Runners warm up ahead of the 14th annual Run for Children

Thanks to year-long support and promotion from the Taipei City Government and Chinese Taipei Road Running Association, the maximum of 20,000 runners was reached well ahead of the registration deadline. This year’s run saw a 9km race added to the original 3km course, attracting many ambitious runners keen to push themselves – all in the name of charity.

The race kicks off in front of Taipei City Hall

A Star-Studded Turn-Out

This year’s event saw all manner of celebrities and local luminaries show up to provide their support to the cause. Notable local administration figures including Hao-Lu Wang, Senior Executive Officer of the Public Sports Section, and Zai-Li Li, Commissioner of the Department of Sports, Taipei City Government, were in attendance to cheer for the runners. Hsing-Chun Kuo, winner of the gold medal for weightlifting at the Asian Games, and other stars of the athletic world such as former marathon athlete Chia-Che Chang and bodybuilder Melody Wan were also in attendance to take part in the run.

An array of celebrity athletes took part in the 2018 race (L-R: Jay Chen, Chao-Tsun Cheng, Chia-Che Chang, Hsing-Chun Kuo, Liya Wang)

Runners were also cheered on by Bravo the Bear, mascot of the 2017 Taipei Universiade. Lifesize cut-outs of the star athletes present were available in the event’s photography area so that visitors and participants alike were able to pose alongside their favorite athletes.

Those who attended the charity run were also treated to a dynamic performance on-stage at the run’s hub in front of Taipei City Hall from ‘Best New Artist’ Golden Melody Award nominee J. Sheon, who delighted the audience with his music and the effortless selfies he took with the crowd thanks to the Galaxy Note9 S Pen’s remote control function.

Singer J.Sheon captivates the crowd

Samsung Taiwan has long promoted the participation of Taiwanese athletes in international competitions. This year, Asian Games participants Hsing-Chun Kuo, Jay Chen, Chao-Tsun Cheng, Tzu-Yun Wen, and Chih-Kai Lee were invited to form a “STAR UP Alliance” to bring visibility to this the athletic and charitable endeavors of the STAR UP scholarship fund.

Where Technology Meets Charity

For the benefit of all who attended the charity race, Samsung provided a unique ‘STAR UP Experience Area’ combining their trademark high-tech products like the Galaxy Note 9 and VR Gear with dynamic STAR UP charity program concepts, resulting in an exciting multi-experience space designed to look like a base on the planet Mars.

Caption: Visitors to the Experience Area marvel at the Gear VR’s out-of-this-world scenery

The STAR EDUCATION themed suite featured imaginative creations by Taiwanese designers and children from the Samsung SMART School program. Visitors wishing to prove their physical prowess had a chance to do so in the STAR CULTIVATION experience center, where they could challenge themselves on a flywheel bike while wearing a brand-new Galaxy Watch.

A Taiwanese designer explores the creations of local Samsung SMART School children

Visitors to the STAR CULTIVATION area get going on the exercise bikes, equipped with the Galaxy Watch

The STAR ENVIRONMENT zone had a lush forest feel to it, documenting the eco-craft trail construction process undergone by Samsung volunteers in the Hehuan North Peak area of Taiwan. Visitors could make a lively record of the AKG surround-sound forest experience area, filled with the sounds of chirping birds and insects, with a tablet with S Pen.

Runners make the most of the STAR ENVIRONMENT zone

Samsung’s sustainable creativity did not stop with the Experience Area, however as discarded containers were used to create the start line arch for this year’s event and the die-cast medals for the 9km race were created from recycled electronics materials..

All in the Spirit of Giving Back

While the charity race was indeed the highlight of the day, the festivities did not end with the races’ stopwatch. Following the end of the race, three Asian Games athletes shared their insights and experiences of pushing boundaries in the face of adversity to an enraptured audience. The athletes also presented hand-written notes to each TFCF child who had participated in the run, underscoring the message of the day – to keep chasing your dreams.

Chinese athletes Jay Chen, Hsing-Chun Kuo and Chao-Tsun Cheng (L-R) share their experiences

The registration fees of 2.75 million NTD for this year’s event will be utilized to sponsor 200 students enrolled in local primary, secondary, and tertiary schools. Some of the 200 children already benefiting from the TFCF scheme commenced the race alongside Asian Games professional athletes. To express gratitude to those who’d participated and contributed to this charitable enterprise, Samsung put on an exciting closing ceremony and a range of prizes for the race’s annual prize-giving. On offer to those who had come out on top of the day’s races were such leading Samsung products as the Galaxy Note9, Galaxy S9+, Galaxy Tab S3, Galaxy Watch and even a 65-inch QLED TV.

Beneficiaries of the STAR scholarships take part in the race

Following the race, winners pose proudly with their Samsung prizes

“I’m deeply grateful for the support and positive responses from all circles of our society,” noted Jung-joo Lee, President of Samsung Electronics Taiwan. “In the future, Samsung Taiwan will continue to fulfill its corporate social responsibility and support the educational opportunities of all children to our utmost ability. Our goal is to build a better future for everyone.”

Samsung is devoted to redefining the infinite possibilities of mobile communications through innovative technology and ideas. The world’s first SAMSUNG VISION LAB opened in Commune A7, the latest chic addition to Taipei. The attractive container-styled market combines and displays elements of local culture, fashion lifestyle, and leading-edge technology. It embodies Samsung’s ‘joyful pioneers’ ethos, which describes the company’s bold approach to innovation. The VISION LAB is Samsung Taiwan’s first pop-up store in big scale, an attempt to break away from tradition and explore new limits. The location shows Samsung Taiwan’s 23 years of local cultivation, and our devotion to the market. By working with innovators from various fields in Taiwan, Samsung Taiwan has created a Pioneers’ Playground of unlimited possibilities.

