Taiwan Design Research Institute

What Taiwan Design Research Institute does

Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI) is a government-affiliated non-profit foundation (財團法人) operating under Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs, established in 2003 as Taiwan Design Center and renamed TDRI in February 2020. The institute serves as the national intermediary platform connecting government, industry, and academia for design-driven innovation across public services, industrial transformation, and creative talent development. Its mandate spans public service design transformation, circular economy initiatives, design standardization, and international design promotion.

TDRI's core offerings include four physical venues in Songshan Cultural and Creative Park (Taiwan Design Museum, Not Just Library, Design Pin retail store, and Creative Forum/meeting rooms), flagship programs (Golden Pin Design Award with 100+ country participation, Taiwan Design Expo, Taiwan Creative Expo, YODEX), industry support services (IDDI subsidies, DFS product development, Cross-Industry Collaborative Innovation Platform, circular design programs), and research initiatives (Design R&D Lab, Circular Design Center, four proprietary AI design tools). The institute administers multi-million-NT-dollar subsidy programs for SMEs in carbon-reduction packaging, agricultural e-commerce packaging, and sustainable product development, partnering with government ministries including Economic Affairs, Education, Transportation/Maritime Bureau, Agriculture/Forestry, and Environment/Resource Recycling Administration.

TDRI's business model is predominantly public-sector funded: government budgets and commissioned programs form the primary revenue base, supplemented by venue admissions (NT$100 general), retail sales at Design Pin, and venue rental income. Customers span central and local government agencies, SMEs in manufacturing and export, agricultural enterprises, maritime operators, design practitioners, students, and the general public through museum and event attendance. The institute's strategic significance was validated by the 2020 Presidential Innovation Award (NT$2 million prize) and ongoing statutory role in promulgating national design standards such as CNS 16282.

Name

Taiwan Design Research Institute

Legal name

Taiwan Design Research Institute

Website

https://tdri.org.tw

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI) is Taiwan's government-affiliated national design research institute operating under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, integrating design into public services, industry, and creative talent development through physical venues, the Golden Pin Design Award, design expos, subsidy programs, and proprietary AI design tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Design Research and Consulting Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Industrial Design Services (541420), Industrial Design Services (54142)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK), Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL)

Keywords

• Design research
• Public service design
• Circular design
• Design consulting
• Industrial design promotion

Headquarters

HQ city

Taipei

HQ country

Taiwan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Budget and Subsidies: TDRI is a non-profit research institute primarily funded through annual government budgets from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and other government agencies. Revenue comes from commissioned programs, subsidies, and project grants for design promotion, industry guidance, and international design events.
2. Design Consulting and Counseling Programs: TDRI administers multiple subsidy programs for SMEs and design companies, including DFS product development (up to NT$1M per case), export carbon-reduction packaging (up to NT$800K per case), and agricultural e-commerce packaging (NT$240K per case). Government subsidies cover a portion while enterprises provide matching funds.
3. Venue Operations and Admissions: Revenue from operating the Taiwan Design Museum and Not Just Library, including ticket sales (NT$100 general admission) and venue rental services (Design Pin retail store, Creative Forum, TDRI meeting rooms).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI) is a government-affiliated non-profit research institute that conducts design research, administers government-funded design subsidy and counseling programs, organizes large-scale national design exhibitions and the Golden Pin Design Award, and operates physical venues (Taiwan Design Museum, Not Just Library, Design Pin retail store) at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park. It delivers design-driven public service transformation, industrial design consulting, circular economy programs, and design talent development for government agencies, manufacturers, design practitioners, and the general public in Taiwan.

Product overview

Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI) operates as a design research and promotion organization, not a traditional software product company. Its portfolio consists of physical and service-based offerings including: (1) Four primary venues — Taiwan Design Museum (exhibition space), Not Just Library (design knowledge platform), Design Pin (retail store), and Creative Forum/meeting rooms (event spaces); (2) Flagship programs — Golden Pin Design Award (international design award), Taiwan Design Expo, and Taiwan Creative Expo (cultural creative exhibition); (3) Industry support services — IDDI subsidy program, COC cross-industry innovation platform, and various design consulting programs including circular design and sustainable product development; (4) Research initiatives — Design R&D Lab and Circular Design Center. These offerings collectively serve as an intermediary platform between public, industrial, and academic sectors for design promotion, industry guidance, and international connections.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Taiwan Design Museum (台灣設計館): The first museum in the global Chinese-speaking community dedicated to design as its core curatorial focus. Established in 2011, located in Songshan Cultural and Creative Park.
• Not Just Library
• Design Pin (設計點)
• Golden Pin Design Award
• Young Designers' Exhibition (YODEX)

