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 Extends Cryptocurrency and RWA Tokenisation Crackdown; ADB Loans $30 Million to Expand Philippine MSME Credit; KKR and Singtel Take Full Control of STT GDC; Revolut Expands Singapore Hub for Regional Growth; LG Energy Solution Acquires NextStar Energy in Canada; South Korea and Indonesia Launch Cross-Border QR Payments; and Tala Partners with CIMB for Vietnam Digital Credit
Environmental Sustainability: Australia Advances Large-Scale Green Hydrogen Hub; India Signs MoU for Green Urea Production; InSolare to Build Electrolyser Manufacturing with U.S. Partner; New Zealand Breaks Ground on Sustainable Hydrogen Facility; Fullerton Invests in Thai Tire Recycler Pyro Energie; and South Korea Launches Hydrogen Transport Subsidy and Smart City Project
Aviation: Qantas Warned of Rising Impersonation Scams; Sydney Airport Appoints Consultants for Domestic Terminal Integration; GE Aerospace Invests $300 Million in Singapore Engine Repair; WingsOverAsia Breaks Ground on New Jet Hangar; and Nandina REM Launches Carbon Fiber and Recycled Fabrics Facility
Advanced Air Mobility: Australia Funds Urban Air Taxi Vertipad Prototype; Eve Air Mobility Targets Japan with First eVTOL Orders; AutoFlight Unveils World’s Largest eVTOL Aircraft; India Signs Deal for Hybrid-Electric Seaplanes; SkyDrive Conducts Urban eVTOL Demo in Tokyo; ST Engineering Launches DrN-600 Cargo Drone; and Vertical Aerospace Expands Electric Air Taxi Network in Japan
Marine: China Retains Title as World’s Largest Shipbuilder; China Trials First 10,000-Ton Electric Containership; India Launches National Container Shipping Line; Indonesia Centralizes Shipbuilding Under PT PAL; and Singapore and Japan Partner on Roro Terminal
Space: China’s Butterfly Emerges in Orbit; JAXA’s Epsilon S Rocket Launch Delayed; Philippines Trains Engineers on Rocket Development; Singapore Launches National Space Agency; and NTU Advances AI-Enabled Satellites
Financing & Investments
Asia-Pacific fintech and digital infrastructure are expanding rapidly, with China tightening crypto regulations, Singapore and South Korea seeing major fintech and data center investments, and cross-border initiatives in payments, digital credit, and AI-driven financial services emerging across the region.
China
China has tightened its cryptocurrency regulations, extending its crackdown to the tokenisation of real-world assets (RWA). A notice issued by eight government agencies led by the People’s Bank of China bans onshore RWA tokenisation and related intermediary or technology services for securities issuance, financial operations, or fundraising, unless specifically approved. Chinese entities are also barred from conducting RWA tokenisation or quasi-asset securitisation overseas without authorization, under the principle of “same business, same risk, same rules.”
The rules require offshore subsidiaries of Chinese financial institutions and service providers to strengthen compliance, risk management, client suitability, and anti-money laundering measures. Domestic and controlled offshore entities cannot issue virtual currencies abroad, and no entity may issue yuan-pegged offshore stablecoins without approval.
💡The revised guidance updates 2021 rules to address new challenges, introducing end-to-end supervision, cross-agency risk monitoring, tighter platform oversight, and restrictions on business names referencing cryptocurrency, stablecoins, or RWA.
Philippines
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a 1.75 billion peso (US$30 million) loan to Fuse Financing, GCash’s lending arm, to expand credit access for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and women entrepreneurs in the Philippines. The partnership, launched at the SMX Convention Center in Taguig City, is the first of its kind in ASEAN, targeting improved financial inclusion for underserved sectors.
💡The loan is supported by the Mastercard Impact Fund and includes up to US$125,000 in technical assistance from ADB for product development and digital literacy.
Singapore
KKR and Singapore’s Singtel said they will acquire full control of data center operator ST Telemedia Global Data Centers (STT GDC) in a deal valuing the business at S$6.6 billion ($5.1 billion) for equity and an implied enterprise value of about S$13.8 billion ($10.9 billion).
Under definitive agreements, funds managed by KKR and Singtel will buy the remaining 82% stake from founding shareholder ST Telemedia. After completion, KKR will hold 75% and Singtel 25%, following the conversion of existing preference shares.
