During his recent visit to South Korea, Microsoft founder Bill Gates met with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won to discuss future cooperation in the energy sector, particularly small modular reactors (SMRs). The two sides agreed to deepen their business ties and strategic partnerships, drawing significant attention from the global nuclear industry.
China has introduced fresh regulatory measures to reinforce state control over its rare earth sector, further cementing its position as the world's dominant supplier of the strategic materials used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced electronics.
As Meta Platforms Inc. and OpenAI prepare to launch gigawatt-scale AI data centers by 2026, the surging electricity demand raises concerns over existing energy infrastructure capacity. Industry analysis suggests future data centers will increasingly adopt decentralized, low-carbon energy systems to achieve 100% carbon-free energy.
South Korean academics are calling for further reforms of the country's New Southern Policy, stressing the need to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN, already home to many South Korean enterprises, as US-China rivalry intensifies. This approach, they argue, not only helps reduce economic dependence on China and the US but also positions ASEAN as a natural strategic partner due to its geographic proximity, abundant resources, cultural affinity, and the soft power of the Korean Wave.
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), a leading name in Japan's commercial vehicle industry, and Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn), the world's largest electronics manufacturer, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore a strategic collaboration in the field of zero-emission buses. The partnership aims to accelerate the deployment of clean mobility solutions in Japan and global markets.
Giga Solar Materials, a leading solar conductive paste manufacturer in Taiwan, announced on August 19 that its renewable energy arm, Whole Sun Green Power, has begun construction of the 60-megawatt (MW) Taysan solar power plant in Batangas Province, Philippines. The project is being developed in partnership with Wyn Power Corporation and Edward Marcs Philippines Inc.
Samsung SDI recently emerged victorious in a large-scale energy storage system (ESS) tender in South Korea, marking a significant milestone in its business transformation as the electric vehicle (EV) market faces a downturn.
A fire at Molicel's lithium ternary battery factory, a subsidiary of TCC, revealed serious failures in its firefighting system, which did not activate any of its key safety protocols. The incident has prompted TCC to prepare legal action against the equipment supplier.
Formosa Smart Energy's (FSET) battery cell factory in Changbin Industrial Park is Taiwan's largest LFP battery manufacturer, with a capacity of 2.1GWh. The facility emphasizes sustainable construction and energy-efficient operation.
Electronic paper giant E Ink Holdings reported a consolidated revenue of NT$10.63 billion (approx. US$355.34 million) in the second quarter of 2025, a year-over-year increase of 39%, benefiting from customers' advanced pull-ins. Operating profit in the second quarter reached NT$4.2 billion, soaring 166% compared to the same period last year, while the net income attributable to the parent company was NT$2.97 billion.
Following South Korea's shocking announcement to invest US$350 billion in the US, with 90% of the profits staying in the US, Nvidia and AMD reportedly have agreed to pay 15% of their chip sales revenue from China to the US government. This equally astonishing arrangement secures export licenses from the US government for Nvidia's H20 and AMD's MI308 chips shipping to China.
More coverage
