Beyond Horizons
Trailblazing Tales from Asia
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: Australia’s Heidi Opens Singapore Hub After $65M Series B; Malaysia to Produce First Local EV Chargers With $2.7M Investment; Singapore’s Amperesand Raises $80M for AI Data Center Power Systems; Univers and SBS Transit Launch AI Platform to Optimize Public Transport Energy; Princeton Digital Group Builds $1B Hyperscale Data Center Campus in Indonesia; PDG Expands to South Korea With $700M Data Center Investment; and Vietnam’s FPT Partners With FutureTEC to Deliver Regional Tech Services
Environmental Sustainability: China Stabilizes Electrolyzer Market With Industry Initiative; China Opens Green Hydrogen Coal-to-Chemicals Complex; Japan Launches Kashiwazaki Hydrogen Park With Carbon Capture; Malaysia Awards $78M Large-Scale Solar Project; and South Korea-China Partner on Hydrogen Refueling Systems
Aviation: Asia-Pacific Airlines Forecast Massive Aircraft Demand; Australian Airlines Ban In-Flight Power Banks; Pakistan Moves Ahead on PIA Sale Without Guarantees; Airbus Opens Tech Hub in South Korea; and Indian Tejas Fighter Crashes at Dubai Airshow
Advanced Air Mobility: Belgium-India Partner on Drone Traffic Management for India’s Airspace; China’s EHang Tests Pilotless eVTOL Flights in Doha; Japan’s SkyDrive Signs MOU to Introduce eVTOLs in Abu Dhabi; South Korea’s Honda Unveils Hybrid-Electric eVTOL Prototype; and Joby Aviation Sues Archer Over Alleged Trade Secret Theft
Marine: Bangladesh Greenlights $550 Million Deepwater Container Terminal in Chattogram; China-Singapore’s Yangzijiang Maritime Expands Fleet With $180 Million Tanker Deals; Global Shipping Firms Launch Alliance to Cut Ocean Plastic Waste; Malaysia’s Keyfield Sells DP2 Workboat for $36.8 Million; and Russia Plans $10 Million Offshore Oil and Gas Push With North Korea
Space: China Tests Lunar Bricks in Orbit for Future Moon Bases; China Launches Three Satellites in 74th Long March Mission; India-Japan Team Targets Lunar South Pole for Water Ice Hunt; Japanese Moss Spores Survive Harsh Space Exposure; and Japan Experiments With Space Aquaculture to Feed Astronauts
Financing & Investments
Asia-Pacific investment activity is focused on digital infrastructure, AI, energy, and transport solutions, with regional hubs, data centers, EV technology, and strategic partnerships driving growth and innovation across multiple markets.
Australia-Singapore
Heidi, an Australia-based healthcare AI company, has opened a regional hub in Singapore following its $65 million Series B round led by Point72 Private Investments. The firm said the new office will serve as its Southeast Asia headquarters and plans to invest up to $8 million over the next two to three years to build local teams in sales, implementation, and clinical partnerships, with initial hiring expected to reach 10–12 roles.
💡Heidi said its clinical documentation platform, which automates transcription of doctor-patient conversations, has supported nearly 55,000 consultations in the country and is being explored by primary care groups, hospitals, and health systems.
Malaysia
Swift Bridge Technologies (MFG) Sdn. Bhd. has announced plans to locally produce Malaysia’s first electric vehicle (EV) chargers, backed by an MYR 11.2 million ($2.68 million) investment over three years. The company has signed MoUs with Ideal Property Group, ChargeSini, EV Plus, and SDEC Karuna to establish production lines for AC chargers (7–22 kW) and DC chargers (120–600 kW).
💡Swift Bridge targets an annual output of 10,000 AC units by 2026 and 1,000 DC units by 2028, positioning itself as the country’s first local manufacturer of certified EV chargers.
Singapore
Amperesand, a Singapore-based developer of power infrastructure for AI data centers and critical applications, closed an $80 million Series A round co-led by Walden Catalyst Ventures and Temasek. The oversubscribed raise brought in new backers including Industry Ventures, Acclimate Ventures, and SG Growth Capital, with continued support from Xora Innovation, Material Impact, TDK Ventures, and Foothill Ventures.