💡Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Singapore, STT GDC operates a global data center platform with about 2.3GW of design capacity across 12 markets in Asia Pacific, the UK and Europe. The company’s development pipeline has expanded from 1.4GW to more than 1.7GW as demand from cloud and artificial intelligence workloads accelerates. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to regulatory and customary approvals.
Singapore
Revolut is expanding its Singapore operations to drive product innovation and regional growth across Asia, with support from the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and its investment arm EDBI. Valued at $75 billion, Revolut plans to scale teams in product development, engineering, data, and artificial intelligence. The company has also launched Rev-celerator internship and graduate programs, giving participants opportunities to work in offices in Poland, the UK, UAE, and Spain, while fostering talent development and knowledge transfer locally.
💡Singapore will serve as Revolut’s regional hub, building on its recently launched Global Tech Hub in Manila and plans to enter additional Asian markets. The company aims to advance fintech solutions, strengthen operations, and scale its regional presence,
South Korea-Canada
LG Energy Solution will acquire full ownership of NextStar Energy, buying Stellantis’ 49% stake in the Canadian battery manufacturer. Established as a joint venture in 2022 to build Canada’s first large-scale battery facility in Windsor, Ontario, NextStar Energy has received over CAD 5 billion in investment and employs more than 1,300 staff, with plans to expand to 2,500. Stellantis will remain a customer, sourcing batteries from the facility.
💡LG Energy Solution will operate four stand-alone and four joint-venture facilities in North America, aiming to expand ESS production capacity to over 60 GWh in 2026, with more than 50 GWh in North America, supporting growth across EVs, energy storage, robotics, and other sectors.
South Korea-Indonesia
South Korea and Indonesia plan to launch a cross-border QR payment service allowing users to pay at merchants in both countries using their domestic QR systems. Bank Indonesia said the project, developed with the Bank of Korea, follows cooperation that began in 2023 and a memorandum of understanding signed in 2024. The linkage is designed to integrate with the existing local currency transaction framework between the two countries to simplify retail payments for travelers and businesses.
💡The system is expected to reduce foreign-exchange and transaction costs and support trade, tourism, and consumer spending between the two economies. The service is targeted to go live at participating merchants in both markets in April 2026.
Vietnam-Malaysia
Tala said it has entered a $100 million partnership with Malaysia-based CIMB to support its launch in Vietnam, introducing a digital credit line for consumers. Eligible customers can access limits of up to VND 30 million ($1,155) with drawdowns of up to 61 days and flexible repayment schedules, including fee-free early repayment. Applications and approvals are handled through Tala’s app, combining CIMB’s banking infrastructure with Tala’s technology platform.
💡Vietnam remains underpenetrated in consumer credit despite broad digital account access, and the partnership targets that gap using AI-based credit scoring and rapid disbursement.
Environmental Sustainability
Countries across the Asia-Pacific are ramping up green hydrogen, ammonia, and recycling initiatives, with major projects in Australia, India, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, and South Korea. Investments and partnerships focus on large-scale renewable energy, sustainable transport, circular economy solutions, and decarbonization technologies to accelerate regional sustainability and emissions reductions.
Australia
The Australian Renewable Energy Hub (AREH), owned by InterContinental Energy, has secured a $21 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to advance large-scale green hydrogen production in the Pilbara. The funding will support technical, economic, and regulatory studies, focusing on hydrogen production at Boodarie near Port Hedland, integration with industrial partners, and environmental, water, and cultural heritage considerations.
💡At full scale, AREH could produce up to 1.6 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually to support green iron and green ammonia production, making it one of the world’s largest hydrogen projects.
India
NTPC Green Energy Limited, a subsidiary of NTPC Limited, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Assago Industries Private Limited for the supply of green ammonia, carbon dioxide, renewable energy, and related utilities to produce 1,000 tonnes per day of green urea.
💡The proposed urea plant will be established at NGEL’s Green Hydrogen Hub in Pudimadaka, near Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
India-USA
Indian solar firm InSolare Energy plans to establish 250–300MW of anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyser manufacturing capacity in India under a licensing deal with US-based membrane maker Versogen, with potential to scale up to 1GW. InSolare will license Versogen’s stack IP and technology while developing its own materials and design capabilities domestically, and Versogen will provide membranes and technical expertise.
