Q2 2024: Critical Technologies

The quarterly round-up of critical and emerging technologies news coverage for Q2 of 2024 is, for obvious reasons, a weighty collection, both in volume and in terms of technologies covered.

Globally, in April, May and June of 2024, critical technologies coverage touched on: space launch, systems, vehicles, programs and investment; critical minerals, in supply, access, and discovery; cybersecurity in both defensive and post-impact terms; and more, with each subject to the geopolitical wrestling that unavoidably comes with the territories involved.

In June 2024  |  In May 2024  |  In April 2024

Critical & Emerging Tech: June 2024

• Download: ‘Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2024’ from the International Energy Agency / full item
• Quantum, a critical technology: ‘Global public investments in quantum technology reached $42 billion in 2023’ from McKinsey & Co Quantum Technology Monitor / full item
• Major critical and rare earth minerals deposits found in Norway and Greenland, potentially delivering a game-change to supply chain challenges / full item
• Nexperia, semiconductor maker owned by China’s WingTech, to invest $200M in expanding capacity at main production site in Germany, despite growing scrutiny around subsidies / full item
• Etched AI startup raised $120M, focusing on specialised chips for running specific AI models used by OpenAI and Google Gemini, stepping into competition with NVIDIA / full item
• Germany’s Black Semiconductor raised $274M aiming to develop next-gen semiconductors using graphene and operating with light for efficiency / full item
• Download: ‘Emerging Resilience in the Semiconductor Supply Chain’, a May 2024 report from BCG and the Semiconductor Industry Association (pdf link) / full item
• UK’s Venture Hub AI firm looks to raise $50M to buy servers featuring NVIDIA processors, aiming to charge clients an hourly fee to use server clusters / full item
• Break-up of defunct Russian satellite creates debris cloud in orbit, forcing ISS astronauts to shelter in other docked spacecraft / full item
• US-based Virtus Solis looks to build first space-based solar farm, transmitting electricity across the planet at any time and possibly using SpaceX Starship for construction / full item

Australia: “Northern Territory has defined mineral resources for 17 globally recognised critical minerals…[and] has geological potential for a further 12 emerging critical minerals.” / full item

• India and US agree to co-invest in South American lithium project, and rare earths deposit in Africa, to diversify mineral supply chains, alongside a range of other partnership projects / full item
• NVIDIA cuts price of China-focused AI chip, developed to accommodate US-led advanced tech restrictions, in bid to compete with Huawei chip locally / full item
• Taiwan: Taipei, New Taipei City, Tainan and Kaohsiung vie for new NVIDIA plant / full item
• Taiwan’s Foxconn partners NVIDIA global chip-making giant for electric vehicle AI software / full item
• Japan: Nat’l Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Tech and IBM partner to develop quantum computer with 10,000 qubits, 75 times more than current quantum computers run with / full item
• South Korea: SK Telecom and 6 partners including Nokia unveil X Quantum alliance, aiming to grow the quantum ecosystem via joint marketing and opportunity exploration / full item
• Australian quantum tech firm, Diraq, to produce sample chip devices using GlobalFoundries plants, with chips featuring both quantum-focused and standard circuitry / full item
• Japan: Synspective satellite startup inks agreement with Rocket Lab USA to launch 10 satellites by 2027 in move towards a constellation to enable near-real-time global observation / full item

“Materials Nexus… used its machine learning algorithm to identify and analyse over 100M combinations of materials that could produce a viable rare-earth free magnet.” / full item

• Philippines: US firm Intelsat becomes first foreign firm to provide infra support to mobile network operators, telecoms carriers and ISPs / full item
• China’s ByteDance, parent firm of TikTok, is now working with chips firm, Broadcom, on a restrictions-compliant 5 nanometer AI-focused processor design / full item
• South Korea: Gov’t to offer $12.2 billion in loans for semiconductor chipmakers from July, alongside tax breaks for other ‘national strategic technologies’ / full item
• Micron chipmaker is considering Malaysia for production of AI-focused high-bandwidth memory chips, alongside test production lines in the US / full item

