Hunan Heshun Petroleum Co. announced a controlling acquisition of MSquare Technology, a Shanghai-based semiconductor IP and chiplet-interconnect developer. The November 16, 2025, disclosure marks the fuel distributor's move beyond its energy roots and into China's high-performance computing and advanced chip-design landscape

Stratio, a Korean deep-tech startup founded by three Stanford Ph.D. graduates, is introducing what it claims is the first germanium-based short-wave infrared sensor designed for large-scale commercial use. During a live pitch session in Pangyo, the company said its "infrared AI" can solve problems that traditional vision AI and standard cameras cannot, including identifying mixed plastics inside recycling facilities, detecting narcotics, and enabling new capabilities inside future smartphones

Despite surging global demand for solar energy, South Korean manufacturers are seeing export volumes contract as China deepens its dominance over upstream silicon wafer and module production. Industry experts caution that rising domestic consumption alone will not revive local manufacturing unless supported by protective measures and mandatory local-sourcing requirements

To carve out new growth in the highly mature smartphone industry, Oppo, on November 14, launched its Apex Guard technology suite designed to safeguard user experience with quality in hardware and software. The company positions this initiative as a key foundation for strengthening brand power and product sales

Korean startup Jably detailed its AI-driven recruitment and visa-management platform, K-tag, during the 2025 Pangyo Global Media Meet-Up, positioning the service as a data-centric solution to rising global talent demand in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. The platform, launched in September 2024, generated US$770,000 in revenue within its first four months

South Korea and the United States have released a Joint Fact Sheet that industry observers say reduces earlier tariff uncertainty and creates new room for cooperation. With global production shifting and supply chains realigning, South Korean conglomerates that had been cautious are now speeding up domestic investment plans

Oppo has officially opened its new headquarters campus in Binhaiwan Bay Area, Dongguan, China, following an investment exceeding CNY10 billion (approx. US$1.41 billion). The 930,000-square-meter facility began operations in October 2024 and currently accommodates several thousand employees, with expectations to expand the workforce to over 10,000 by 2026

Samsung Electronics has reportedly set its sales targets for the next-generation foldables—Galaxy Z Fold8 and Flip8—aiming for roughly a 10% increase over the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Flip7 lineup. With Apple expected to introduce its first foldable iPhone in 2026, Samsung is accelerating efforts to defend its leadership in the segment

Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) is reportedly in supply talks with several Big Tech companies, two years after moving into glass substrates. Seen as a next-generation breakthrough for advanced packaging as AI workloads surge, glass substrates are projected by MarketsandMarkets to reach KRW12 trillion (approx. US$8.4 billion) in market value by 2028

Optical imaging solution supplier Ability Enterprises said tariff issues stemming from regional political tensions are gradually being resolved, allowing flexible adjustments across its manufacturing sites in China, Vietnam, and Taiwan based on customer demand

The Chinese National Federation of Industries (CNFI) held its 79th Industrial Day celebration on November 11, 2025, in Taipei. CNFI is one of Taiwan's oldest and largest industry associations, with extensive membership and investments. At the event, CNFI's Rock Hsu and chairman Chun-jung Pan presented the 2025 CNFI white paper to President William Ching-te Lai

China's talent-recruitment efforts in South Korea's science and technology sector are entering a far more targeted phase. Under the Thousand Talents Plan (TTP), Beijing is reportedly running a personalized, data-informed campaign that draws on detailed insight into Korean researchers' pay, personal backgrounds, and academic environments. Korean media report that these offers, which include high salaries, substantial research budget,s and family-related benefits, have triggered concern across universities, state labs, and government agencies

As 2025 nears its close, the global artificial intelligence (AI) boom is again prompting debate over whether the sector is entering speculative territory. From Silicon Valley to Wall Street and across China's tech and investment circles, comparisons with the 2000 dot-com bubble have intensified. With China now a central participant in the AI landscape rather than an observer, the debate has gained broader industry attention

SK Hynix is reportedly set to begin ordering equipment for its 12-layer sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM4) as early as November 2025. Considering the construction schedule of its Cheongju M15X plant in South Korea, the equipment is expected to start being installed gradually in early 2026