Taiwan startup wins VivaTech AI award as 34 firms expand in Europe

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Taiwanese startup won the top AI prize at VivaTech 2026 in Paris as a 34-company delegation showcased Taiwan’s tech capabilities and sought to expand in European markets.

The Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration partnered with the National Science and Technology Council’s Taiwan Tech Arena and the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Department of Industrial Technology to lead startups and supply chain partners to the event. The delegation exhibited under the “AI Taiwan” theme, focusing on AI, net-zero sustainability, and smart healthcare, the administration said in a press release.

The administration said its incubated startup, NunoX, won first place in the AI category at the Global Deep Tech Battle held during VivaTech. Four Taiwanese startups reached the finals, highlighting Taiwan’s growing presence in advanced technology innovation.

The administration provided training covering market positioning, business development, fundraising, negotiations, and pitch optimization. During the exhibition, teams also joined business matchmaking sessions and corporate visits aimed at accelerating entry into international markets.

NunoX uses AI and a proprietary high-precision scanner to convert fabrics into digital materials with up to 98% fidelity, reducing waste and pollution from physical sampling in the textile industry. The company’s solution can shorten apparel development cycles from 14 days to 48 hours and reduce costs tied to sample production and cross-border shipping.

VivaTech marked its 10th anniversary this year and introduced the “Tech for Change Award” to recognize companies using technology to address environmental, social, and health challenges. Seven Taiwanese startups received the certification, including firms in medical AI, energy management, privacy protection, green energy, and smart cities, the administration said.

To deepen its European footprint, the delegation also traveled to Lille, a major French AI hub, for an AI summit and exchanges with a leading AIoT innovation cluster and a national startup base. Five startups were selected to present on stage, seeking cross-border partnerships through demos and business matching.

Following France, the administration led 10 startups focused on health, AI applications, and green technology to Belgium, building on a Taiwan-Belgium memorandum of understanding signed last year. The group held a Taiwan-Belgium startup forum at the Taipei Representative Office in the EU, with Belgian trade and industry bodies planning a reciprocal visit later this year to expand bilateral cooperation, per CNA.