China: “Recent insolvencies, such as that of Shanghai Wusheng Semiconductor, have raised concerns about widespread closures…. 23 semiconductor companies withdrew their IPO applications…” / full item

• India to host annual SEMICON event in September, the world’s leading semiconductor industry event / full item
• Japan: Toyota, Nissan, Honda and others announce collaboration on advanced AI and semiconductor tech for next-gen vehicles, supported by gov’t / full item
• A quick overview of news from NVIDIA, AMD, Intel and Asus, outlined at Taiwan’s recent Computex 2024 event / full item
• A brief look at Malaysia’s opportunities, and challenges, in the semiconductor industry / full item
• Singapore: NXP Semiconductors and TSMC subsidiary to build $7.8 billion chip wafer plant in the city-state, with production set for 2027 / full item
• Malaysia unveils $5.3 billion National Semiconductor Strategy, a 3-phase plan to strengthen the country’s position in semiconductor related technologies and supply chains / full item

“Acer – with 7,725 employees and NT$241.31 billion in revenue last year – has joined other major Taiwanese tech developers by embracing… a shift over the past few years toward South and SE Asia…” / full item

• ‘Decoding The $150 Bn+ Semiconductor Market Opportunity For Indian Startups’, an overview drawn from Inc42’s ‘The Rise Of India’s Semiconductor Startups Report 2024’ / full item
• Taiwan: Foxconn unveils plans for advanced computing center in Kaohsiung, partnering NVIDIA for platforms and processing / full item
• ‘Silicon Malaysia Map’ from Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Ass’n, an at-a-glance outline of the nation’s key industry participants / full item

“…the stolen files include details on future AMD products, datasheets, employee and customer databases, property files, firmware, source code, and financial documentation.” / full item

• China’s Chang’e-6 reentry capsule returned to Earth on June 25th, completing 53-day mission and returning with near 2kg of samples from the moon’s far side / full item
• China: First 18 satellites commencing build-out of China’s G60 Starlink mega-constellation of over 12,000 satellites is set for August 5th / full item
• South Korea’s Innospace secures contracts for $1.5M from Italy’s CShark and Thailand’s EOS ORBIT to place satellites into orbit / full item
• India: Jio Platforms gains approval from space regulator to operate satellites, overtaking Starlink and Amazon services in provision of satellite-delivered internet / full item
• Japan: A brief overview of Tanegashima Island, home to the nation’s rocket launch center, and hopes for startups, tech jobs and Immigration as drivers for local revival / full item
• ‘Australia’s space race: From red dirt to the stars’ / full item
• China: Space Pioneer rocket developer completes $207 million funding round focusing on development of reusable rockets, building on kerosene-oxygen work / full item
• South Korea proposes Mars landing by 2045, with $72 billion spend projected until then on space exploration and preparations / full item
• China: Chang’e-6 lunar vehicle successfully landed on the moon’s far side, with preparation underway to collect material samples / full item
• China: Landspace commercial rocket firm partner files documents for Honghu-3, a constellation of 10,000 satellites spanning 160 orbital planes, China’s third of this size / full item
• China’s Chang’e-6 to make lunar landing attempt in bid to collect the first samples from Apollo crater on the far side of the moon / full item
• Australia: Monash University targets space industry credentials with appointment of Aus Space Agency and former CSIRO chief as chancellor, and NASA Jet Propulsion Lab exec hire / full item
• ‘Indonesia’s $5 billion deal with Tesla is only part of its all-in strategy on nickel mining’ / full item
• Download: ‘Mongolia Mining 2024 report’, looking at all aspects of the industry and touching on lithium and rare earths, technology and service providers, and the companies involved / full item
• Australia: Gov’t orders 5 China-linked firms to divest shares in Northern Minerals rare earths project, citing national interest concerns / full item
• Malaysia: Taiwan’s Elite Material Co to commence construction of $190M facility in Penang, producing substrates for circuit boards and semiconductors / full item
• TSMC investigates rectangular panel substrates for semiconductors, rather than current round wafers, in bid to facilitate chiplet approach and create more useable surface area / full item
• Malaysia: US-based MKS Instruments to build wafer fabrication and equipment production in Penang, with construction set for 2025 / full item
• South Korea: Sapeon and Rebellions artificial intelligence chipmakers to complete merger by Q4 to boost foothold in the global AI chips market / full item
• “TSMC has achieved its heft while keeping most of its factories and employees in Taiwan… How it navigates global expansion will influence the fate of entire industries and economies.” / full item