Quantifiable outcome

• Record 6.58 million visitors at 2023 Taiwan Design Expo
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Environment Ministry / Resource Recycling Administration (環境部資源循環署)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024TDRI is commissioned by the Environment Ministry's Resource Recycling Administration to implement circular design programs including the Circular Design into Life Products Co-Development Program and the Circular Design into Products and Spaces Demonstration Program. These programs promote circular economy through design intervention across industry and consumer sectors.
• Ministry of Agriculture / Forestry and Natural Conservation Agency (農業部林業及自然保育署)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024TDRI collaborates with the Agriculture Ministry's Forestry and Natural Conservation Agency on design-driven exhibitions and public engagement programs promoting conservation and sustainability awareness.
• Chengda Changhong Technology / Letu (成大昶閎科技股份有限公司 / 樂土)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024TDRI partnered with Chengda Changhong Technology (Letu) to co-develop C-STONE marble coating, a circular coating made from 50% marble industry sludge waste. This represents a breakthrough in converting industrial waste into high-value building materials.
• NAKNAK (曾彥文, Design Director)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024TDRI partnered with NAKNAK design studio for international exchange with the Philippines, showcasing projects converting Penghu marine debris into public furniture and Taiwan Power Company decommissioned transformer casings into design products.
• Duolog Design / Hibāng (好說設計)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024TDRI partnered with Duolog Design for Philippines exchange, featuring the Hibāng circular fishing net glasses that won the 2022 Golden Pin Design Award Best of Year. The brand creates eyewear from 100% recycled discarded fishing nets, reducing 90% of carbon emissions.
• REPAMANA (Philippines)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024TDRI facilitated cross-border exchange with Philippine sustainable fashion brand REPAMANA, which transforms discarded hotel bed sheets into fashion garments while providing employment for marginalized individuals.
• 5% Design Action (社會設計平台)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024TDRI collaborated with 5% Design Action to co-organize the RA100 Earth Solution 2022 Sustainable Design Action Summit, bringing together government, international designers, and private enterprises to explore design-driven solutions for circular economy.
• Harch Corporation (日本)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024TDRI partnered with Japanese Harch Corporation for a Taiwan-Japan Circular Design Forum, inviting President Kato Yua to share insights on Japan's circular economy status and future prospects, exploring Taiwan-Japan cooperation in circular design.
• AMITA Corporation / J-CEP (Japan Circular Economy Partnership)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024TDRI partnered with AMITA Corporation for the Japan-Taiwan Circular Design Forum, with AMITA's Director Nobuaki Miyahara sharing how J-CEP promotes resource circulation and community welfare through cross-sector, cross-industry, and cross-departmental collaboration.
• World Design Organization (WDO)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024TDRI cooperated with WDO to develop the City Design Index research and published results at WDO's membership meeting, promoting international use of design power to solve economic, social, and environmental problems.
• Department of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Industry (Philippines)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024TDRI partnered with the Philippines' Department of Commerce and Industry to foster Taiwan-Philippines design exchange, promoting circular design collaboration and AI digital tools through joint talks in Manila and Cebu.
• Ministry of Transportation and Communications / Maritime and Port Bureau (交通部航港局)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023TDRI is commissioned by the Maritime and Port Bureau to implement the TAIWAN Hi maritime brand coaching and certification program, helping maritime operators enhance service quality and passenger experience through design.
• Green Crown Agriculture (綠冠農業有限公司)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023TDRI partnered with Green Crown Agriculture in a Ministry of Economic Affairs technology development project to develop an automated natural fiber extraction machine from pineapple leaves. Green Crown provided fiber extraction technology and organic pineapple cultivation expertise.
• Pulian International Corporation (普聯國際股份有限公司)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023TDRI partnered with Pulian International for mechanical development and manufacturing of the natural fiber extraction machine prototype, providing engineering capabilities for the agricultural machinery redesign project.
• Xiatian Product Design (夏田產品設計股份有限公司)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023TDRI collaborated with Xiatian Product Design for industrial design of the natural fiber extraction machine, applying design thinking to user-centered product development and modular design optimization.
• Feng Chia University College of Architecture (逢甲大學建築專業學院)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023TDRI partnered with Feng Chia University's College of Architecture for the Circular Design Forum, collaborating with WOHA architects on sustainable architecture and regenerative design strategies.
• Taiwan Railways Administration (台鐵)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023TDRI collaborated with Taiwan Railways Administration on the TRA Aesthetic Renaissance project, redesigning stations and service environments to improve passenger experience through design.
• Thailand Creative Economy Agency (CEA)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022TDRI partnered with Thailand's Creative Economy Agency for the SPIRAL 2022 Circular Design Exhibition, facilitating Thai manufacturers' participation. CEA signed a Letter of Intent with TDRI to enable further cooperation on circular design topics.
• Japan Design Promotion Association (JDP) / BRING / i-Kasa / Nihonbashi GururimajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Multiple Japanese organizations participated in TDRI's SPIRAL 2022 Circular Design Exhibition, bringing Japanese circular design practices and products to Taiwan. These included BRING (material exchange platform), i-Kasa (furniture sharing), and Nihonbashi Gururi (local circulation initiatives).
• Cradle to Cradle / EPEA Taiwan (搖籃到搖籃德商顧問公司)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022German Cradle to Cradle (EPEA) served as an international partner for the SPIRAL 2022 Circular Design Exhibition, providing expertise in circular economy certification and Cradle to Cradle design principles.
• Creative Denmark (丹麥影響力設計中心)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Creative Denmark participated in the SPIRAL 2022 Circular Design Exhibition as an international partner, contributing Danish circular design expertise and facilitating exchanges between Danish and Taiwanese designers.
• Chu-Studio (竹工凡木設計研究室)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022TDRI partnered with Chu-Studio as the curator of the SPIRAL 2022 Circular Design Exhibition, which was the longest-running and most comprehensive circular design exhibition to date.
• GK Sekkei (Japan)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022TDRI collaborated with Japanese GK Sekkei, a renowned international sign design firm, to launch the Public Sign Design Seminar Series, sharing international experience to establish design concepts for public signage in Taiwan.
• Danish Business Council in Taiwan (丹麥商務辦事處)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2021TDRI partnered with the Danish Business Council to host the Nordic Circular Design Forum in November 2021, featuring Danish and Taiwanese experts in circular economy, product design, technology, and fashion to share circular design practices and foster cross-border collaboration.
• Ministry of Education / Design Movement on Campus (教育部 / 校園美感再造)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021TDRI partnered with the Ministry of Education to implement the Design Movement on Campus program, integrating design thinking into educational environments. The program transformed spaces at 41 schools with 28 design teams from 2021-2022.
• Ministry of Economic Affairs (經濟部)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2020TDRI operates under the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Industrial Development Bureau and serves as the primary design research institute for Taiwan. The ministry provides core funding and commissioning for TDRI's programs including industrial design promotion, circular design initiatives, and design-driven innovation for SMEs.
• JC. Architecture & Design and Motif Planning & Design ConsultantscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020TDRI partnered with JC. Architecture & Design and Motif Planning & Design Consultants to redesign the historic Songshan Tobacco Factory Women's Bathhouse into the Not Just Library, transforming it into a contemporary reading and design space.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute: Global non-profit advancing circular product design through certification and methodology. TDRI has documented partnership with EPEA Taiwan (Cradle to Cradle's German parent), indicating strategic alignment on circular design standards.

