Asset Finance & Alternatives in APAC & Beyond
Aviation Finance, Alt Asset Finance in APAC & Beyond
Your exclusive gateway to the latest developments across transportation and space, and most importantly, how to finance it all - debt, equity, and defi! We follow and forecast where the money’s at.
Join us as we navigate through the latest roundup to uncover key developments across the region.
**Nothing in this article is intended to be or should be construed as legal or financial advice.**
Summary
Financing & Investments: China Leads Industry 4.0 Adoption as Europe Falls Behind; Malaysia Secures $22.35 Billion in Digital Investments for 2025; Carsome Raises $30 Million to Expand AI-Powered Auto Platform; Datakrew Closes $2.6 Million for EV Battery Intelligence; Video Rebirth Lands $80 Million for AI Video Generation; Dtcpay Raises $10 Million to Scale Stablecoin Payments; Gobi Partners Eyes Vietnam’s National VC Fund; and SmartSolar Adds Debt Funding to Reach $3.15 Million.
Environmental Sustainability: COP30 Report Outlines $1.3 Trillion Climate Finance Roadmap; HKTDC GreenBiz HK Forum Draws 550 Delegates; Sovereign Wealth Fund Opens Registration for Waste-to-Energy Partners; TNB and TM Partner on Green Energy and EV Charging; Virdalis Raises $700,000 for Duckweed-Based Animal Feed Protein; Digital Edge Secures $665 Million Green Loan for AI-Ready Data Center; and Joint Framework Develops Green Jobs Statistical Indicators.
Aviation: Moisture Absorption Identified as Key Driver of Composite Degradation; Productivity Commission Probes Regional Airfare Affordability; Passenger Traffic Surpasses 2019 Levels but Airport Revenues Lag; EASA Flags Safety Lapses in Air India Fleet; and Ericsson and VNPT Partner on Airport Mobile Infrastructure
Advanced Air Mobility: Aridge Raises $200 Million to Scale Modular eVTOL Vehicle; Sino Jet Completes Inaugural Low-Altitude Flight in Hangzhou; and EHang Signs MOU with Thai Partners to Deploy eVTOL Networks
Marine: Hapag-Lloyd Signs Three MOUs to Expand Indian Shipping Presence; IEA Releases Demand-Side Measures Amid Middle East Oil Disruption; MSC Acquires 50 Percent Stake in Sinokor Maritime; Chartwell Marine and Japanese Shipbuilders Partner on Offshore Wind Vessels; and UC Berkeley Study Highlights Japan’s Port Decarbonization Leadership
Space: Shenzhou 21 Crew Completes Second Spacewalk; Tiangong Astronauts Harvest Space-Grown Tomatoes; Ground-Based Space Station Operational After 20 Years; Wukong Satellite Maps Forbush Decrease Events; HKUST and Southeast University Forge Space Robotics Alliance; Dawn Aerospace Tests Radar Tracking With Defense Forces; Starlink Draft Pricing Released for Vietnam Market; and Vietnam Opens $266 Million National Space Center
Financing & Investments
Capital is flowing decisively toward AI-driven platforms and digital infrastructure across Southeast Asia, with Malaysia emerging as a digital investment hub, while China’s manufacturing digitization outpaces legacy industrial economies in Europe.
Germany-China
A global study on industrial digitalization finds that China is leading in next-generation manufacturing adoption, while parts of Europe are falling behind due to legacy systems and structural challenges.
The Industry 4.0 Barometer 2026, conducted by German consultancy MHP, surveyed over 1,200 industrial companies and found overall digitalization adoption rose from 48 percent in 2022 to 66 percent in 2026, with China at 72 percent and the United States at 69 percent, compared to 57 percent in the DACH region of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
💡The report highlights widening gaps in technologies such as digital twins and artificial intelligence, with China reporting 84 percent adoption of digital twins in logistics and 71 percent AI usage, while the DACH region logged 42 percent and 37 percent respectively. The study notes that fragmented data systems and reliance on legacy IT infrastructure continue to hinder transformation in Europe, where AI adoption often remains limited to pilot projects.