The company said the funding will support deployment of 30MW of commercial systems in 2026, with a focus on hyperscale AI customers requiring fast, reliable access to power.
💡The firm is expanding engineering and manufacturing operations in the United States and Singapore to meet rising demand, with initial commercial units slated for delivery in early 2026 to the Port of Singapore. The company said additional pilots with hyperscale AI customers are secured for 2026 as it scales production of its MV SST-based architecture.
Singapore
Univers and SBS Transit have formed a strategic partnership to develop the SBS Transit Energy and Operations AI Platform, aiming to improve how the public transport operator manages and optimizes energy use and operational performance. Univers said the platform will use its AI and IoT technologies to connect and analyze data across SBS Transit’s bus and rail facilities, enhancing asset monitoring, control, and maintenance in support of energy efficiency and decarbonization goals.
💡The collaboration includes a multi-year transformation effort led by Univers, which said the work will draw on its Singapore-based Global Impact AI Lab to accelerate transport-sector innovations.
Singapore-Indonesia
Princeton Digital Group (PDG) has begun construction on JC3, a $1 billion hyperscale data center campus with 120MW of planned capacity in the Greenland International Industrial Center in Bekasi, Greater Jakarta. The company said JC3 will be one of Indonesia’s largest and most advanced data centers, supported by dual-grid power feeds from PT PLN Persero with full capacity already secured.
💡The carrier-neutral site will offer multiple fiber routes to Jakarta’s core network and internet exchanges and will be built with modular construction, advanced direct-to-chip cooling, and optional conventional cooling. The first phase is slated to be ready in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Singapore-South Korea
Princeton Digital Group (PDG) has entered the South Korean market with a $700 million investment, its seventh country after Singapore, Japan, India, Indonesia, China, and Malaysia. The firm plans to develop data center campuses totaling up to 500MW to serve growing cloud and AI demand, beginning with a 48MW facility in Incheon scheduled to be operational in early 2028.
💡PDG said power for the site is fully contracted, with construction starting this month, and noted the facility will be built for hyperscale and AI workloads using high-density designs and advanced cooling aligned with its Net Zero 2030 and RE100 goals.
Vietnam-Middle East
FPT, a Vietnam-based technology corporation, has formed an exclusive partnership with regional IT solutions provider FutureTEC to deliver advanced technology services across Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. The agreement designates FutureTEC as FPT’s exclusive partner in selected service areas, while FPT will supply global delivery capabilities to support FutureTEC’s client engagements and long-term growth plans.
💡The collaboration covers six key domains, including data and AI, cloud, low-code platforms, hyperautomation, digital customer experience, and strategy consulting, targeting sectors such as government, oil and gas, BFSI, aviation, and healthcare.
Environmental Sustainability
Asia-Pacific is advancing low-carbon energy through hydrogen, solar, and integrated infrastructure projects that promote innovation, emissions reductions, and regional collaboration.
China
Major Chinese electrolyzer manufacturers have launched the China Electrolyzer Industry Healthy Development Initiative, committing to end below-cost pricing, curb misleading product claims, and adopt ten core actions to stabilize the market. The initiative promotes fair competition, technological innovation, standardization, and responsible overseas expansion, signaling a move from chaotic rivalry toward a more disciplined industry environment.
💡The ten actions include avoiding false or exaggerated claims, refraining from below-cost bidding, focusing on technological innovation over scale, strengthening industry standards and cooperation, rationally utilizing policy support, and upholding compliance and brand reputation in international markets. Initiated by leading national firms—including LONGi Hydrogen, Yangtze Hydrogen, Trina Green Hydrogen, Sinopec Hydrogen, and others—the effort aims to create a healthy, sustainable ecosystem, guiding China’s hydrogen energy industry toward long-term growth and value-driven development.