“…estimated that the Indian semiconductor market will exceed $55 billion by 2026. Moreover, the country’s domestic electronics production output is projected to surpass $300 billion by 2030.” / full item

• Taiwan’s Foxconn partners NVIDIA global chip-making giant for electric vehicle AI software / full item
• Australia’s Space Machines Company inks Launch Service Agreement with NewSpace India, government company under Indian Space Research Organisation, for SMC’s next sat launch / full item

Thailand: “…data showed that from January 2022 to March 2023, a total of 1,704 factories ceased operations… domestic manufacturers faced fierce competition from low-priced imported goods…” / full item

• China Manned Space Engineering Office selected 10 astronauts for 4th astronaut cohort, with Hong Kong and Macao astronauts participating for the first time / full item
• Thailand: China’s GalaxySpace satellite maker establishes first overseas ground test station for low Earth orbit services at Mahanakorn University / full item
• Chinese satnav industry hits $74BN output, has 20,000 entities and employs near 1 million; Beijing and Moscow to boost cooperation on BeiDou and GLONASS GPS alternatives / full item
• Taiwan: Taipei, New Taipei City, Tainan and Kaohsiung vie for new NVIDIA plant / full item

China: “…Beijing even released an open-source [OS] called OpenKylin with the express purpose of lowering reliance on Windows. But the new system doesn’t seem to be any more popular than Linux…” / full item

• Indo-U.S. Global Challenges Institute preps for launch, an initiative of the Council of Indian Institutes of Technology and the Association of American Universities / full item
• India and US agree to co-invest in South American lithium project, and rare earths deposit in Africa, to diversify mineral supply chains, alongside a range of other partnership projects / full item
• Russia’s central bank adopts China’s yuan as its official benchmark currency, ends trading in USD and euros following expansion of Ukraine war sanctions / full item
• China: Some AI chip firms are now reportedly designing less-powerful processors to maintain access to TSMC in bid to side-step US-led sanctions / full item

Critical technologies: May 2024

• Qualcomm partners Ampere Computing semiconductor startup to focus on artificial intelligence chips for cloud services, looking to reduce energy costs / read it here
• ‘Global chips battle intensifies with $81 billion subsidy surge’ / read it here
• Not just export controls: Semiconductors, manufacturing equipment, electronic design automation software, and EDA process design kits / read it here
• The Exploration Company, a French-German firm, looks to develop Europe’s first reusable space capsule to deliver cargo to space stations, delivering payloads up to 4000kg / read it here
• Xona Space Systems preps Pulsar low-orbit satellite constellation as a commercial GPS alternative, potentially costing less to operate whilst delivering sharper geolocation data / read it here
• Japanese research consortium announces 6G milestone with world-first 6G wireless device capable of transmitting 100 gigabits per second / read it here

“Generative AI is one of the best things that has happened to quantum computing… They are two perfect partners.” / read it here

• South Korea and AUKUS grouping recently discussed the country’s possible participation in technologies-focused Pillar 2 activities / read it here
• “Australia has the chance to resolve the problems the AUKUS partners and their friends and allies have with critical minerals, particularly with rare earths…” / read it here

“India’s elections are a glimpse of the AI-driven future of democracy. Politicians are using audio and video deepfakes of themselves to reach voters…” / read it here