The Pioneers’ Playground of Innovation

After much anticipation, the SAMSUNG VISION LAB opened on February 22nd, 2017. At the grand opening, the President of Samsung Taiwan – Jaeyub Lee said, “In the spirit of Samsung’s vision — ‘Inspire the World, Create the Future’, Samsung Taiwan continues to optimize product experiences, provide data-driven content and differentiate its service with our passion to Taiwan customers, commitment to technology innovations, and our implementation of the business philosophy as ‘One Platform, All Pioneers’. Through the theme-based experience curation modeled on everyday life, Samsung Taiwan will continue to design innovative ways of interaction and bring consumers closer. This will, in turn, enable people to discover more possibilities and change their way of sharing with the world, as well as build a seamlessly connected Galaxy mobile experience.”

The VISION LAB integrates Samsung’s resources and introduces four innovations:

All for You – Professional Fast Repair

The VISION LAB has achieved an industry first by providing a fast repair service that takes less than two hours for mobile devices (only with those which still within warranty period). Samsung Taiwan’s professional engineers can fix any problems, such as a broken screen, rapidly. Just taking the time of watching a movie, the repaired device is returned to the customer with ease. Our on-site Samsung Galaxy Consultants offer a one-stop Elite service to give each customer a professional and warm welcome experience. The consultants will also recommend products and peripherals that best suit the needs of the customer. They will also offer one-to-one product lessons and data transfer services.

Beacon Smart Application – A Smart Conversation with the Customer

The various Beacon devices in the VISION LAB provide customized messages to customers depending on their location. The innovative Shadowing Service offers customers a call button service, on which customers can press “Professional Help” at any time for assistance. Our staff will use a GPS navigation system to easily locate the customer, enabling them to provide an instant service to satisfy the customer’s needs. Furthermore, customers can receive messages containing the latest discount coupons and limited-time offers. This encourages customers to visit the lab to complete surveys and receive gifts and provides a more interesting experience full of surprises through live info feeds.

A Variety of Accessories Readily Available to Choose From

Accessories which were only available for purchase online or through designated distributors will be available in the lab for purchase, including mobile back covers, wireless charging pads, and power banks..etc, giving  customers plenty of mobile accessories to choose from.

Theme-Based Curating Exhibition & Events for a More In-Depth Experience

To differentiate itself from other pure product experience locations, which often are rigid and standardized, Samsung Taiwan will introduce a series of events that integrate culture and lifestyle at the VISION LAB, such as exhibitions, seminars, workshops, and hit performances. Innovators from various fields in Taiwan will be invited to share their stories and perspectives on life, as well as their experiences with Samsung’s technology and how it has helped them make breakthroughs. These will expand into a dialogue on how technology is applied to different aspects of life. In addition, the lab will release news on product releases and promotions whenever necessary, to encourage market discussion on Samsung products. What’s more, a robotic arm was brought in specifically for VISION LAB. Not only is the device eye-catching, its combination with the unique  S pen onto the Galaxy Note series or the Tab A 2016 can draw a portrait of a customer in just three minutes, which will place it at the center of attention at the VISION LAB.

The Launch of “Fabulous Taiwan”, an Experimental Exhibition Project

Adhering closely to the principle behind the VISION LAB, Samsung Taiwan has invited the team behind “UP TO 3742 | On the Roof of Taiwan” to jointly design a series of exhibitions and experiments over a one-year period. Yao-Pang Wang, the curator of “Fabulous Taiwan”, has divided the project into four parts. The first season will see the “GREEN / WILD” exhibition, which begins with Taiwan’s majestic mountains, then drifts to the nomadic life philosophy on the shores of Dulan, and finally shifts the focus back to the style and mentality of city life. The distinguished and influential individuals invited include Ping Chu, Yee-Min Tan, Minjia Chen, Hans Chyi, and Alfie Lin. Through their interpretation of the theme “WILD”, the audience will be freed from the framework of traditional perspectives on color.

The exhibition area utilizes the Galaxy S7 Edge and Gear 360’s panoramic recording function to splendidly capture the images. Participants will record their creations through the unique drawing function of the Galaxy Tab A’s S Pen. In addition, CN Flower director Alfie Lin collaborated with the UP TO 3742 team to design the first wild flower shop (Botanic Garden) in Taiwan with a Taiwanese plant ecology theme displayed through images. The team started with the wild beauty of Taiwan and gathered over 70 percent of the plants native to the country. These include the bird’s-nest and squirrel’s foot ferns found in the rainforest, bidens alba that commonly grow on roadsides, Formosan beautyberries from the Matsu Islands, the Indian blanketflower and cacti from the Penghu Islands, high altitude bryophytes found on the plum branches along the Northern Cross-Island Highway, and the thatch screwpine trees along the coast. Not only do they display the variety of living organisms, they also create a central focus for the opening of the VISION LAB, which is an emblem of Samsung Taiwan’s continual quest to challenge the status quo as well as to set new benchmarks in the industry.

VISION LAB Consumer News

In celebration of the grand opening of the VISION LAB, there will be a series of promotional activities and exclusive deals on 25th and 26th February. We would like to invite you to join us! You can also visit Samsung Taiwan’s website for the latest news and information.

(Promotion 1 and 2 are mutually exclusive and cannot be used simultaneously.)

VISION LAB Seminar Info

VISION LAB Workshop Info

Q1 LOVE IS WILD Exhibition Info

Opening date | Feb. 22, 2017 (Wed)

Open hours | 12:00 – 22:00

Location | SAMSUNG VISION LAB- No.3, Songshou Road, Xinyi District, Taipei (Songzhi and Songshou road intersection)

Admission | Free