The government aims to boost the annual production value of the digital content industry to NT$780 billion (US$24.4 billion) by 2013 from NT$460.3 billion last year, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) said yesterday.
The goal should be achievable following the Executive Yuan’s announcement of a scheme on July 15 to upgrade the industry — which includes e-publishing, e-reading, online gaming, animation and online learning — by focusing on software and hardware integration, creative productions, international marketing and resources consolidation, Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang (施顏祥) said.
By 2013, the industry is expected to employ about 31,500 professionals, as companies pour as much as NT$100 billion into research and development.
The deals sealed between Taiwanese players and international firms could then hit NT$14 billion, Shih said.
The minister was speaking at the opening ceremony of “Digital Taipei 2010.” One of the show’s highlights is a cross-strait digital content exchange forum that is taking place today at the Taipei International Convention Center. More than 160 executives from Chinese firms have come to Taipei to exchange views on investment and explore potential collaborations with Taiwanese companies.
Ministry statistics showed that the output for Taiwan’s digital content industry was valued at NT$460.3 billion last year, with gaming, animation, digital learning and e-publishing posting strong growth.
A number of Taiwanese digital animation works have attracted international attention, Shih said.
He cited Bright Ideas Design Co’s (頑石創意) Katz Fun (歡樂卡滋虎) and Gamania Digital Entertainment Co’s (遊戲橘子) Hero: 108 (水火：108) — both of which were aired on the Cartoon Network channel in the US and Europe.
Participating Chinese firms said they were interested in joining hands with Taiwanese firms to brainstorm for more creative content that can be marketed in China and pave the way for their future foray into international markets.
“The whole package of Taiwanese games, from creativity to the cultural elements, title creation and image presentation attracted me,” said Tan Qunzhao (譚群釗), chairman of Shanda Interactive Entertainment Ltd (上海盛大網絡). “This has really inspired us.”
Tan said his online gaming company has a multi-billion yuan budget to work with more Taiwanese partners, including Soft-World International Corp (智冠科技).
Shanda signed a deal with Soft-World yesterday, licensing its Magic World online game to Soft-World for distribution in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.
The game is expected to be Soft-World’s flagship title when it rolls out new games during next year’s Lunar New Year holidays.
Other leading Chinese firms that are joining this year’s show include PC maker Founder Group (方正集團), mobile operator China Telecom Corp (中國電信), e-reader maker Hanvon Technology Co (漢王科技) and China’s largest animation, comic book and toy producer, Guangdong Alpha Animation and Culture Co (廣東奧飛動漫文化).
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