💡The partnership aims to support India’s green hydrogen market and national hydrogen targets, with InSolare receiving government subsidies for 10MW of annual electrolyser production, 19,000 tonnes of green hydrogen, and 85,000 tonnes of green ammonia. AEM technology, which avoids precious metals, offers scalable and efficient hydrogen production, thou
New Zealand
Construction has begun on a sustainable green hydrogen facility in South Taranaki, supported by a $19.9 million government investment, with total project costs reaching up to $112.3 million through additional partner funding. The project, delayed for over five years under the previous Resource Management Act consent process, will supply renewable electricity to Ballance Agri-Nutrients’ Kapuni facility and produce green hydrogen for emissions-free transport at Hiringa Energy’s refuelling operations.
💡The initiative, a partnership between the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Ballance Agri-Nutrients, Hiringa Energy, Parininihi ki Waitōtara, and Todd, will integrate wind energy, industrial renewable electricity, and zero-carbon hydrogen production at scale
Singapore-Thailand
Singapore-based Fullerton Fund Management said its Fullerton Carbon Action Fund has completed an investment in Pyro Energie, a Thai recycler of end-of-life tires, marking the fund’s second deployment and first in Southeast Asia. The deal supports Fullerton’s strategy of backing established businesses with scalable decarbonization impact across Southeast Asia and India. Proceeds will fund Pyro Energie’s expansion into higher-value, premium-grade products through a new production facility to improve quality, broaden applications, and strengthen earnings visibility.
💡Founded in 2016, Pyro Energie operates commercial pyrolysis plants that convert waste tires into pyrolysis oil, recovered carbon black, and wire scrap, and is a market leader in Thailand’s tire-recycling sector. The company has annual capacity exceeding 40 million liters of oil and more than 30 million tons of recovered carbon black, with demand driven by tire makers, chemical companies, and policymakers accelerating adoption of circular-economy solutions and recycled feedstocks.
South Korea
South Korea has launched a 2.453 billion won ($1.59 million) subsidy program to support the purchase of hydrogen transportation equipment, aiming to expand hydrogen distribution for transport and stabilize prices. Funded 50% by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the program covers up to half the cost of gaseous hydrogen tube trailers (max 112 million won) and liquefied hydrogen tank lorries (max 550 million won).
💡In a related initiative, Chungcheongbuk-do Province and Cheongju City announced a 40 billion won ($25.8 million) Hydrogen City Development Project to transform Cheongju into an eco-friendly smart city. The project will build biogas-based hydrogen production facilities, additional charging stations, tube trailers, and hydrogen fuel cells for public buildings, managed through an AI-based integrated operation center. Hyundai Motor Group will collaborate on the initiative.
Aviation
Airline and aviation infrastructure developments in Australia and Singapore span fraud prevention, terminal upgrades, advanced engine repair, FBO expansion, and sustainable materials production. The initiatives highlight investments in passenger experience, regional aviation capacity, high-tech maintenance, and eco-friendly aerospace manufacturing.
Australia
The ACCC’s Scamwatch is warning of a rise in scams impersonating Qantas, with fraudsters using emails and texts to steal money and personal information. Scammers are using Qantas logos and branding to make messages appear legitimate, urging recipients to click links to claim refunds, gifts, or points, which lead to fake websites designed to harvest data.
💡Qantas has confirmed the scams follow a July 2025 data breach affecting around 5.7 million customers, exposing names, emails, and Frequent Flyer numbers. The airline and authorities are taking action, including a NSW Supreme Court injunction to prevent misuse of stolen data.
Australia
Sydney Airport has appointed Grimshaw and Mott MacDonald as lead consultants for its domestic terminal integration project. The program will join the T2 and T3 domestic terminals into a single precinct and add gates capable of handling some international flights. The initial phase will focus on early design plans, site surveys, and risk assessments.
💡The project is a central part of the airport’s $6 billion capital program and 2045 Master Plan, which aims to accommodate 72 million passengers annually. Up to 12 new swing gates will be added to support both domestic and international operations, enhancing passenger experience, airline efficiency, and long-term infrastructure consistency.
Singapore
GE Aerospace is investing up to $300 million to expand its engine repair capabilities in Singapore, with support from the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). The multi-year project, running through 2029, will accelerate turnaround times for engines including CFM Leap-1A/1B turbofans used on narrowbody airliners.
💡The investment will introduce advanced automation, digitization, and AI-enabled inspection technologies. Planned upgrades include high-pressure turbine module repair for Leap-1A/1B engines, an expanded engine component portfolio, REACH-compliant coatings, and an AI center of excellence for maintenance and on-wing support services. GE and the EDB also signed an MoU to further develop advanced repair capabilities in Singapore.