Broad incumbents

• IDEO: A globally recognized design and innovation consultancy that pioneered design thinking methodology. While private and commercial, IDEO represents the incumbent benchmark for design-driven innovation services that TDRI's methodology programs compete against.
• Pentagram: One of the world's largest independent design consultancies, operating across branding, product design, and communication design. Represents the broader private design services industry that TDRI's consulting programs partially overlap with.

Direct peers

• Korea Institute of Design Promotion (KIDP): South Korea's national design promotion institute under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Directly comparable in operating national design awards, design industry support programs, and design-led public service transformation.
• DesignSingapore Council: Singapore's national design body, comparable in mandate as a government-affiliated organization driving design adoption across industry, public services, and education. Operates the Singapore Design Award and similar industry development programs.
• Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JDP): Japan's national design promotion body, organizer of the Good Design Award (G Mark) with similar scope to Golden Pin. TDRI has a documented partnership with JDP through the SPIRAL circular design exhibition.
• Design Council (UK): The UK's national strategic body for design, with a comparable mandate to embed design in public services and industry. Operates programs analogous to TDRI's design thinking adoption initiatives and circular economy frameworks.
• Danish Design Centre: Denmark's national design knowledge center, with a focus on design-driven innovation and sustainability. TDRI has a documented partnership with Creative Denmark for circular design, indicating close peer alignment on sustainable design policy.

Regional players

• Thailand Creative Economy Agency (CEA): Thailand's national creative economy promotion agency with comparable mandate in design-led industrial transformation. Documented TDRI partner with signed Letter of Intent for circular design cooperation.

Others

• World Design Organization (WDO): International non-profit promoting industrial design and design-driven innovation globally. TDRI has a documented partnership to develop the City Design Index, making WDO a relevant ecosystem peer rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPWU84OAp9HKstpcti_OQ1g
• Facebookfacebook.com/TWTDRI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tdri-tw
• Instagraminstagram.com/tdri_tw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Taiwan Design Research Institute