• Google’s rolls out AI-focused tools including SynthID watermarking, capable of detecting AI-generated fake images and false audio / read it here
• China: A look at the recently-unveiled Xiaohong, a 504-qubit quantum computing chip running systems to be made available to researchers globally via state-owned telco / read it here
• Researchers at Melbourne and Manchester universities unveil breakthrough technique for manufacture of highly-purified silicon, critical for quantum computers / read it here
• Taiwan: Researchers developed a method to potentially reduce a quantum computer’s size by 40%, incorporating TSMC 28nm tech for low-temperature operation / read it here
• Australian gov’t makes near $1BN investment in quantum tech firm, PsiQuantum, with sights on delivery of the country’s first quantum computer / read it here

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Indonesia election: Artificial intelligence’s influence on democracy

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• Australia: University of Sydney awarded $18.3M federal grant over 4 years to establish research and commercialisation group for the country’s quantum sector / read it here
• China: Computer startup, SpacemiT, unveils RISC-V chip-based laptop, primarily aimed at hardware engineers, developers and DIY enthusiasts, and potentially retailing near $300 / read it here
• China: SMIC and others now asking customers and developers to screen for and adopt domestic supplies of all inputs, to both localize supply chains and end foreign presence / read it here
• South Korea: $7.3 billion support program unveiled to boost semiconductor-related facility investment and R&D / read it here
• Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co to commence production of 1.6-nanometer chips by 2026 / read it here
• India: Zoho SaaS giant to make semiconductor industry bid with planned investment of $700M in chipmaking, with eyes also on gov’t subsidies / read it here
• South Korea: Gov’t unveils $7.3BN program aimed at boosting facility investment and R&D across all semiconductor-related fields, including packaging / read it here
• China: Two chip firms reportedly now in early production stages for high bandwidth memory semiconductors used in AI chipsets, a major step in tech self-sufficiency / read it here
• Taiwan’s TSMC to commence construction of its first Europe facility in Q4 2024, with production at Dresden in Germany expected in 2027 / read it here
• Taiwan’s TSMC ‘does not necessarily need to use’ ASML High NA EUV machines for upcoming A16 generation of chip technology, baulking at price tag / read it here
• IC Taiwan Grand Challenge opens for project submissions, seeking integrated circuit design innovations and chip-based applications / read it here
• India: Lam Research, a US semicon major, to expand India presence for global semiconductor fabrication equipment supply chains / read it here
• More on Mindgrove Technologies, RISC-V firm producing system-on-chip units for mid-level devices / read it here
• Inside TSMC’s Arizona expansion troubles: “Missed deadlines and tension among Taiwanese and American coworkers are plaguing the chip giant’s Phoenix expansion. / read it here
• US Dep’t of Commerce now reviewing national security implications of China’s work in open-standard RISC-V chips tech / read it here
• Malaysia: A bit more on Blue Chip Capital’s semiconductor industry investment plans, aiming to fund at least 10 startups through $210M fund / read it here
• India: Mindgrove Technologies semicon startup rolls out India’s first commercial high-performance system-on-chip based on RISC-V open-standard architecture / read it here
• Japan: An overview of the country’s revitalized investment focus in advanced technologies / read it here

“Among China’s new fleet of satellites are several ‘fast movers’: satellites that roam the GEO [geosynchronous Earth orbit] belt, drifting back and forth among the ‘stationary’ ones.” / read it here