Malaysia
Malaysia secured MYR 87.4 billion ($22.35 billion) in approved digital investments in 2025, driven largely by artificial intelligence, big data, data centers and cloud services, according to the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation. The investments, sourced from over 600 digital status companies, are expected to generate more than 31,000 high-value jobs and contributed significantly to the broader MYR 152.9 billion in approved investments reported for the information and communication sub-sector.
💡Domestic investors accounted for the largest share at MYR 36.66 billion, followed by Singapore, the United States and China. Digital minister Gobind Singh Deo described the results as validation of the country’s national digital strategy, while MDEC CEO Anuar Fariz Fadzil noted that AI-related roles accounted for over 12,600 of the projected jobs, reflecting a shift toward higher-value, AI-led growth as Malaysia works toward its goal of becoming an AI Nation by 2030.
Malaysia
e-commerce platform Carsome Group Inc. has secured a strategic investment round exceeding $30 million, drawing participation from both new and existing backers including the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC), Gobi Partners, and Asia Partners. The capital will support initiatives in supply chain sourcing and the application of data and artificial intelligence to accelerate the firm’s regional expansion strategy.
💡The partnership aims to strengthen ties between Southeast Asia and Greater China, leveraging Hong Kong’s role as a regional gateway for automotive technology and talent.
Singapore
Deep-tech company Datakrew has raised $2.6 million in a Pre-Series A funding round to expand its electric vehicle battery intelligence platform globally. The round was led by Greenwillow Capital Management, with participation from existing investors including Beenext, 500 Global, and SEEDS, as the company aims to scale its OXRED MyFleet platform and AI-driven analytics across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
💡The company, which has tracked over 10,000 battery assets across seven countries, will use the capital to advance its OXRED GuardianAI and OXRED InsurShield products while expanding its leadership team.
Singapore
AI video startup Video Rebirth has closed an $80 million funding round, including a $30 million extension that built upon an initial $50 million raised in November. The round drew participation from AMD Ventures, Hyundai, and a coalition of venture capital firms across Asia.
💡The company stated that the fresh capital will be used to accelerate commercialization of its video generation products and drive global market expansion.
Singapore
Singapore-based digital payments company dtcpay has raised $10 million in a Series A funding round led by Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India. The company said the capital will support product enhancements, strengthen infrastructure, and expand operations across newly licensed jurisdictions, with a focus on entering the European market through its Luxembourg Electronic Money Institution license.
The firm bridges digital assets with traditional finance, enabling transactions in stablecoins for everyday use, and holds payment licenses in Singapore, Luxembourg, Hong Kong, Australia, the United States, and Canada
Vietnam
Malaysia and Hong Kong-based venture capital firm Gobi Partners has expressed interest in investing in Vietnam, including the country’s newly established national VC fund, during a meeting with Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan in Hanoi. The fund, created under Decree 264/2025, launched with an initial state budget contribution of VND500 billion ($19.1 million) and has the capacity to grow to VND2,000 billion over five years with additional contributions.
💡Gobi Co-Founder and Chair Thomas G. Tsao led the delegation, which also discussed potential collaboration in startup incubation across semiconductors, artificial intelligence, big data, and new energy, along with sandbox initiatives for robotics and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Vietnam
Vietnamese rooftop solar provider SmartSolar has raised additional debt funding, bringing its total capital raised to $3.15 million across equity and debt, as the company looks to expand its financing offerings for small and medium-sized businesses. The latest financing includes a $300,000 loan from Switzerland’s SECO Startup Fund, which may also unlock a further $1 million debt facility from a German travel firm.
💡The company previously secured $1.85 million in seed funding, and it noted that the current round reflects a move toward debt-based financing as it grows. SmartSolar installs and maintains rooftop solar systems with no upfront cost for clients, offering long-term contracts at rates below standard grid electricity prices. It plans to grow its presence in southern Vietnam and explore opportunities in neighboring markets.
