The Small and Medium Enterprise Administration(SMEA), Ministry of Economic Affairs(MOEA) organized the No. 373 Steering Committee for the Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) on April 17, 2020 in which it reviewed and passed subsidies for innovative technology/service research projects for 3 projects in the machinery sector, 3 projects in the electronics sector, 3 projects in the biotechnology and pharmaceuticals sector, The review meeting of the revitalization plan for SMEs affected by the COVID-19 epidemic passed 2 projects in the innovative technology application area and 2 projects in the innovative service area ,totaling 13 projects proposed by SMEs. The list of approved projects is provided in the Appendix below.
　　SMEA stated that the projects passed in the No. 373 SBIR Steering Committee will increase the subsidized companies' investments in R&D expenditures by NT$28.574 million, among them, for SMEs affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, an additional subsidy of NT$4.401 million is provide to help maintain their core technology and business model innovation capabilities. SMEA are expected to motivate SMEs in investing more R&D human resources. The SBIR is promoted to incentivize and assist R&D activities for SMEs to achieve sustainable development and growth. It also seeks to establish a comprehensive industry system based on the R&D outcomes and promote economic development in Taiwan.
　　Since the SBIR was launched in February 1999, a total of 7,212 innovation and research projects have been executed. The government has provided subsidies of over NT$11,913.353 million and motivated NT$22,570.263 million in investments by SMEs. The SBIR has made significant contributions to elevating the technology proficiency of  SMEs, and facilitating the international competitiveness and transformation of domestic industries.
　　Program Service Hotline: 0800-888-968; Project Website: http://www.sbir.org.tw