Taiwan has officially launched the “Go Healthy with Taiwan 2026” contest in the Philippines, encouraging Filipino innovators, professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers, students, government agencies, media groups, academic institutions, and private companies to present groundbreaking ideas aimed at building healthier communities and enhancing quality of life worldwide.
Organized by Taiwan through the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), the global competition focuses on innovative healthcare and wellness solutions. Three global winners will each receive a USD 30,000 cash prize along with international recognition for their contributions.
The initiative highlights how healthcare innovation is becoming more open and collaborative, inviting ideas not just from experts but also students and different sectors. It’s a reminder that meaningful solutions for community health can come from diverse perspectives, not just traditional medical spaces.
The Philippine launch gathered key officials from the government, academia, entrepreneurship, innovation ecosystems, and the media, reflecting a collaborative commitment to advancing health and wellness.
More Than a Contest: An Advocacy Campaign for Healthier Futures
During the launch, Ms. Claire Yang, Director of Taiwan Trade Center Manila , emphasized that Go Healthy with Taiwan is more than a competition. It is a global advocacy rooted in Taiwan’s commitment to health, wellness, and innovation. Widely recognized for its strong healthcare ecosystem, advanced healthcare technologies, and innovative approach to wellness, Taiwan hopes to inspire more countries and communities to prioritize healthier living as an essential part of progress.
“Go Healthy with Taiwan is not simply about winning a prize. It is about inspiring people to create solutions that can improve the quality of life. Taiwan believes that innovation can come from every sector of society, and we have great confidence in the creativity and ingenuity of Filipinos to make a meaningful impact globally,” said Director Yang.
Filipinos Have Proven They Can Win
Taiwan officials noted that Filipinos have consistently demonstrated excellence in previous international competitions organized by TAITRA.
In 2022, under the “Sharing is Caring” campaign, a Cebu-based NGO emerged as a Global Champion and received a PhP7.5 million implementation fund for its educational CSR initiative.
In 2024, students from Silliman University became one of the global winners of “Go Green with Taiwan” environmental CSR idea contest, earning a USD20,000 cash prize.
These achievements have reinforced the Philippines’ reputation as one of the strongest-performing countries in Taiwan’s global innovation initiatives.
Innovation Ecosystems Working Together from left: Mr. Carlo Calimon, President & Co-founder, StartUp Village PH; Ms. Margarita N.S. Caparas, Founding Member & Partnerships & Investor Relations, SCALE NCR; Ms. Claire Yang, Director of Taiwan Trade Center; Dr. Dodjie S. Maestrecampo, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mapúa University; and Engr. Romelen T. Tresvalles, Regional Director, Department of Science and Technology, NCR
The 2026 campaign brings together a distinguished coalition of institutions at the forefront of science, technology, entrepreneurship, and education, united by a common vision.
Engr. Romelen T. Tresvalles, Regional Director of DOST-NCR, highlighted the importance of creating opportunities that enable Filipino innovators to transform ideas into impactful solutions. “Filipinos are known worldwide for their ingenuity, creativity, and excellence, and these qualities are reflected in our growing innovation ecosystem. Through initiatives such as Go Healthy with Taiwan, our researchers, startups, and innovators gain opportunities to collaborate with global partners, exchange knowledge, and develop solutions that address pressing health and wellness challenges. These engagements not only showcase Filipino ingenuity on the global stage but also strengthen the innovation ecosystems and partnerships needed to translate ideas into meaningful societal impact.”
For SCALE NCR, Ms. Margarita N.S. Caparas, Founding Member and Partnerships and Investor Relations Lead, emphasized the role of innovation ecosystems in bringing ideas to life. “Some of the most transformative ideas emerge when innovators are connected to the right ecosystem of partners, mentors, and supporters. Go Healthy with Taiwan creates an opportunity for innovators to develop solutions with global relevance and impact.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Carlo Calimon, President and Co-Founder of StartUp Village PH, encouraged entrepreneurs to view healthcare and wellness as fertile grounds for
innovation. “The future of health and wellness will be shaped by bold ideas and collaborative innovation. We hope this initiative inspires more entrepreneurs and changemakers to develop solutions that address real-world challenges.”
From the academic sector, Dr. Dodjie S. Maestrecampo, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mapúa University, emphasized the vital role of education and research in addressing societal needs. “Universities play a critical role in nurturing future innovators and generating research that clearly defines the problems. Through initiatives like Go Healthy with Taiwan, students, researchers, and educators are encouraged to transform knowledge into meaningful solutions.”
Anyone Can Easily Join: No Thesis, No Prototype, No Pilot Run Required
One of the contest’s most attractive features is its accessibility. Participants can join in three simple steps:
- Develop an innovative healthcare and wellness idea.
- Integrate the concept with any product, technology, or solution featured on the Taiwan Excellence website.
- Simply fill-out the Go Healthy with Taiwan eForm.
Unlike traditional innovation competitions, participants are not required to submit a thesis, prototype, business plan, or pilot implementation. The completed eForm already serves as the contest entry.
Call for Entries Now Open
Go Healthy with Taiwan 2026 is open to all professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers, students, government agencies, media organizations, corporations, NGOs, academic institutions, and innovation communities.
As Taiwan and the Philippines continue to deepen cooperation in healthcare, technology, innovation, and education, organizers remain hopeful that the next globally recognized breakthrough idea may once again originate from the Philippines.
For more details and updates about the contest, participants may follow Taiwan Excellence on social media (FB: @TaiwanExcellence.ph, IG: @taiwanexcellence_ph, LinkedIn: taiwan-excellence). Inquiries may also be directed to the Contest Secretariat via email at [email protected], or through mobile numbers +63 917 150 0733 and +63 915 484 3723.
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