Environmental Sustainability
From sovereign wealth funds to corporate partnerships, sustainability financing is scaling up across Southeast Asia—spanning waste-to-energy infrastructure, green data centers, alternative proteins, and labor market data systems.
Global
The UN Climate Change released the executive report of the COP30 conference on March 19, outlining key outcomes and next steps following the meeting held in Belém in November 2025, where nearly all countries adopted 56 decisions by consensus. The report highlights strategic roadmaps introduced by the COP30 Presidency, including plans to transition away from fossil fuels in a just manner and to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030.
💡The initiative also advances the Baku to Belém Roadmap aimed at mobilizing $1.3 trillion in climate finance to support developing countries, while reinforcing the Global Climate Action Agenda and launching the Global Implementation Accelerator to mobilize governments, private sector actors, and civil society.
Hong Kong-Thailand
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) launched its GreenBiz HK campaign in Bangkok, featuring a forum that drew more than 550 government and business representatives from Thailand to discuss green finance, green technology, supply chains and sustainable smart city development.
💡The campaign, part of the Economic and Trade Express platform supporting SMEs and startups, also included networking sessions and business matching. A Hong Kong Green Team delegation held meetings with Thai organizations such as the Thai Green Building Institute and the Eastern Economic Corridor Office to explore potential collaborations in sustainability and low-carbon construction.
Indonesia
Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, PT Danantara Investment Management (DIM), has opened registration for companies to apply as potential investment partners in its Waste-to-Energy infrastructure program. The fund is establishing a Verified Providers List to prequalify firms for Waste-to-Energy Facility Projects across the country, with expressions of interest due by April 14 and full registrations accepted through April 25.
💡The initiative aims to accelerate urban waste management under the government’s framework for converting waste into energy using eco-friendly technologies. Eligible applicants include domestic and international firms with relevant experience, which may apply individually or as part of a consortium; DIM will also host virtual technical discussion sessions on March 26 and April 1.
Malaysia
Malaysia’s Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and Telekom Malaysia (TM) have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on green energy solutions and the development of smarter, more interconnected energy and telecommunications infrastructure.
The partnership aims to combine the utility firm’s renewable energy expertise with the telecom company’s digital infrastructure capabilities, with initial plans including solar system installations at up to 150 TM premises and the expansion of electric vehicle charging networks.
Singapore
Biotechnology firm Virdalis has raised $700,000 in pre-seed funding led by Wavemaker Impact to develop a protein ingredient for the global animal feed industry using Wolffia globosa, commonly known as duckweed. The company plans to scale pilot production systems, expand its technical team, and pursue commercial agreements with feed manufacturers across Southeast Asia.
💡The global animal feed protein market faces supply chain vulnerabilities due to concentrated production in a limited number of countries, according to the company, which is developing cultivation and processing systems that can operate without reliance on arable land or specific climate conditions. Wavemaker Impact noted that duckweed’s biological characteristics could allow countries to produce feed protein domestically, turning feed security from a trade dependency into a sovereign capability.
Singapore-Indonesia
Singapore-based data center operator Digital Edge has closed a $665 million green loan to fund the first phase of its 500MW CGK Campus in Bekasi, Indonesia, a $4.5 billion multi-phase project and one of the country’s largest AI-ready hyperscale data center developments. The transaction, structured under the company’s Green Financing Framework, marks the largest green loan secured for a data center project in Indonesia, according to the firm.
💡The financing was led by a group of international and regional banks including BNP Paribas, DBS, Mizuho, OCBC, and PT Bank Central Asia Tbk. The CGK campus is being designed to target a power usage effectiveness of 1.25 and LEED certification, incorporating recycled water systems and renewable energy as part of Digital Edge’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.
Vietnam-Denmark
Vietnam is developing a national framework for green jobs statistical indicators in collaboration with Denmark, aimed at supporting the country’s transition toward a green economy. A counsellor at the Danish Embassy in Hanoi noted that a reliable national data system is essential for Vietnam’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, requiring integrated data across environmental, economic, energy, and labor sectors.