China
China has launched full-scale operations at its first green hydrogen-integrated coal-to-chemicals complex, offering a model for reducing carbon emissions in the coal chemical sector. The facility, operated by China Datang Corporation in Duolun County, Inner Mongolia, is powered by a 150MW wind and solar installation. The project uses green hydrogen to address the hydrogen deficit in coal-to-chemicals processes, reducing reliance on traditional hydrogen production methods that emit high levels of carbon dioxide.
💡The complex is expected to produce 70.59 million cubic meters of hydrogen annually, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 138,800 tons, equivalent to the annual carbon absorption of roughly 1,400 hectares of mature forest. The project has successfully operated large-scale electrolyzers, generated 28 invention patents, established three corporate standards, and was selected as one of the first pilot projects for hydrogen energy applications by China’s National Energy Administration.
Japan
INPEX Corporation has officially opened the Kashiwazaki Hydrogen Park in Kashiwazaki City, Niigata Prefecture, comprising a blue hydrogen and ammonia demonstration plant, the Kashiwazaki Hydrogen Power Plant, and the Hirai Gas Collection Station. The facility integrates the full process from hydrogen and ammonia production to utilization, with natural gas sourced locally from the Minami-Nagaoka Gas Field and CO2 captured during production injected into a depleted reservoir at the Hirai area for carbon storage. Hydrogen produced will generate electricity for the local grid, and some will be converted to ammonia for supply within Niigata Prefecture.
The project is subsidized by NEDO for hydrogen and ammonia production and CO2 capture, with joint research alongside JOGMEC evaluating subsurface CO2 storage in depleted oil and gas fields.
Malaysia
Solarvest Holdings Berhad has secured an MYR 320 million ($77.99 million) EPCC contract under Malaysia’s Large Scale Solar 5 program for a 99.99MWac project awarded by Wawasan Demi Sdn. Bhd., a majority-owned subsidiary of AIZO Group Berhad.
💡The plant, located in Kampar, Perak, is slated to begin commercial operations on October 30, 2027, and is expected to produce about 205,709MWh of clean energy annually, reducing an estimated 159,219 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
South Korea-China
Lightbridge Korea has signed an MOU with China’s Zhonglei to develop integrated hydrogen refueling systems, combining high-pressure PEM electrolysis with compression, storage, and dispensing. The partnership targets demonstration projects in Asia and a replicable Korea–China hydrogen infrastructure model.
💡The integrated solutions aim to simplify permitting, procurement, and operations for 70 MPa refueling stations, reducing project lead times and technical risk. Lightbridge said the collaboration will anchor its Asian hydrogen platform and connect projects to European reference sites, supporting an Asia–Europe hydrogen corridor by 2026.
Aviation
The region’s aviation sector is evolving with fleet expansion, technological innovation, safety measures, and infrastructure development to meet growing demand and operational challenges.
Asia-Pacific
At the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines’ 69th Assembly in Bangkok (Nov 14–16, 2025), Boeing, Airbus, and Embraer highlighted Asia-Pacific as the aviation industry’s largest growth market over the next two decades. Boeing projects the region will require 4,885 new aircraft, focusing on single-aisle jets, while Airbus forecasts nearly 20,000 aircraft to meet rising demand from a billion-strong middle class. Embraer targets the regional segment, estimating 3,390 aircraft under 150 seats, aiming for a $10 billion presence by decade’s end.
💡Despite these optimistic projections, all three manufacturers face production challenges. Boeing notes a global shortfall of 1,500 aircraft, and airlines are extending planning horizons up to 15 years. Delivering aircraft on schedule, supporting local operations, and managing supply chains will be critical to capturing Asia-Pacific’s growth, with market success dependent not only on aircraft specifications but also on operational reliability and infrastructure readiness.
Australia
All three major Australian airlines—Virgin Australia, Qantas, and Jetstar—will ban the use and charging of portable power banks in-flight due to safety concerns over lithium battery fires. Virgin Australia’s ban takes effect on 1 December, with Qantas and Jetstar following on 15 December. Passengers may carry a maximum of two power banks, along with spare batteries and small devices, but these must remain in the cabin and not in overhead bins.
💡The move follows several high-profile incidents, including a fire on a Virgin flight in July, and aligns with International Air Transport Association (IATA) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidance.
