“Swancor views Startup Booster as a gateway to establish partnerships with innovative companies”, Chris Hsieh, Swancor Holding

JEC Composites Magazine: What are the reasons that motivate you to be a partner of Startup Booster for this edition of the competition?

C.H.: Swancor was established in 1992 and is deeply committed to fostering innovation in composites materials, sustainable solutions and business models. Swancor is the pioneer of Taiwan offshore wind power development, and we have presented our recyclable thermoset resin EzCiclo and CleaVER, which can be used to solve the unrecyclable issue of thermoset composites and has won the JEC Innovation Award 2023. Partnering with this competition gives us the opportunity to engage with forward-thinking startups, encourage disruptive technologies and engage in this platform for collaborative growth that benefits the entire ecosystem. We believe supporting initiatives like Startup Booster aligns perfectly with our vision.

Are there opportunities for collaboration beyond the competition?

C.H.: Swancor views Startup Booster as a gateway to establish partnerships with innovative companies. Startups often bring fresh ideas but may lack the resources or market insights needed to scale their solutions effectively. After the competition, Swancor is open to engaging with promising startups in various ways, including co-development projects, strategic investments and we are also open to offering access to our R&D facilities, market expertise and global network to help startups scale their innovations effectively.

What are the main qualities that you look for in the startups’ teams and methods?

C.H.: We value startups that demonstrate clear vision, problem-solving capabilities and scalability potential in innovation. Passion, execution capability and a collaborative mindset are qualities we admire. We are looking for startups that not only understand the current challenges in the composites field but also have a forward-looking approach. Startups must demonstrate a strong ability to transform concepts into real results, and teams that have a track record of achieving milestones, even in their early stages, are particularly compelling. In terms of methodology, startups should show their professionalism by using a data-driven approach to problem-solving, such as rigorous testing, market research or performance validation.

Do you have an example to highlight from your past experiences with startups?

C.H.: In recent years, Swancor has successfully collaborated with startups specialised in sustainable composite solutions. For instance, we worked closely with startups focusing on recycling of composites and recycling methods, supporting their product, facility development and scaling efforts. This not only accelerated the startup’s growth but also reinforced our commitment to composite sustainability and circular economy principles.

What are the main areas of innovation and/or technological solutions that Swancor hopes the startups will address?

C.H.: Swancor is particularly interested in innovations that contribute to sustainability, such as recyclable materials, bio-base materials, low-carbon manufacturing processes, and solutions for composite waste management. Startups tackling these challenges will align closely with our strategic priorities.

If you had to give some advice to startups in this competition, what would it be?

C.H.: Clearly define the value proposition of your innovation and ensure it is scalable. Lastly, embrace collaboration, leverage partnerships with industry leading players to refine your ideas will be a very good way to accelerate your growth.

Cover photo: Chris Hsieh, Swancor