• China’s experimental reusable spacecraft released an unknown object into orbit during its third mission, with authorities releasing no images, description or acknowledgement / read it here
• A brief overview of China’s space launch facility expansion plans, boosting Hainan commercial spaceport with 2 new launch pads, and possibly plans for 10 / read it here
• Indonesia: Elon Musk and Health Minister launched SpaceX satellite internet service, aiming to improve access to health services in remote areas / read it here
• The 2024 India Space Congress is set for June 26-28, organised by Satcom Industry Association India / read it here
• India: Agnikul Cosmos now to launch its 3D-printed, semi-cryogenic Agnibaan rocket in late May, early June, following canceled April launch due to tech issues / read it here
• Taiwan: An overview of the nation’s moves to establish a satellite network of 700 hot spots for communications in emergency situations / read it here
• Taiwan: An intro to TiSPACE, space-tech firm in rocket manufacturing and launch services, and component production for international clients / read it here
• Germany’s HyImpulse completes launch of SR75 rocket from Southern Launch’s Koonibba Test Range in South Australia, marking milestone for AU commercial launch capabilities / read it here
• Taiwan Space Agency to launch 6 low Earth orbit satellites from 2026, the first via SpaceX, as part of government bid to boost resilience of the nation’s communications / read it here
• Serbia Ministry of Science, Tech Development & Innovation inks MOU with China’s space administration on cooperation on China’s International Lunar Research Station / read it here
• India: Chandrayaan-4 moon sample mission prep now underway with Indian Space Research Org’n working on plans for the follow-up to last year’s Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing / read it here

Taiwan: “By the end of 2024, 700 hot spots will be established across the island to allow for satellite communications during emergency situations …” / read it here

• Taiwan Space Agency to launch 6 low Earth orbit satellites from 2026, the first via SpaceX, as part of government bid to boost resilience of the nation’s communications / read it here
• China launches first satellites for a medium Earth orbit broadband constellation, potentially capable of connecting to low Earth orbit megaconstellations in development / read it here
• South Korea’s Perigee Aerospace, a small space launch vehicles startup, partners Swedish Space Corporation to expand operations in Europe / read it here

“The company’s [NVIDIA] main revenue driver, data center products, reached a record $22.6 billion, up 427% on the year.” / read it here

• Serbia Ministry of Science, Tech Development & Innovation inks MOU with China’s space administration on cooperation on China’s International Lunar Research Station / read it here
• India: Chandrayaan-4 moon sample mission prep now underway with Indian Space Research Org’n working on plans for the follow-up to last year’s Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing / read it here
• China: An overview of recently-announced space research missions, touching on lunar far-side astronomy, astrophysics, solar pole observation, exoplanets and gravitational wave missions / read it here
• Australia: Victorian state gov’t fund, Breakthrough Victoria, draws US stratospheric near-space exploration firm, World View, to Melbourne in $37M deal / read it here
• China: Shenzhou-17 crew return to Earth after six months aboard Tiangong space station, with completion of 84 in-orbit experiments and collection of 400 material samples / read it here
• China: May 3rd launch approaches for Chang’e-6 launch to collect first set of lunar far-side samples, building on technical, engineering, scientific and communications tech of past missions / read it here

Critical minerals: “…there are clear ongoing efforts, including by China’s state-owned entities, to extend their nation’s monopoly by controlling Australia’s rare earths deposits…” / read it here

• 3rd Malaysia-China Joint Committee Meeting on Science, Tech & Innovation Cooperation concludes with commitments to collaborate on research in key areas including space tech, AI, blockchain and advanced materials / read it here

Emerging Technologies: April 2024

• US Dep’t of Defense looks to establish ‘mine-to-magnet’ supply chain for rare earth materials, seeing overseas supply as presenting single-points-of-failure risks / read it here
• Critical minerals: “International prices for gallium are now more than double where they were when Beijing’s new export curbs were announced…” / read it here

Deepfakes: “If you tell somebody they’re looking at a deepfake before they watch it, the social psychology of watching that video is so powerful that they will still reference it as if it was fact.” / read it here

• An intro to Norway’s Photoncycle, working on solid hydrogen-based tech to store energy in an ammonia synthesis reactor, claiming vastly lower cost and flexibility than other solutions / read it here
• Zap Energy, backed by Bill Gates and others, hits fusion energy milestone, claiming energy production at a fraction of complexity and cost of other systems / read it here
• Quantum tech startup Alice & Bob lands $17.8M innovation grant from France’s public investment bank, Bpifrance, aiming for a new architecture for fault-tolerant quantum computing by 2027 / read it here
• Eliyan Corp lands $60M Series B led by Samsung with connecting architecture for semiconductor ‘chiplets’ / read it here
• US chips firm, Rivos, raised $250M tomanufacture its first server-grade chip geared for artificial intelligence work, built on RISC-V open-standard architecture / read it here

