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.**
Events
The Advanced Air Mobility Asia Symposium (AAM Asia)
The Advanced Air Mobility Asia Symposium (AAM Asia) will take place from September 16-18, 2025, at Aichi Sky Expo, Japan. The event will explore Asia’s evolving Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) ecosystem, covering use cases, infrastructure, air traffic management (ATM/UTM), MRO, and regulations.
Learn more about the symposium here.
MRO Asia-Pacific 2025
MRO Asia-Pacific 2025 will take place from September 16-18 at the Singapore Expo Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event brings together over 300 solution providers and more than 6,000 industry professionals from airlines, lessors, MROs, OEMs, and suppliers for networking, learning, and business growth opportunities.
Learn more about the event here.
Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC (ITAP) 2025
Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC (ITAP), the region’s leading Industry 4.0 event, will return to Singapore EXPO from 15–17 October 2025. The event connects global industry leaders and innovators to accelerate digital transformation, showcase cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, and promote sustainable industrial practices.
Learn more about the event here.
Summary
Financing & Investments: Unitree Robotics Secures Major Funding, Reaches $1.3B Valuation; Beijing Haoyang Invests $2.2B in Thailand’s 300MW Hyperscale Data Center; MemeStrategy Becomes First HK-Listed Firm to Add Solana to Treasury; Timah Partners Raises $50M to Tackle SME Succession in Singapore; Kakao to Build $442 Million AI Data Center in Namyangju; Thailand Approves Five-Year Capital Gains Tax Exemption for Regulated Crypto Trading; and Tesla Signs First Grid-Scale Battery Deal in China Amid Trade Tensions
Environmental Sustainability: ASFI Launches Voluntary Green Taxonomy To Support Australia’s Climate Goals; Climate Tech Partners Secures $50M For Early-Stage Decarbonization Ventures; CATL And APM Terminals Form Strategic Battery Partnership For Zero-Emission Ports; European Commission Withdraws Controversial Green Claims Directive Amid Business Pushback; Singapore And Indonesia Sign MoUs To Boost Cross-Border Clean Energy And Industrial Decarbonization; and Regional Cooperation Aims To Drive Sustainable Growth
Aviation: ExecuJet Haite and Shanghai Starjet Form Strategic Partnership; SITA Launches Mobile Wi-Fi Service to Boost Airport Connectivity; INFORM Unveils GroundStar TeamWork to Enhance Aviation Task Management; Konecranes to Supply Integrated Crane System for Subang Airport MRO Facility; Singapore Airlines Expands Flights After Jetstar Asia Exit; and RTX and Singapore EDB Sign 10-Year MoU to Strengthen Strategic Collaboration
Advanced Air Mobility: Skyportz Reveals New Vertipad Design; EHang Expands Latin America EVTOL Plans And Battery Tech; Five Countries Align On Advanced Air Mobility Certification; Airbus And MTU Develop Hydrogen Fuel Cells; SITA Partners With Urban-Air Port On AI Vertiports; and Wisk Aero Collaborates With Japan’s Kaga City And JAL On Autonomous Air Taxis
Marine: APAC Set to Lead Global CO2 Shipping Market by 2055; WaveX Nears Completion of AUD 2.15M Seed Raise to Advance Wave Energy Tech; AVTL to Build India’s First Independent Ammonia Storage Terminal in Gujarat; MOL to Join PIER71 Smart Port Challenge 2025 as Innovation Partner; EV Maritime Launches Battery-Electric Fast Ferry for Auckland; and ABS Approves Floating Nuclear SMR Design by HD Hyundai Affiliates
Space: Cangyu Space Unveils Global Data Relay Constellation Plan with Mixed-Orbit Strategy; Australia-Vietnam Strategic Technologies Centre Launched to Advance Digital Transformation; Airbus, Indosat, and SOG Indonesia Sign MoU to Explore Mission-Critical Communications; BRIN and PSN Partner to Develop Phased Array Antenna for Satellite Communications; and Philippines’ Sovereign Wealth Fund Eyes Investment in Satellite Internet Expansion
Financing & Investments
China
Chinese robotics firm Unitree Robotics has completed a new financing round, pushing its valuation past 10 billion yuan (US$1.3 billion). The Hangzhou-based company attracted investment from major tech players including ByteDance-linked Jinqiu Capital, Alibaba, Ant Group, Tencent, China Mobile, and Geely Group, reflecting rising investor confidence in China’s fast-growing robotics industry.
💡Founded in 2016 by Wang Xingxing, Unitree is reportedly profitable, driven by sales of robotic dogs, and is eyeing international expansion, including a possible Hong Kong listing.
China-Thailand
💡The project, expected to be operational by 2026, marks Haoyang’s first overseas facility and supports Thailand’s goal to become a leading regional data center hub, competing with Malaysia and Singapore amid rising demand for AI and cloud services.
Hong Kong
MemeStrategy, a Hong Kong-listed firm backed by the team behind 9GAG, has become the first publicly traded company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to invest in Solana (SOL). The company purchased 2,440 SOL tokens for HKD 2.9 million (USD 370,000) via licensed platform OSL, signaling a strategic move into Web3 infrastructure.
