach. Business France and the Île-de-France regional government participated together, focusing on strategic sectors such as semiconductors, quantum computing and AI infrastructure. France also sent a high-level industrial delegation, linking overseas business development with national industrial policy.

Israel showed another model of technology export. Led by the Israel Export Institute, its participation centered on AI, edge computing, cybersecurity and semiconductors. The focus on high-value technology reflected Israel’s long-standing export strategy for innovation-driven SMEs.

Japan Focuses on Startups, Taiwan on Manufacturing AI

Japan’s participation, led by JETRO, focused strongly on startup development. Its program went beyond exhibition booths by combining pitch events, acceleration programs and investor connections. The emphasis was on global fundraising and business expansion rather than technology display alone.

Taiwan, as the host economy, leaned heavily on its manufacturing base. Many Taiwanese companies presented technologies directly applicable to production sites, including edge AI, smart manufacturing, digital twins and industrial robotics.

This approach aligned closely with the broader Physical AI trend seen across COMPUTEX 2026. Taiwan is treating AI not merely as a software industry, but as a tool to strengthen manufacturing competitiveness. Its strategy is to expand industrial AI applications on top of its existing hardware and supply-chain advantages.

Korea’s Strengths and Next Challenges

Korea was also among the countries with one of the largest national support structures at InnoVEX. KOTRA, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and SME support organizations worked together to support Korean startups and small businesses. Korea’s experience in operating joint pavilions at major global exhibitions, including CES, remains an important strength.

In terms of scale, Korea continues to demonstrate one of the world’s most organized startup support systems. Yet industry observers at the venue noted that the next challenge is qualitative competitiveness.

Canada’s targeted mission model, France’s strategic-sector approach, Japan’s investor-linked startup programs and Israel’s technology-export focus all offer reference points for Korea. In AI, semiconductors, edge AI and Physical AI, exhibition support alone is no longer enough. Long-term global partnerships and follow-up strategies are becoming increasingly important.

AI Competition Is Becoming Nation-to-Nation Competition

The most important shift visible at COMPUTEX 2026 InnoVEX was the widening of AI competition. In the past, the focus was mainly on competition between companies. Now, national capability is becoming part of the equation.

The question is no longer only which startup has the strongest technology. It is also which country can help its startups connect with global supply chains, investors, partners and customers most effectively.

As AI, semiconductors and robotics become strategic industries, national pavilions are turning into outposts of industrial diplomacy. Companies displayed their technologies, but governments were designing the routes through which those technologies could enter global markets.

In the AI era, competition is not only about technology. The national strategy and support system behind each company are becoming decisive factors in global market success.

COMPUTEX 2026 InnoVEX showed that this shift is already underway.

Editorial Contact: Korea IT Times Technology Team (monica@koreaittimes.com | info@koreaittimes.com)