“As more than 2 billion people in 50 countries head to the polls this year, artificial intelligence-generated content is now widely being used to spread misinformation, as well as to confuse and entertain voters…” / read it here

• A brief intro to Astranis satellite internet operator, potentially a StarLink competitor but placing sats in orbit at at 22000 miles rather than low-Earth orbit at 340 miles / read it here
• An intro to Paris’ Dark and its Interceptor space vehicle, low-impact tech to de-orbit debris without creating new debris fields / read it here
• OpenAI delays roll-out of Voice Engine cloning tech in bid to minimise misinformation in an important global election year / read it here

“Biology is code. It’s code written in As, Ts, Cs, and Gs, not 0s and 1s like in a computer… is the programming code that defines what the organism is made out of, how it builds itself, and all the things it does…” / read it here

• China: Huawei to roll out MateBook Pro X laptop featuring Intel AI chipset running Huawei’s Harmony OS and Pangu LLM / read it here
• Europe sees production of the region’s first lithium with Vulcan Energy Resources set to address portions of the battery supply chains for electric vehicles / read it here
• Japan and NASA partner for lunar exploration with Japan to develop rover vehicle for crewed and uncrewed use, and NASA providing launch and delivery / read it here
• Australia: Diraq quantum tech firm hits milestone for spin-based quantum processors, functioning at temperatures 20 times warmer than before while holding stability and accuracy / read it here

“India is in talks with several countries seeking partnerships for technical help on lithium processing… to bolster its nascent lithium mining and electric vehicle industries and avoid relying on China.” / read it here

• South Korea’s Quantum Intelligence Corp partners Classiq quantum computing software firm to speed drug development using quantum computing in pharmacology / read it here

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Video: ‘Australia’s Place in the Global Quantum Economy’, a panel discussion from the recent Quantum Australia 2024 conference / watch it here

