Taipei City Construction Management Office

The Taipei City Department for Youth hosted the first "2025 Global InnoYouth Summit - International Youth Create the Future" at Regent Taipei. It invited more than 150 students, innovative entrepreneurs, social activists, and representatives from industry, government, and academia from over 40 cities around the world to gather and initiate an international youth dialogue across borders and generations.

Taipei City Mayor Wan-an Chiang personally attended the summit and delivered a speech, saying: "We are not only inviting the world to Taipei, but also bringing the entire global village here, realizing the vision of letting Taipei youth go out and letting the world come in. I hope that every young person will have the opportunity to experience the power of international dialogue firsthand." Through youth affairs and dialogue, Taipei City continues to promote city diplomacy, facilitating outstanding young people in Taipei to participate in international events and make friends on an international level. This is also the strategic goal of the Department for Youth to continuously implement the "local internationalization" of Taipei youth since its establishment in June 2014.

The inaugural Youth Summit was themed around global youth trends, encompassing four key themes: "Global Leadership," "Innovation Catalyst," "Civic Engagement," and "Tech & Wellbeing." The opening lecture featured Janelle Wellons, a former NASA engineer and current ispace mission commander, sharing her experiences in international space entrepreneurship. She also encouraged the young people in attendance to "be brave enough to say yes to every opportunity! Don't be afraid of failure, and focus on what you learn from it," providing a warm and empowering prelude to the summit.

The summit also invited Phuntsho Namgay, Director of Innovation and Technology from the Kingdom of Bhutan, to share how the future city "Gelephu Mindfulness City" is driven by mindfulness and sustainability, encouraging Taipei youth to explore the possibilities for more harmonious and inclusive development between technological innovation, well-being, and ecological balance. At the summit's conclusion, three multinational young entrepreneurs — Stephen Turban, Kevin Junker, and Quang Do —shared their practical experiences in Asia across education, energy, and community. Their humorous and engaging voices resonated enthusiastically with the young audience, building a bridge between Taipei and the world.

In addition to the engaging speeches, the summit also featured interactive booths featuring Space Exploration; AI x Craft; STEAM education practices; Fulbright Taiwan and their Academic Exchange program; the Hult Prize, considered the Nobel Prize for students; and Nagoya City University's Urban Innovation Exhibition, attracting numerous young people to participate and inspire them.

Taipei City Department for Youth Commissioner Yi-hsi Chou stated, "This is more than just a summit; it's an experiment, connecting Taipei youth with the world and innovating for it. Taipei is heading towards a future driven by a global perspective and youth, and we are honored to be starting here." The first Taipei Youth Summit officially opened a new chapter in Taipei's city diplomacy and youth development, allowing friends from around the world to feel the spirit and enthusiasm of Taipei, to enter the global stage, and change the world.