Pakistan
Muhammad Ali, Chairman of Pakistan’s Privatisation Commission, stated that the IMF has approved the removal of sales tax on the planned sale of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), but no further guarantees will be provided to investors. He emphasized that the government aims to finalize the PIA transaction by year-end, noting that prospective buyers will operate without assurances.
💡Ali stressed that competitive and transparent processes are preferred over government-to-government (G2G) deals, given governance and economic challenges.
South Korea
Airbus has established an Airbus Tech Hub in Daejeon, South Korea, positioning the city as a center for joint research and innovation within the firm’s global R&D network. The hub will focus on future energy technologies, advanced lightweight composites, and next-generation defense and space technologies, leveraging Korea’s industrial capabilities. The initiative is being developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources and Daejeon Metropolitan City, reinforcing Korea’s role as a long-term technology partner.
💡To support the hub’s launch, Airbus signed three memorandums of understanding with MOTIR, Daejeon City, and the Korea International Trade Association to accelerate research activities and expand local partnerships. Airbus also announced projects with LIG Nex1 to develop space chip antenna technology and with EMCoretech to advance active filtering technologies for electrification.
United Arab Emirates
An Indian Tejas fighter jet crashed during a flying display at the Dubai Airshow on Friday, resulting in the death of the sole pilot, the Indian Air Force (IAF) confirmed. The aircraft went down near Al Maktoum International Airport at around 2:10 p.m. local time. The IAF announced that a court of inquiry has been constituted to investigate the cause of the accident.
💡The Tejas, a single-engine, fourth-generation multirole combat aircraft developed by India’s Aeronautical Development Agency and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, has been in service since 2015. This marks the second Tejas accident, following a 2024 crash in which the pilot ejected safely
Advanced Air Mobility
Global advanced air mobility is accelerating, with countries and companies advancing eVTOL testing, urban integration, and regulatory frameworks, even as high-stakes legal battles emerge over trade secrets and competitive advantage.
Belgium-India
Terra Drone Corporation’s group company Unifly has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India-based CorePeelers Pvt. Ltd. to collaborate on deploying and demonstrating Uncrewed Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) solutions in India. The MoU, announced at Dubai Airshow 2025, aims to leverage Unifly’s proven global UTM platform alongside CorePeelers’ expertise in system integration and government aviation projects, supporting India’s growing drone ecosystem and the Digital Sky framework for safe and regulated airspace operations.
💡Under the agreement, Unifly will provide its UTM technology while CorePeelers handles localization, integration, and stakeholder engagement with government, defense, and airport authorities. The partnership will focus on pilot operations, integration with Digital Sky and airport systems, and exploring future Advanced Air Mobility applications
China
EHang has completed a series of test flights in Doha, Qatar, using its EH216-S pilotless eVTOL aircraft. Conducted in coordination with Qatar’s Ministry of Transport and authorized by the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, the flights included both human-carrying and point-to-point operations between the Port of Doha and Katara Cultural Village.
💡The trials aimed to evaluate the feasibility of urban air mobility in the city and explored how aerial transport could complement existing ground and maritime routes, cutting typical travel times significantly.
Japan
SkyDrive Inc., a Japanese eVTOL manufacturer, has signed an MOU with Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) to explore the introduction of SkyDrive’s SD-05 aircraft into the Emirate’s transportation network. The agreement, formalized during DRIFTx 2025 as part of Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week, focuses on developing the regulatory framework, infrastructure, and commercialization strategy required for urban air mobility.
💡The collaboration aims to integrate eVTOLs into Abu Dhabi’s smart city transport ecosystem, including the planning of vertiports, charging stations, and operational feasibility studies for commercial deployment.
South Korea
Honda has revealed detailed plans for its new eVTOL aircraft at the Dubai Airshow 2025, including a cabin mockup, a one-third scale demonstrator, and a compact turbogenerator for its hybrid-electric design. The first full-scale prototype is expected by the end of 2025, with a remotely piloted flight planned for March 2026 and type certification aimed for the early 2030s. Sub-scale testing in California has validated flight-control systems, hover-to-wing transitions, and emergency scenarios.