Singapore
WingsOverAsia, a full-service FBO at Singapore’s Seletar Aerospace Park, has broken ground on a new jet hangar to expand its business jet services, including maintenance and management, in partnership with equity investor MJets. The hangar will be integrated into MJets’ regional FBO network, which spans India, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Thailand, enabling support for larger and more advanced aircraft.
💡The project is expected to create more than 50 new jobs and strengthen WingsOverAsia’s role in regional general aviation. MJets CEO Natthapatr Sibunruang said the expansion will deliver operational reliability and scalable capability, while Christine Wong, assistant CEO of JTC, highlighted the facility’s contribution to supporting business and private aviation growth in the Asia-Pacific.
Singapore
Materials specialist Nandina REM has begun production at its new carbon fiber facility in Singapore and launched its Salis operation for industrial and commercial fabrics made from recycled textiles. The Tai Seng Exchange facility can produce up to five tonnes of aerospace- and defense-grade carbon fiber per month, supporting drone production from 120 to 8,000 units depending on size.
💡Nandina’s rapid production process reduces energy use by about 71% and avoids high-heat reclamation methods that can compromise fiber integrity. The Salis process creates fabrics from recycled aircraft interior materials that meet Global Recycling Standard and Oeko-Tex requirements. Nandina’s customers include Qantas, Emirates, Southwest, and Japan’s Sumitomo.
Advanced Air Mobility
Global eVTOL and hybrid-electric aircraft development is accelerating, with projects spanning Australia, China, India, Japan, Singapore, and the U.S., from urban air taxi vertipads and demonstration flights to long-range cargo and regional transport aircraft. Partnerships and commercial agreements highlight a push toward sustainable, zero-emission mobility and infrastructure for both passenger and cargo operations.
Australia
The Australian Government has awarded $250,000 to Skyportz Australia to develop its Aeroberm vertipad, a modular landing platform for electric air taxis in urban and regional areas. The project, supported under the Industry Growth Program, aims to create a prototype addressing key infrastructure challenges, including downwash and outwash management, noise mitigation, and fire suppression.
💡Skyportz will match the funds to create a $500,000 R&D pool to engage researchers, patent specialists, and industrial designers. The Aeroberm platform can be installed on rooftops, carparks, or custom structures and features integrated air management channels, acoustic dampening, and built-in fire suppression.
Brazil-Japan
Eve Air Mobility has signed a contract with AirX, Japan’s largest public helicopter charter service, for an initial purchase of two eVTOL aircraft, with an option to expand the order to 50 units. The agreement marks Eve’s first commercial entry into the Asia-Pacific region and aims to advance sustainable urban air mobility in Japan, with deliveries scheduled for 2029.
💡Under the deal, AirX will integrate Eve’s eVTOLs into its operations to offer zero-emission urban and regional transport, including tourist routes and last-mile services in cities like Tokyo and Osaka.
China
AutoFlight has unveiled the Matrix, a five-tonne eVTOL aircraft it claims is the “world’s first” of its size. Designed for long-range operations, Matrix can carry up to 10 passengers or 1,500 kg of cargo. The aircraft features a 20-metre wingspan, 17.1-metre length, and 5.25-metre cabin, and will be offered in passenger and cargo variants. The fully electric version has a 250 km range, while a hybrid-electric variant extends this to 1,500 km.
💡AutoFlight positions Matrix for regional transport, heavy logistics, and large-scale emergency response. The launch builds on the company’s portfolio of certified eVTOLs, including the two-tonne CarryAll, the first electric aircraft over one tonne to receive full civil airworthiness certification.
India-USA
Indian seaplane operator Maritime Energy Heli Air Services (Mehair) has signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S.-based Tidal Flight to operate the start-up’s hybrid-electric Polaris aircraft. The deal covers five firm orders and five options for the 9- to 12-passenger aircraft, with deliveries expected from 2030 at a list price of around $6 million. The Polaris is designed to fly up to 1,000 nm, and Tidal Flight has already secured 12 purchase agreements potentially covering 150 aircraft.
💡Mehair plans to use the Polaris to expand regional air services to remote coastal, inland waterway, and island communities in India under the government’s UDAN program, where it has been awarded 92 seaplane routes. The operator already flies Cessna Caravan 208 floatplanes and has previous agreements for hydrogen-electric and amphibious aircraft.