💡The framework was developed by Vietnam’s National Institute for Economic and Financial Policy and the General Statistics Office, with pilot surveys conducted in Quang Ninh and Phu Tho provinces.
Aviation
As passenger volumes outpace pre-pandemic highs, the sector grapples with lingering financial strain, regulatory enforcement gaps, and the urgent need to modernize ground infrastructure to support future growth.
Australia
New research from Monash University and RMIT has identified moisture absorption as the primary driver of long-term degradation in aircraft-grade carbon fibre composites, addressing a long-standing uncertainty in aerospace engineering. The study, published in Composites Part A, found that the amount of moisture a composite absorbs over time is the key factor in predicting structural performance, rather than the specific temperature or humidity conditions of the operating environment.
💡The findings suggest that accelerated aging methods used in aerospace testing can still reliably predict long-term performance, provided moisture content is properly understood and controlled. The research also revealed that the internal arrangement of fibres plays a decisive role in how materials resist degradation, pointing toward opportunities for designing composite structures with greater long-term environmental durability.
Australia
Australia’s Productivity Commission has held a consultation session with members of the Pilbara Chamber of Commerce and Industry as part of its ongoing inquiry into regional airfares. Commissioners Martin Stokie and Catherine de Fontenay met with local businesses to discuss the impact of flight costs, service reliability, and the effect on access to essential services and family connections in remote communities.
💡The inquiry, launched in October 2025, is examining factors influencing airfare pricing and availability for passenger flights to and from areas outside major cities. The Commission has opened a first round of submissions, which closed on March 15, and is developing policy recommendations aimed at supporting a competitive, reliable, and affordable regional aviation network.
Global
Global passenger traffic reached 9.4 billion in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 4 percent, though airport revenues have yet to fully recover, according to a new report from Airports Council International World. Total global airport revenues stood at $194.9 billion for the year, remaining 2.1 percent below 2019 levels in real terms, with aeronautical revenues 3 percent below and non-aeronautical revenues 9 percent below pre-pandemic benchmarks.
💡The report notes that while revenues are expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels from 2026 onward, the pace of recovery will depend on financing conditions, regulatory frameworks, and broader economic factors. Global return on invested capital rose to 6.3 percent in 2024 but remains below the sector’s weighted average cost of capital, which ACI World’s director general said highlights the financial pressures airports continue to face and the need for supportive regulatory frameworks to enable infrastructure investment.
India-Europe
European aviation authorities have identified safety lapses in Air India aircraft following surprise inspections under the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft program. Inspections showed the ratio of safety issues per inspection for the airline’s aircraft reached 1.96 in January, a level considered a warning threshold that can lead to heightened scrutiny or operational restrictions.
💡India’s aviation regulator responded by imposing corrective measures and increasing inspections of aircraft scheduled for international operations, with only compliant aircraft cleared for service. The ratio has since improved to 1.76, though it remains above levels typical for airlines with strong safety performance.
Sweden-Vietnam
Ericsson and Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) have announced a partnership to deliver next-generation mobile infrastructure for major airport projects in Vietnam, marking their first collaboration in the airport industry. The Swedish telecommunications company stated that the initiative supports Vietnam’s digital transformation efforts.
💡VNPT will deploy Ericsson’s radio and RAN Compute solutions to provide high-capacity coverage for dense indoor environments such as airport terminals, along with multi-band support for international travelers.
Advanced Air Mobility
China’s advanced air mobility sector is moving from certification to commercial operations, with significant capital injections and cross-border partnerships signaling a push to export eVTOL infrastructure and operational models to Southeast Asia.
China
Aridge, a subsidiary of Xpeng, has raised nearly $200 million in an equity financing round with participation from Hillhouse Capital, HongShan, Gaorong Ventures, and Fortune Capital. The company stated that its cumulative equity funding has reached nearly $1 billion, positioning it as the most funded company in Asia’s manned electric vertical takeoff and landing sector.