💡The full-scale eVTOL measures nearly 50 feet, featuring eight vertical lifting propellers and two rear pusher propulsors, along with forward- and aft-swept wings and wingtip vertical stabilizers to improve stability. Honda’s hybrid-electric approach combines batteries with a compact turbogenerator to achieve a planned 400 km range.
USA
Joby Aviation has filed a lawsuit against Archer Aviation in California, alleging that Archer misused confidential information obtained from a former Joby employee, George Kivork. According to the complaint, Kivork sent internal Joby documents to a personal email account and altered access permissions on additional files before leaving the company. Joby claims Archer subsequently used this information during negotiations with a real estate developer, gaining an improper advantage. The company is seeking unspecified damages and an injunction to prevent further use of the materials.
💡Archer has denied the allegations, stating that Kivork did not bring any confidential Joby information and that the company has no deal with the developer in question. This case follows previous trade secret disputes involving Archer, including litigation with Wisk Aero and Boeing, which were resolved in 2023 through a settlement that designated Wisk as Archer’s exclusive provider of autonomous flight technology. A hearing in the Joby-Archer case is scheduled for March 20, 2026.
Marine
The maritime sector is seeing major investments and strategic moves, from expanding port capacity and modernizing fleets to advancing sustainability initiatives and offshore energy exploration.
Bangladesh
APM Terminals has signed a $550 million agreement to develop a new container terminal at Laldia in Chattogram, Bangladesh, under a 30-year concession. The deepwater facility, expected to be operational by 2030, will enable larger vessels—up to 6,000 TEU—to call at the port, compared with the current 2,800 TEU limit.
💡The terminal is projected to increase Bangladesh’s annual port handling capacity by over 800,000 TEU. Maersk, APM Terminals’ sister company, currently manages nearly 30% of all containers moving through the country.
China-Singapore
Yangzijiang Maritime Development began trading on Singapore’s SGX mainboard with new vessel deals, signaling its growth as a maritime financial and asset management firm. The company signed contracts to sell four 49,800 dwt MR tankers under construction in China to a Marshall Islands-based owner for $180 million, with delivery set for 2026–2027.
💡The company also announced letters of intent for two joint ventures: four MR tankers with a European shipowner and four 40,000 dwt bulk carriers with a Singapore-based shipowner, all to be built in China for 2027–2028 delivery. Yangzijiang Maritime, which controls 76 vessels across multiple segments, said the deals support fleet optimization, capital recycling, and expansion into eco-friendly, modern tonnage.
Global
A group of shipping companies, including Berge Bulk, X-Press Feeders, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, and Britoil Offshore Services, have launched the Maritime Association for Clean Seas (MACS) to cut plastic and operational waste at sea. Founded by Singapore-based Seven Clean Seas (SCS), the alliance aligns with the IMO’s Plastic Marine Litter Action Plan and will initially focus on sustainable procurement, vessel waste reduction, and improved port waste reception.
💡MACS provides a platform to share best practices and track progress, with the goal of measurable reductions in maritime plastic pollution. SCS aims to recover 100 million kg of ocean plastic by 2030.
Malaysia
Malaysian offshore vessel owner Keyfield International has sold its six-year-old DP2 accommodation workboat, Keyfield Compassion, to Brunei’s Petro Laut for $36.8 million. The sale is expected to generate around RM85 million ($18 million) in after-tax profit and forms part of Keyfield’s ongoing fleet restructuring.
💡CEO Dato’ Darren Kee Chit Huei said proceeds from the Compassion sale will fund future fleet expansion and partly be distributed as dividends. Keyfield operates a 15-vessel fleet supporting offshore oil, gas, and subsea projects for clients including Petronas Carigali, Sarawak Shell, and PTTEP.
Russia-North Korea
Russia plans to invest nearly $10 million in 2026 for joint oil and gas exploration off North Korea’s coast, focusing on the deepwater basin in the Sea of Japan. The allocation of 890 million rubles was confirmed by Russia’s first deputy finance minister, Irina Okladnikova, following a direct request from President Vladimir Putin.
