The AI era is bringing new challenges. In response, the New Taipei City Government has adjusted its policies for young adults, shifting from simple subsidies to the comprehensive enhancement of young people’s “job-ready competitiveness.” By integrating AI technologies, creativity, and international connections, young people’s competitiveness is being systematically transformed into a driving force for the city’s development.
New Taipei City is home to more than 1.15 million young adults aged 18 to 40. In response to rapidly changing industrial environments, the New Taipei City Government Youth Department has proposed three main youth policy pillars: creating AI talent incubators, expanding the integration of youth creativity into the city, and strengthening international connections and civic diplomacy. These initiatives show how the previous one-way policy model of “serving youth” has shifted toward investing in youth and inviting them to “serve the city.” The city has also continued to encourage young people to participate directly in urban renewal and public governance through the revitalisation of old city streets and open proposal competitions.
In terms of AI capacity building, New Taipei City offers officially certified courses from leading global companies such as NVIDIA and AWS, while also introducing a startup incubation and training system. To date, these initiatives have helped more than 370 young adults obtain internationally recognised certifications. Over the past two years, the NTPC Greentech Hub has also successfully supported nine startup teams in securing funding, with total fundraising reaching NT$300 million.
Youth creativity continues to be integrated into urban development. Among these initiatives, the Youth Re-Creation: Old Shops, New Looks programme supports long-established businesses along the Temple Street in Xinzhuang District, revitalising their brands and renovating their spaces. Meanwhile, the NTPC Arts & Cultures Hub and the soon-to-open Xinban Design Base are developed into dedicated exhibition and performance venues for arts and cultural creators. Marcia Chiu, commissioner of the New Taipei City Government Youth Department, noted that, “Only when young people’s creativity can be seen and realised in the city’s streets and neighborhoods can a city truly possess sustainable vitality.”
In addition to implementing creative designs, New Taipei City is inviting young people to propose concrete solutions to public issues. Young people are guided to propose concrete solutions for the city in response to sustainable development issues such as childcare, educational equity, and age-friendliness, while ensuring that youth voices are heard more widely.
On the international stage, the New Taipei City Government has played the role of a “super connector.” Over the past two years, it has led biomedical startup teams and creative and cultural entrepreneurs to participate in domestic and international exhibitions, including NextRise 2025, Seoul, InnoVEX, Meet Taipei, the Whatz Art Fair, Handarty Korea, and the Busan Illustration Fair. The city has also partnered with Amazon Global Selling, an international e-commerce platform, to help New Taipei entrepreneurs connect their products and services with global markets. In addition, the New Taipei International Street Dance Competition has attracted top talent from around the world, with the top three contestants advancing directly to the Cheonan International Street Dance Championship (CIDC) in South Korea—turning youth culture into a powerful form of diplomatic dialogue for the city.
New Taipei City is bringing together international resources and youth creativity within the urban arena and will continue to strengthen youth capacity building and offer improved entrepreneurship support in the future. Hou Yu-Ih, Mayor of New Taipei City, emphasised that the city government’s goal is not to subsidise young people, but to empower them to help shape New Taipei City’s future. By involving young people in urban governance, the next generation can become a driving force for change, thereby enhancing the resilience of urban governance and its momentum for progress.
New Taipei City’s annual flagship event, New Taipei Demo Day, brings together youth entrepreneurial energy and provides a platform for teams to connect with venture capital investors and industry experts.
2025 New Taipei International Street Dance Competition – Anima Dance Studio from the Philippines competing in New Taipei.