Japan
Japan-based eVTOL developer SkyDrive Inc. will conduct demonstration flights of its Model SD-05 in Tokyo from February 24–28, marking the company’s first urban demo in the city and a step toward commercial operations planned for 2028. The flights, organized with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Mitsubishi Estate, and Kanematsu Corporation, will operate from a temporary site at Tokyo Big Sight’s East Wing, following a circular route on-site or over adjacent waters.
💡The SD-05 will be flown remotely using automated control and remote pilot technology, highlighting advanced operational capabilities for urban air mobility. The demonstrations support Tokyo’s “eVTOL Implementation Project,” aiming to establish commercial urban air mobility by 2030, and involve collaboration with Skyports to validate vertiport operations, airspace monitoring, and passenger processing systems.
Singapore-USA
ST Engineering and U.S.-based AIR Inc. have unveiled the DrN-600, the company’s largest cargo drone, at the Singapore Airshow. The drone targets last-mile deliveries to remote or underserved areas and can carry up to 100 kg of payload in a front-loading compartment compatible with standardized pallets. It has an eight-meter wingspan, a maximum take-off weight of 600 kg, and a range of 70–100 km per flight, powered by lithium polymer batteries. The DrN-600 uses a vertical take-off and landing configuration with multiple rotors for lift, combined with a narrow wing and twin vertical tails for efficient forward flight.
💡ST Engineering and United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Lodd Autonomous have signed agreements under which the DrN-600 will be trialed in the Middle East, while Lodd’s hybrid-electric Hili cargo aircraft will be marketed in Asia-Pacific.
UK-Japan
Vertical Aerospace is accelerating its commercial electric air taxi plans in Japan through a partnership with Marubeni Corporation. The companies are developing an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) network, with a flagship Kansai corridor expected to cut travel times by up to 80% versus ground transport. Piloted demonstration flights in the Osaka Bay area are scheduled for 2026.
Marubeni has secured pre-delivery slots for 25 of 200 aircraft, while Vertical advances regulatory validation with the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau and prepares infrastructure and support networks.
💡Valo, Vertical’s certification aircraft, is designed for 160 km flights at speeds of up to 240 km/h with zero emissions.A hybrid-electric variant is also in development to extend range and operational flexibility.
Marine
China leads global shipbuilding with record output and trials its first 10,000-ton electric containership, while India and Indonesia boost domestic maritime capabilities through a national container line and centralized shipbuilding. Singapore and Japan partner on a new roro terminal, reflecting regional efforts to modernize shipping and logistics.
China
China retained its position as the world’s largest shipbuilder in 2025, according to data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Shipbuilding output reached 53.69 million DWT, up 11.4% from 2024, accounting for 56.1% of global production.
💡Chinese yards also led in new-build orders, signing contracts totaling 107.82 million DWT, or 69% of the global market, and held the largest backlog with 274.42 million DWT, a 31.5% year-on-year increase, representing 66.8% of worldwide outstanding orders.
China
China’s first 10,000-ton electric containership, Ning Yuan Dian Kun, has begun sea trials off Shanghai, marking a milestone in short-sea shipping. Built by Jiangxi Jiangxin Shipbuilding, the 128-meter vessel has a 740 TEU capacity and a maximum speed of 11.5 knots. Sea trials, running from February 6 to 13, will test battery power, propulsion performance, and autonomous navigation systems.
💡The ship is powered by ten containerized batteries generating up to 19,000 kWh, driving two 875 kW permanent magnet motors. Batteries can be recharged via high-voltage shore connections or swapped for fully charged units. Photovoltaic cells provide supplemental energy. Its autonomous navigation system supports sailing, route planning, and collision avoidance.
India
India is set to launch its national container shipping line after signing a memorandum of understanding to establish Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL), a state-backed venture aimed at creating a self-reliant container ecosystem and boosting the country’s maritime trade presence.
The MoU unites six stakeholders—Container Corporation of India (30%), Shipping Corporation of India (30%), Sagarmala Finance Corporation (20%), Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (10%), V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (5%), and Chennai Port Authority (5%)—with an initial investment of $1.66 billion. BCSL will acquire and operate container vessels and related assets, providing end-to-end logistics integrating port and multimodal transport.