💡The funding will support offshore resource assessment of the North Korean continental shelf, with the goal of evaluating hydrocarbon potential and addressing Pyongyang’s energy shortages. North Korea has submitted some required documentation, and Russia’s Ministry of Natural Resources will begin geological planning once geophysical maps are ready. The two countries signed a hydrocarbon exploration deal in November 2023.
Space
Asia’s space programs are rapidly advancing toward sustainable off-world operations, from durable lunar construction and polar exploration to pioneering plant and aquaculture systems for long-duration missions.
China
China has made progress in lunar construction research with the return of experimental lunar regolith bricks that spent a year exposed to space aboard the Tiangong space station. Developed by Ding Lieyun and a team at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, the bricks were retrieved on the Shenzhou XXI spacecraft and found in good condition. The study, ongoing since November 2024, involves seventy-four simulated lunar soil bricks mounted externally on the space station to assess the effects of space conditions over time. The experiment supports China’s long-term goals, including astronaut landings by 2030 and the construction of an International Lunar Research Station by 2035.
💡The bricks are made from volcanic ash from Changbai Mountain to simulate lunar regolith, processed through hot-press sintering to achieve high density and compressive strength while withstanding extreme temperatures and cosmic radiation. Researchers have designed mortise-tenon joint structures and robotic stacking methods, with potential reinforcement through 3D printing powered by concentrated solar energy. Analysis of the returned bricks will inform predictive models for lunar material performance, guiding the development of durable construction methods and materials for future extraterrestrial habitats.
China
China successfully launched three multifunctional satellites—Shijian 30A, 30B, and 30C—into orbit using a Long March 2C rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Inner Mongolia. Built by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, the satellites are intended for space environment monitoring and technology demonstration.
💡The Long March 2C, developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, is 43 meters long, 3.35 meters in diameter, and has a liftoff mass of 242.5 metric tons. Primarily used for deploying satellites to low-Earth and sun-synchronous orbits, this launch represents China’s 74th space mission and the 608th flight of the Long March rocket family.
India-Japan
India and Japan are collaborating on the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX), also known as Chandrayaan-5, aiming to land near the Moon’s South Pole to search for water ice. India’s space agency, ISRO, will provide the lander, building on its Chandrayaan-3 technology, while Japan’s JAXA will contribute the H3 launch vehicle and a 350-kilogram rover designed to operate for 100 days in extreme lunar conditions.
💡The mission targets polar regions where water ice is most likely to exist, with potential uses ranging from life support to the production of hydrogen and oxygen as rocket fuel for future deep-space missions.
Japan
A Japanese research team has demonstrated that moss spores can survive extended exposure to the harsh conditions of outer space. Sporophytes containing Physcomitrium patens spores were placed in an experimental device outside the Kibo module on the International Space Station, where they remained from March to December 2022. After returning to Earth, the spores were tested for germination under different shielding conditions.
💡Results showed that spores protected from visible light and ultraviolet (UV) radiation in space, as well as spores shielded on Earth, germinated at rates of 95–97%. Even spores exposed to UV radiation in space exhibited high survival, with an 86% germination rate. The findings indicate that mosses can tolerate extended space exposure, providing insights for plant biology and potential applications in space agriculture or long-duration life-support systems.
Japan
Researchers at Okayama University of Science are exploring the feasibility of aquaculture in space to support long-duration human missions. Led by Associate Professor Toshimasa Yamamoto, the team is developing a Closed Recirculating Aquaculture System (C-RAS) using an artificial water formula called The Third Water, designed to sustain multiple species including fish and shrimp. Experiments under simulated microgravity have shown successful hatching and feeding of species such as red sea bream and Kuruma prawns. The system is fully automated, monitors water quality and environmental conditions, and integrates aquaponics to recycle fish waste as nutrients for plants, aiming to create a sustainable food source for astronauts.
💡The research seeks to address challenges unique to space, including zero-gravity effects on egg buoyancy, bone density, and shell formation. Early findings indicate that microgravity can solve issues such as eggs sinking in low-density water, allowing larvae to remain suspended and feed effectively.
**Nothing in this article is intended to be or should be construed as legal or financial advice.**