Rugby coach's homeward try links past, future

Hub for innovation

As people like Kang find their roots, a new generation is arriving to find their future. Lai Sheng-hsun, a native of Taipei and a freshman at the Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is one such pioneer.

Encouraged by his mother, an experienced TCM doctor who believes the mainland offers a deeper lineage of heritage, Lai moved to Fuzhou to pursue his degree.

"Fujian offers an array of preferential policies, including generous scholarships specifically for Taiwan students," Lai said.

The integration extends far beyond the classroom. With the streamlining of medical license certification and an increasing number of public-sector roles opening to Taiwan compatriots, Lai plans to stay in Fuzhou after graduation to find a job or open his own clinic.

The individual dreams of youth like Lai are anchored in a booming macro-trend. According to the 2026 Fujian provincial government work report, enrollment of Taiwan students and recruitment of Taiwan teachers in Fujian reached record highs in 2025.

This surge in academic exchange is backed by a powerful economic engine. In 2025 alone, Fujian welcomed 2,612 new Taiwan-funded enterprises, while actual utilized Taiwan capital reached $724 million, ranking first on the mainland.

The province has also emerged as a hub for youth entrepreneurship. From 2024 to October 2025, Fujian provided over 23,000 internship and employment opportunities specifically for Taiwan youth, attracting more than 6,500 Taiwan youth to the province.

"Integration is deepening in every field — from tourism and agriculture to youth exchanges," said Han Ying-huan, chairman of the Taiwan Businessmen Association in Xiamen. Han added that such exchanges helped increase trust and familiarity between the two sides.

This stable environment is fostering a technological leap. Lee Cheng-hung, president of the Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland, highlighted new opportunities emerging in strategic sectors of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).

"We expect entrepreneurs from both sides to join hands in artificial intelligence, green development, the low-altitude economy, and biopharmaceuticals," Lee said.

He said Taiwan's business in traditional industries should seize the chance to collaborate and break through development bottlenecks through industrial transformation.

"To succeed in this new stage, Taiwan enterprises must integrate into the 'AI Plus' initiative," said Tsai Cheng-fu, the 73-year-old chairman of the Taiwan Businessmen Association in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province.

"It is not just about Fujian and Taiwan; it is about the fusion between Taiwan firms and excellent mainland enterprises," he said, adding that the mainland's development of new quality productive forces is a golden opportunity for Taiwan firms to upgrade.