China fine-tunes its Thousand Talents campaign to lure South Korean scientists

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.

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Commentary: The AI bubble question resurfaces, yet China’s cycle logic diverges sharply

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.

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Taiwan’s AutoSys turns self-driving Algorithms into next-gen AI exports

As one of the most demanding testing grounds for AI, autonomous driving technology has become a high-security laboratory where next-generation AI applications are forged. Analysts note that as much as 50 to 70 percent of the algorithms used in self-driving systems can be efficiently transferred to non-automotive fields, giving established players a distinct “spillover advantage” over newcomers. From Tesla to Chinese automakers and established brands in Europe, the United States, Japan, and South Korea, automotive AI is now extending into adjacent industries such as smart manufacturing, robotics, and unmanned aerial systems (UAVs).

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Research insight: SpaceX strengthens lead in LEO satellites with reusable rockets, standardized bus, and cost-efficient components

The US satellite industry has evolved over nearly seven decades through sustained investment from NASA and the Department of Defense (DoD). Early NASA commercial resupply and launch contracts also enabled SpaceX to build its technological and financial foundation, setting the stage for its dominance in the New Space era.

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Taiwan’s EV market heats up as Luxgen N5 prepares for debut

Taiwan’s electric vehicle market (EV) is poised for a wave of new launches in the second half of 2025, with the upcoming Luxgen N5, based on Foxtron’s Model B platform, attracting the most attention. Rumors have circulated that the N5’s launch schedule could be altered. In response, Luxgen’s public relations team told DIGITIMES that future product plans will be officially announced at the appropriate time.

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Applied Materials faces sharp China retreat in 2026, but AI workloads keep the upgrade cycle alive

Applied Materials reported US$6.8 billion in revenue for the quarter ended October 26 in FY25, a 3% year-over-year decline but still ahead of the US$6.68 billion market forecast. The company warned that widening US export controls could curb China’s semiconductor equipment spending in 2026, creating the largest risk to its growth outlook.

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Carbon fiber specialist Bonny Worldwide expands into Airbus supply chain

Carbon fiber composite manufacturer Bonny Worldwide has successfully expanded from the sports equipment sector into the aerospace industry, partnering with Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) to supply composite substructure components to Airbus. Mass production and shipments began in February 2025, with output capacity targeting 480 aircraft within the first year.

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