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• China: Origin Wukong quantum computer boosts data security with implementation of post-quantum cryptography / read it here
• China: Origin Wukong quantum computer boosts data security with implementation of post-quantum cryptography / read it here
• Australian gov’t makes near $1BN investment in quantum tech firm, PsiQuantum, with sights on delivery of the country’s first quantum computer / read it here
• China: ‘Xiaohong’ chip hits 504-qubit quantum computing milestone, the highest number of qubits in a superconducting quantum chip in the country / read it here
• Australia: University of Sydney awarded $18.3M federal grant over 4 years to establish research and commercialisation group for the country’s quantum sector / read it here
• China: Former CEO of Arm China reportedly launching firm which will directly compete with Arm, developing chips under the RISC-V architecture / read it here
• Taiwan: Ministry of Digital Affairs partners Chunghwa Telecom to use UK-HQ’s Eutelsat OneWeb for low-Earth orbit satellites in communications around disaster response / read it here
• China: Huawei and partner, SiCarrier, file patents for low-tech alternative way to make advanced semiconductors, potentially side-stepping the need for extreme ultraviolet lithography / read it here
• European Union and Republic of Korea to collaborate on research and innovation in semiconductors, with projects set for selection in June for commencement by year-end / read it here
• India’s Polymatech Electronics inks MoU with Japan’s Orbray to expand semiconductor wafer production and expertise / read it here
• An intro to UXL Foundation, consortium of tech firms including Intel, Google and Qualcomm challenging NVIDIA not in chips but in the software that drives them / read it here
• Japan: Gov’t approves $3.9BN in new subsidies to home-grown chips firm, Rapidus, stepping up the country’s moves into semiconductor manufacturing / read it here
• Taiwan Semiconductor’s US unit to gain with $6.6BN subsidy for advanced production in Arizona, and up to $5BN in low-cost US gov’t loans, targeting 2nm process in 2028 / read it here
• Japan: Semiconductor materials maker, Shin-Etsu Chemical, to invest near $550M in new plant, targeting production in 2026 / read it here
• South Korea’s Rebellions AI semiconductors firm partners Arteris on system-on-chip integration to boost chip energy and efficiency and performance / read it here
• South Korea to invest near $7BN in AI by 2027 in bid to retain global position in global semiconductor industry / read it here
• Vietnam: Viettel, part of Military Industry & Telecoms Group, set to play larger role in the country’s moves to develop a domestic semiconductor chip industry / read it here
• China: Huawei now building huge Shanghai semiconductor R&D center, hiring globally-experienced personnel in bid to develop home-grown industry, de-fang tech restrictions, and gain global market advantage / read it here
• Malaysia’s Sarawak Microelectronics Design Semiconductor recently inked MOUs with 2 UK firms, one in the chips space, the other in blockchain and web3 / read it here
• China-owned Nexperia, semiconductor-related firm HQ’d in the Netherlands, acknowledges ransomware hack, with confidential documents uploaded to darknet extortion site / read it here
• China: A little more on Huawei’s $1.66 billion R&D facility in Shanghai, which includes a remit to develop lithography technologies for home-grown semiconductors / read it here
• India: Tesla inks deal with Tata Electronics to procure semiconductor chips for worldwide operations / read it here
• Malaysia: Gov’t to build SE Asia’s largest circuit design park, offering tax breaks, subsidies and visa fee exemptions to draw firms and investors in bid to break into high-end tech manufacturing / read it here
• SemiCon Southeast Asia 2024 event set for May 28-30 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, looking at all things semiconductor-related / read it here
• Taiwan to establish its first overseas integrated circuit design training base in the Czech Republic, looking at September to commence operations / read it here
• Australia: iLAuNCH Trailblazer initiative commissions Nikon multi-metal 3D printer to make space missions more affordable and efficient with lighter, faster and more robust aerospace components / read it here

“China continues to add new members to its International Lunar Research Station initiative, but many of these are subnational, suggesting issues attracting partners…” / read it here

• Japan: Ispace and Takasago Thermal Engineering partner to produce H2 using solar panel energy during space mission later this year / read it here
• Japan: Astroscale space junk removal firm potentially targeting Tokyo listing in June, with the domestic space sector projected to hit $53BN in value by early next decade / read it here
• India: Agnikul Cosmos space firm postponed maiden launch of Agnibaan rocket for the second time, delaying Indian test of semi-cryonic engine / read it here
• Australia: Space Machines Company reportedly struggling to establish and hold communications with Optimus spacecraft, following launch of on-orbit satellite inspection, servicing and protection vehicle / read it here
• ‘South Korea has successfully launched its second military reconnaissance satellite, days after North Korea reiterated its intention to launch multiple spy satellites this year.’ / read it here
• 2024 International SpaceTech Startup Supporting Program from Taiwan Accelerator Plus applications close May 10, seeking firms focused on Asia-Pacific markets / read it here
• South Korea: Korea AeroSpace Administration, the country’s NASA equivalent, preps for formal May launch with recruiting drive to secure the strongest talent pool / read it here
• India: Space-tech firms set to meet with Elon Musk on sidelines of the billionaire’s upcoming visit for discussions around Teslan and StarLink services / read it here
• India: An intro to Digantara’s Space Domain Awareness Command & Control Centre, aiming for multi-domain activities from satellite assembly to space object monitoring / read it here
• China to leverage fast-evolving commercial space sector to speed mega-constellation ambitions, allowing state-owned firms to focus on civil and military programs / read it here
• China: May 3rd launch approaches for Chang’e-6 launch to collect first set of lunar far-side samples, building on technical, engineering, scientific and communications tech of past missions / read it here
• Japan’s Astroscale publishes close-up image of space debris, 11 meters long, 4 meters diameter and weight of 3 tons, illustrating necessity of removal / read it here
• China: Crew of three astronauts arrive at Tiangong space station following launch from Gobi desert Jiuquan spaceport, marking the 7th crewed mission to Tiangong / read it here
• India: Dhruva Space raised $9.6M Series A2 funding with plans for mass production facility for satellite-focused equipment / read it here
• Australia: An overview of the recently-announced Solar SunShot, a Au$1 billion government initiative to bring solar manufacturing back to Australia / read it here
• Japan: Tokyo Uni of Science and DENSO Corp researchers make breakthrough in solid-state Li-ion batteries with non-flammable units capable of high- and low-temperature operation / read it here
• Bank for International Settlements and 7 central banks, including Japan and Korea, partner for Project Agorá, exploring tokenization of bank deposits via ‘unified ledger’ / read it here
• Australia-India Cyber & Critical Technology Partnership Grant Round 4 applications are open – deadline is May 24th / read it here
• China: A little more on Huawei’s $1.66 billion R&D facility in Shanghai, which includes a remit to develop lithography technologies for home-grown semiconductors / read it here
• A little more on the recent collaboration MOU between the Korean Positioning System and Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite system, aiming for autonomous positioning services / read it here