💡The new capital will support commercialization of the Land Aircraft Carrier, a modular vehicle with a detachable air module designed to connect to a six-wheeled ground module for storage and road travel. Production is set to take place at a facility in Guangzhou with a reported annual capacity of up to 10,000 air modules. Aridge, formerly known as Xpeng AeroHT, rebranded in October 2025 as part of its globalization strategy.
China
Sino Jet’s Zhejiang Low-Altitude Mobility Company has completed its inaugural flight, operating a helicopter from the ONE53 landmark in Hangzhou’s Qianjiang New City to Fuchun Resort in approximately 10 minutes—a trip that typically takes 90 minutes by road. The company stated that the flight marks its transition from qualification preparation to substantive operations as it extends its business aviation expertise into the low-altitude mobility sector.
💡The subsidiary secured a CCAR Part 135 Air Operator Certificate and operating license from China’s civil aviation authority in January 2026. Sino Jet has also signed a firm purchase agreement for 50 AE200 eVTOL aircraft from Aerofugia, which the company describes as the largest publicly disclosed firm commercial eVTOL order in China to date. The group plans to develop similar three-dimensional mobility connections in other regions, including central and western China, the Greater Bay Area, and Hainan.
China-Thailand
EHang’s management team met with high-level Thai government officials in Bangkok on March 19 to discuss the deployment of the company’s eVTOL aircraft across multiple applications. The discussions focused on using the technology to alleviate urban traffic congestion, enhance emergency medical response, and improve connectivity in remote areas. The Ministry of Transport stated it would support efforts to introduce the technology and direct the aviation authority to accelerate related regulations.
💡Following the meeting, EHang signed a memorandum of understanding with Bangkok Land, Aerial Sea Thailand, and China Harbour Engineering Thailand to jointly explore urban air mobility solutions covering passenger transport, logistics, emergency response, and medical rescue services. Thai officials acknowledged trial operations conducted by EHang in China as a reference for developing local regulations.
Marine
Maritime markets are being reshaped by strategic consolidation—MSC’s stealth tanker fleet expansion, Hapag-Lloyd’s deepening India footprint—while energy security concerns and port decarbonization efforts gain urgency amid geopolitical disruptions.
Germany-India
German container carrier Hapag-Lloyd has signed three letters of intent with the Indian government covering vessel reflagging, ship recycling, and port development, as the company looks to expand its presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing shipping markets. The agreements, finalized following discussions between the carrier’s chief executive and India’s shipping minister, include exploring the reflagging of up to four vessels under the Indian registry, pending further commercial and regulatory reviews.
The framework also involves cooperation on expanding India’s ship recycling capacity with an eye toward EU standards, and discussions on supporting the development of Vadhavan Port alongside the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority.
Global
The International Energy Agency has set out a range of demand-side measures that governments, businesses and households can implement to ease economic pressures from oil market disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The war has triggered what the agency called the largest supply disruption in global oil market history, with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz reduced to a trickle and crude oil prices surpassing $100 per barrel, alongside sharp increases in diesel, jet fuel, and liquefied petroleum gas.
The IEA report outlines ten measures focused primarily on road transport, which accounts for roughly 45 percent of global oil demand, while also addressing aviation, cooking, and industry. Recommended actions include working from home where possible, reducing highway speed limits, encouraging public transport, alternating private vehicle access in large cities, and diverting LPG use away from transport to preserve supplies for essential applications such as cooking.
💡The agency noted that while demand-side measures cannot fully offset the scale of disrupted supply, they can help lower costs for consumers and reduce market strains until normal flows resume.
Switzerland-South Korea
Public filings in Cyprus and Greece have confirmed that Mediterranean Shipping Company, through its SAS Shipping Agencies Services division, has acquired a 50 percent ownership stake in South Korean operator Sinokor Maritime.Sinokor, previously solely owned by founder Ga-Hyun Chung, emerged as the buyer in a tanker purchasing spree beginning in late 2025, with Forbes reporting that corporate records identified 11 tankers registered to an MSC-linked company and sources estimating total tanker acquisitions at 76 vessels or more.
