With youth entrepreneurship on the rise, National Chung Cheng University's (CCU) Start-up Land, which has been cultivating on-campus innovation and entrepreneurship activities for years, has not only steadily fostered the growth and potential of student teams but has also actively contributed to consistent annual rise in the number of teams participating in external entrepreneurship competitions. Building on the success of the "U-start Plan for Innovation and Entrepreneurship" in 2022, CCU saw a total of 6 teams submitting their entries and 3 teams being selected. This year, however, the number of submissions from the university has increased to 15, including 2 from the original plan. CCU Start-up Land has stated that the Ministry of Education (MOE) is expected to announce the first-stage results of the U-start Plan by April 28th, 2023. They hope that the student teams will successfully advance to the next stage, marking a record-breaking achievement for the CCU Start-up Land since its establishment.
 
The "U-start Plan for Innovation and Entrepreneurship" is an entrepreneurship initiative established by MOE, aimed at enhancing campus innovation and entrepreneurial culture, assisting young students in entrepreneurial practice, and cultivating talents with an entrepreneurial spirit. It is the most prestigious and representative national innovation and entrepreneurship competition. CCU Start-up Land points out that among the 15 submitted teams from CCU, the members are spread across the seven major colleges within the university, spanning not only various departments but also transcending institutional and international boundaries. The students' entrepreneurial themes cover a diverse range of fields, including Artificial intelligence, Biotechnology, Fintech, Sports and Health, Forest Conservation, and Social Enterprises addressing issues in remote areas, showcasing the creativity and versatility of today's youth.
 
In addition to their participation in on-campus programs, CCU youth teams have also actively engaged in various off-campus entrepreneurship initiatives. The CCU Start-up Land stated that for the "Chiayi County 2023 Youth Start-up Subsidization Project", 11 teams successfully submitted their projects under the guidance of the university. Among them, "Team Chivien" has demonstrated exceptional performance in the project, securing a subsidy of 400,000 NTD, which has greatly contributed to the team's growth and development. The number of teams registering for the project in 2023 doubled compared to last year, showcasing the increasing interest in entrepreneurship among students. Moreover, last year, two CCU teams each received a 100,000 NTD subsidy from a University Entrepreneurship Simulation Learning Platform, helping them to hone their business skills and strategies. This year, six student teams have submitted their applications as well, reflecting the continuous growth of the entrepreneurial spirit within the university community.
 
CCU Start-up Land's analysis reveals a remarkable increase in student proposals this year, attributed to the successful implementation of the "Higher Education Sprout Project" in 2018 and the "University and Tertiary College Promotion of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Project" launched by the MOE in 2020. These initiatives have cultivated a vibrant and entrepreneurial spirit among the campus youth. In 2022, teams such as "Chivien", "Bobo-Strays Pawfect Solutions", and "Green Care" earned their spots in the prestigious U-start Innovation and Entrepreneurship Project. Among these, the team "Green Care" not only obtained funding in the second phase but, along with the other two teams, collectively secured a total of 1.8 million NTD in grant money. Furthermore, the visibility of team "Chivien" has soared, thanks to an engaging YouTuber interview, motivating younger students to actively partake in entrepreneurial ventures. CCU students have showcased commendable entrepreneurial passion, consistently excelling in competitions and delivering exceptional performance with their start-up enterprises. Shin-Yuan Hung, the director of CCU Start-up Land, stated that he is proud of these accomplishments and remains committed to securing additional resources to further advance these entrepreneurial endeavors.
 
Over the years, CCU Start-up Land has consistently expanded its hardware and software facilities, as well as its activity spaces, to foster a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. These amenities include eight discussion rooms, open discussion areas, a photography studio, and a conference room that can accommodate up to 80 people. The center also features practical application spaces for cutting-edge technologies such as AR/VR, IoT, and drones, and has recently received corporate donations of advanced measuring instruments. In terms of mentoring mechanisms, CCU Start-up Land has introduced faculty from various fields within and outside the university to enhance the soft skills of student teams, further bolstering their performance in competitions and the success of their start-up ventures. To date, CCU Start-up Land has provided guidance to over 150 entrepreneurial teams. With the unwavering commitment of Director Hung to secure additional resources and wholehearted support for students, CCU Start-up Land aims to utilize its abundant educational resources to help more students achieve their entrepreneurial dreams and continue the legacy of innovation and entrepreneurship at the university.