“Taiwan is also interested in stepping into the Indian semiconductor industry because the Indian government has already announced it would cover 50% of the costs of setting up semiconductor fabs.” / read it here

• South Korea faces challenge in balancing US and China relations in supply of semiconductor-related technologies and equipment / read it here
• The factors underpinning Taiwan chip-maker moves into Japan, creating production bases in a strategy that dovetails with Japan’s bid for a semicon industry revival / read it here
• ICYMI: SiMa raises $70M with inference-focused chips for everyday consumer devices, using AI models on devices to identify objects rather than ‘learn’ / read it here
• India’s Tata Group conglomerate heading to Taiwan in high-level tech talent hunt, looking initially at growthe in the consumer electronics semiconductor sector / read it here
• China: ByteDance Singapore affiliate, Picoheart, invests in InnoStar Semiconductor’s licensable IP for system-on-chip tech, with use cases including in AI datacenters / read it here
• China: ByteDance Singapore affiliate, Picoheart, invests in InnoStar Semiconductor’s licensable IP for system-on-chip tech, with use cases including in AI datacenters / read it here
• China-South Korea researchers publish on potential semiconductor breakthrough, with tellurium-based approach to materials / read it here
• Samsung Texas arm to gain $6.4Bn Chips Act funding to create full ecosystem for development and production of US-based chips / read it here
• South Korea and Japan to collaborate on development and operation of satellite navigation systems in East Asia, looking to better enable the two systems to coexist and interoperate / read it here
• South Korea and Japan to collaborate on development and operation of satellite navigation systems in East Asia, looking to better enable the two systems to coexist and interoperate / read it here
• Thailand joins China-led International Lunar Research Station project, joining Venezuela, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, South Africa and Egypt / read it here
• Hong Kong: EnerVenue looks to space for energy storage for use on Earth with nickel-hydrogen batteries, fireproof and capable of far wider temperature operation than Lithium-Ion / read it here
• India: More on the €100M partnership between Indian Institute of Technology Madras and France’s Starburst Accelerator, aiming to boost India’s aviation, space and defense ecosystem / read it here
• Asia tech, weekly: Indo-Pacific Climate Tech, Korea-Japan sat-nav, Thailand joins China’s moon bid, Australia & quantum, India-Japan semicon wafers, Indonesia’s $200M AI centre, North Korea adds 4G… / read it here
• Japan and NASA partner for lunar exploration with Japan to develop rover vehicle for crewed and uncrewed use, and NASA providing launch and delivery / read it here
• Japan’s Kaga Electronics’ proposed Mexico factory project selected by JP gov’t for its Indo-Pacific & Central-South America Regional Supply Chain Involvement Support Project / read it here
• Japan and European Union reportedly to enter talks on cooperation in advanced materials for next-gen chips and batteries in moves to reduce reliance on China on supply and materials / read it here

Indo-Pacific technology news

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