💡The partnership positions the combined entity to control a significant share of the VLCC market, with Bloomberg estimating eventual control of approximately 150 supertankers and a 40 percent market share, while other analysts put the figure closer to 25 percent. The move follows MSC’s pattern of using SAS to enter new segments, including the 2024 acquisition of Gram Car Carriers.
UK-Japan
UK-based ship designer Chartwell Marine and the Cooperative Association of Japan Shipbuilders, an industry organization representing 59 Japanese shipyards, have signed a memorandum of understanding to support the development and local construction of vessels for Japan’s offshore wind industry. The collaboration will focus on crew transfer vessels and service operation vessels based on Chartwell’s conceptual designs, which were previously introduced in Japan through a Nippon Foundation-supported program led by the association.
💡Under the agreement, the association will facilitate communication between domestic stakeholders and Chartwell to support shipowners, operators, and yards on vessel projects and early-stage design development. The partnership aims to help meet local content requirements as Japan’s offshore wind sector expands, with potential future extension to other vessel types including battery-powered and hybrid high-speed passenger vessels.
US-Japan
A new analysis from the University of California, Berkeley examines Japan’s Carbon Neutral Port certification framework and the Port of Yokohama’s decarbonization plan, highlighting the country’s approach to reducing maritime emissions amid regulatory uncertainty at the International Maritime Organization. The study, commissioned by Pacific Environment and authored by the director of UC Berkeley’s Environment Center, notes that Japan’s CNP program sets benchmarks for terminal emissions reductions, while Yokohama’s initiative includes 121 projects ranging from harbor craft electrification to next-generation marine fuels.
The analysis offers recommendations for strengthening Japan’s port decarbonization efforts, including making shore power a mandatory requirement for higher certification levels, enhancing electric power infrastructure planning, and shortening the certification revision cycle from five years to two or three years.
💡For Yokohama, the study suggests providing more detail on hydrogen infrastructure plans and expanding emissions inventories to include ocean-going vessels and trucking operations. The report notes that ports across Asia, including in China, South Korea, and Singapore, are advancing similar decarbonization strategies, positioning the region as a growing force in maritime emissions reduction.
Space
Across the region, space programs are shifting from foundational infrastructure to operational maturity—marked by China’s sustained orbital activity and advanced ground-based testing, Vietnam’s emergence as a space player through international partnerships, and New Zealand’s push for sovereign aerospace capacity.
China
Two astronauts from China’s Shenzhou 21 mission completed a roughly seven-hour spacewalk on March 16, installing debris shielding on the exterior of the Tiangong space station. Commander Zhang Lu and crewmate Wu Fei carried out the work outside the Wentian experiment module, with support from a third astronaut inside the station, ground teams, and the station’s robotic arm.
💡The space station remains permanently occupied, with China planning to launch the Shenzhou 23 and Shenzhou 24 crewed missions along with a Tianzhou cargo spacecraft later this year. The next-generation Mengzhou crew capsule could also make its first visit to Tiangong in the coming months following a successful test in February.
China
Astronauts aboard China’s Tiangong space station have harvested a crop of cherry tomatoes grown in an aeroponic cultivation system, which uses a nutrient mist to significantly reduce water consumption compared to soil-based or hydroponic methods. Footage released by state media showed the produce being displayed inside a box-like growing environment equipped with a full-spectrum LED panel and monitoring windows for observing root development.
💡The experiment is intended to inform long-duration deep-space missions by demonstrating how crews could grow their own food. Similar research has been conducted on the International Space Station, where astronauts have grown tomatoes and other crops for years, with benefits ranging from nutritional self-sufficiency to psychological well-being.
China
A major aerospace research facility in northeastern China, known as the “ground-based space station,” has become operational after nearly two decades of development, offering the ability to simulate nine types of extreme space conditions within a single environment. The Space Environment Simulation and Research Infrastructure, developed by Harbin Institute of Technology and China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and completed in 2024, can replicate coupled factors such as radiation and ultra-low temperatures, setting it apart from single-factor simulators commonly used elsewhere.