💡The initiative aligns with India’s $1.2 billion Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme (CMAS), targeting annual domestic container production of 1 million TEU within the next decade.
Indonesia
Indonesia is centralizing its state-owned shipbuilding sector under PT PAL Indonesia, which will now oversee all government-owned shipyards. State-run shipping companies, including Pertamina International Shipping, Pelni, and ASDP, will be required to order new vessels through the national champion. The move is aimed at improving efficiency, consolidating procurement and engineering, supporting fleet renewal, and boosting domestic shipbuilding capabilities.
💡The country’s shipbuilding industry remains small on a global scale, with dozens of small- and medium-sized yards producing ferries, coastal vessels, bulkers, and tankers, while PT PAL handles naval and complex commercial projects. Annual output is modest compared with global leaders like China, South Korea, and Japan.
Singapore-Japan
PSA Singapore and Japanese shipping company Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) will form a joint venture to operate a dedicated roro terminal in Singapore, pending regulatory approval. The terminal, expected to start in the first half of the year, will support MOL’s car carrier operations and enhance PSA’s role in vehicle logistics.
💡The partners also plan to collaborate on operational optimisation, digitalisation, and sustainability, aiming to improve service reliability and secure long-term terminal capacity as vehicle volumes grow.
Space
China successfully raised a butterfly in orbit, providing key insights into sustaining life in microgravity, while Japan delays its Epsilon S rocket launch after engine test failures. The Philippines is building domestic rocket expertise through training with South Korea, and Singapore is rapidly expanding its space sector with a new national agency and advanced AI-enabled satellite projects.
China
Researchers in China have announced the successful emergence of a butterfly from its chrysalis in Earth orbit. The insect developed inside a miniature, sealed ecosystem launched aboard a carrier rocket, marking a key step in studying biological adaptation to microgravity.
The self-sustaining payload, designed by Chongqing University, sustained stable conditions for the metamorphosis. Chief designer Xie Gengxin stated the experiment provides critical data on operating complex, closed-loop life support systems, offering insights for future long-duration space missions.
Japan
Japan’s space agency, JAXA, plans to launch its upgraded Epsilon S rocket in fiscal 2026, starting in April, using an existing second-stage engine. The launch was delayed from fiscal 2024 following explosions during ground tests of the upgraded second-stage engines in 2023 and 2024.
JAXA is investigating the incidents with replica experiments using a one-fifth scale model of the Epsilon S. The rocket, an enhanced three-stage solid-fuel Epsilon, is intended to carry small satellites into orbit.
Philippine-South Korea
The Philippine Space Agency has completed the initial phase of a launch vehicle training program with South Korea’s Perigee Aerospace. Engineers received foundational instruction in rocket theory and practical, hands-on experience assembling subsystems using Perigee’s Blue Whale 0.1 sounding rocket platform.
The program aims to build indigenous technical capacity for future local launch operations. This initiative represents a strategic step in the Philippines’ plan to transition from a user of space services to an active participant in launch vehicle development and the regional space sector.
Singapore
Singapore will establish a National Space Agency of Singapore (NSAS) to build national space capabilities and position the country in the fast-growing space economy. The agency will operate a centralized center for satellite tasking and geospatial analytics to support applications such as port management, urban planning, environmental monitoring and food security. Singapore also plans to expand its satellite constellation and develop space situational awareness systems to protect assets in a more crowded orbital environment.
💡NSAS will sit under the Ministry of Trade and Industry and absorb the Office for Space Technology & Industry. Singapore has committed more than S$200 million to space research and development, spanning areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, climate technology and microgravity research. Around 70 space companies and 2,000 professionals operate locally, and the agency will focus on partnerships and commercialization to scale the sector as the global space economy expands.
Singapore
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore is launching three new space projects under Singapore’s Space Technology Development Programme to speed up commercialization of locally developed space technologies. A core project features a nanosatellite equipped with edge-computing artificial intelligence to process images directly in orbit, reducing data transmission needs and enabling faster decisions. Built with Satoro Space, the 3U satellite will also test lightweight perovskite solar cells developed by NTU researchers and a local startup.
💡A second project will deploy a 16U maneuverable nanosatellite using an electric propulsion system from NTU spin-off Aliena, along with a payload to study material durability in very low Earth orbit. The third will test a Singapore-built electro-optical imaging payload on the International Space Station for high-resolution Earth observation.
**Nothing in this article is intended to be or should be construed as legal or financial advice.**