The facility has supported testing for more than 2,000 aerospace components and over 10 major space mission models, with commercial spaceflight experiments accounting for 67 percent of missions conducted by late 2025. Open to international partners through initiatives such as the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, the infrastructure has served more than 200 user organizations and delivered over 60,000 hours of testing services.
💡Officials said the facility will continue advancing higher-precision simulation capabilities to support future missions including crewed lunar landings and Mars sample returns.
China
Chinese scientists have used data from the Dark Matter Particle Explorer satellite, known as Wukong, to precisely measure eight Forbush decrease events involving electrons and positrons, marking the first time the behavioral characteristics of these particles during both the decline and recovery phases have been detailed. Forbush decreases refer to temporary reductions in cosmic ray flux following coronal mass ejections, which alter the magnetic environment of interplanetary space.
💡The research team analyzed observational data collected from 2016 to 2024 and published the findings in Physical Review Letters. Wukong, China’s first spaceborne dark matter detection satellite launched in December 2015, offers high energy resolution and strong particle identification capabilities that provided distinct advantages for the study.
Hong Kong-Mainland China
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s Space Robotics and Energy Centre has signed a memorandum of understanding with Southeast University to establish a long-term strategic partnership focused on space robotics, deep space energy systems, and embodied intelligence. The agreement, formalized during a visit by a Nanjing municipal delegation to HKUST’s campus, aims to advance research innovation, technology transfer, and talent cultivation in support of China’s aerospace ambitions.
💡The collaboration builds on an existing partnership established in 2024, including joint participation in the Hong Kong Operation Robot project for the Chang’e 8 mission. The two institutions will combine HKUST’s strengths in AI, robotics, and advanced materials with Southeast University’s expertise in mechanical engineering, instrumentation, and energy systems to address challenges such as autonomous space robotics and space energy management, while also exploring civilian applications for high-end manufacturing and smart city development.
New Zealand
New Zealand-based Dawn Aerospace has completed a trial with the country’s defense forces to test radar tracking of its suborbital spaceplane. The exercise involved flying the Aurora from a national aerospace center while a naval frigate used its onboard radar to monitor the vehicle, allowing domestic collection of performance data without the use of overseas test ranges.
💡The effort marks an initial step in applying reusable rocket-powered vehicles for repeatable high-speed flight profiles, with future versions of the spaceplane intended to exceed Mach 3.5 and altitudes above 100 kilometers. Conducting such tests locally supports New Zealand’s development of sovereign aerospace capabilities and retains related investment within the country.
US-Vietnam
Vietnam’s Telecommunications Authority has released draft pricing for Starlink’s satellite Internet services, showing a monthly fee of $85 and a one-time equipment cost of $350, though the company has not yet announced an official start date. The proposed rates are similar to those in Europe, Southeast Asia, and Africa, but exceed current local fiber optic costs of approximately $11.40 per month and 4G or 5G mobile plans ranging from $3.80 to $11.40.
💡Starlink Services Vietnam received its operating license in February, with initial capacity set at four gateways and no more than 600,000 terminal units, a fraction of the country’s roughly 25 million Internet users.
Vietnam-Japan
Vietnam inaugurated its National Space Center on March 13, a nine-hectare facility developed with Japanese official development assistance at a total investment of VND7,000 billion ($266 million). The center includes an operations hub, satellite data and research facilities, a ground system with a 9.3-meter antenna, and a human resources development unit, with the aim of building infrastructure for Earth observation satellite technology and training a skilled workforce.
💡Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said Vietnam aims to reach a moderately advanced level in space science and technology in Southeast Asia by 2030 and strengthen self-reliance in satellite technology beyond that year. He also called for the launch of the LOTUSat-1 Earth observation satellite, jointly developed with Japan, by late 2027 following delays caused by a rocket failure, and urged expanded collaboration between Vietnamese and Japanese institutions in the space sector.
**Nothing in this article is intended to be or should be construed as legal or financial advice.**