Beyond holding tokens, MemeStrategy plans to operate validator nodes on Solana’s proof-of-stake network to generate staking rewards and contribute to blockchain security, aligning with its focus on AI, blockchain, and culture.
💡The market responded swiftly, with MemeStrategy’s shares jumping 28% following the announcement.
Singapore
Singapore-based Timah Partners has closed a US$50 million Series A funding round, backed by high-profile investors including the founders of Danaher Corporation, TransDigm Group, and 3G Capital, alongside HoldCo pioneers from Compounding Labs and Sator Grove Holdings.
💡With SMEs employing over 70% of Singapore’s workforce and the senior population expected to double over the next two decades, Timah aims to address the succession planning gap among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the region.
South Korea
South Korean internet giant Kakao is set to develop a KRW 600 billion ($442 million) AI-focused data center in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. The 92,000-square-meter facility will be located in the Namyangju Wangsuk Urban High-Tech Industrial Complex, marking Kakao’s second in-house data center in the region.
💡Construction will begin in 2026, with completion expected by 2029.
Thailand
Thailand has approved a five-year personal income tax exemption on capital gains from digital asset trading, effective from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2029. The exemption applies to profits earned through exchanges, brokers, and dealers licensed under the Royal Decree on Digital Asset Businesses B.E. 2561.
💡The exemption is limited to transactions conducted on platforms regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and compliant with anti-money laundering standards. Authorities are also preparing to implement the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework for international data sharing.
USA-China
Tesla has signed its first contract to build a grid-scale battery power plant in China, valued at 4 billion yuan ($556 million). The project, a collaboration with the Shanghai local government and China Kangfu International Leasing, will be the largest battery storage facility in China upon completion.
💡The deal is strategically significant as Tesla faces competition from Chinese battery manufacturers CATL and BYD, with CATL reportedly supplying cells for Tesla’s Megapacks. China plans to increase its battery storage capacity to 40 gigawatts by 2025, fueling strong demand for grid-scale energy storage solutions.
Environmental Sustainability
Australia
The Australian Sustainable Finance Institute (ASFI) has introduced a voluntary taxonomy to classify green and transition-focused economic activities, aiming to enhance transparency and channel capital toward Australia’s climate targets. Developed under the Government’s Sustainable Finance Roadmap, the taxonomy aligns with global frameworks in regions like the EU, UK, and Singapore, covering six key emissions-intensive sectors: agriculture, mining, manufacturing, electricity, construction, and transport.
💡The taxonomy will be piloted with leading financial institutions including ANZ, CEFC, and Commonwealth Bank, while the Climate Bonds Initiative plans to incorporate its criteria into its Certification Scheme to foster global standards and investor confidence.
Australia
Australia’s Climate Tech Partners (CTP) has announced the first close of a new fund, anchored by $15 million commitments each from Australian Ethical Investments and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. Combined with recent contributions to its aviation-focused vehicle backed by Airbus and Qantas, CTP has now secured over $50 million in total capital.
💡CTP targets early-stage climate tech ventures in sectors such as energy, transport, mining, and industrial decarbonization, with a focus on Series A investments. Its priority areas include grid technology, low-carbon fuels, and climate adaptation.
China-Netherlands
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) and APM Terminals have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the energy transition across global logistics. The agreement builds on their collaboration within the Zero Emission Port Alliance (ZEPA), focusing on electrifying container handling equipment and cutting greenhouse gas emissions at ports.
💡Under the deal, CATL will supply high-performance batteries and integrated solutions for electric terminal tractors and other handling equipment. The partnership spans the entire battery lifecycle—from design and deployment to recycling—supporting APM Terminals’ goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2040.
Europe
The European Commission has confirmed plans to withdraw its Green Claims Directive, a key piece of legislation intended to curb misleading environmental marketing, just ahead of final negotiations with the European Parliament and Council. The move follows pressure from the European People’s Party (EPP), which raised concerns about the directive’s complexity and lack of a proper impact assessment, warning it could impose disproportionate compliance burdens on businesses.
💡Originally proposed in March 2023, the directive sought to establish minimum standards for companies making voluntary environmental claims, requiring scientific evidence and third-party verification. It also aimed to rein in the unchecked growth of private green labels by demanding transparency, reliability, and EU-level approval.
Singapore-Indonesia
💡These agreements aim to drive clean energy, industrial decarbonization, and investment, with joint teams exploring development in Bintan, Batam, and Karimun and working to establish supportive policies and frameworks.
Aviation
China
💡The collaboration will focus on joint efforts in aircraft management, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), 24/7 technical support, and premium client services.
Global
SITA has introduced SITA Mobile WIFI (MIFI), a new service designed to provide fast, flexible, and secure wireless connectivity for airports, airlines, and ground handlers. The fully managed solution combines routers, SIM/eSIM technology, satellite links, and security features to address connectivity gaps in critical areas like tarmacs, cargo zones, and emergency sites.
💡Martin Smillie, SITA’s senior VP of Communications and Data Exchange, emphasized that SITA MIFI helps prevent costly disruptions caused by network outages or bandwidth limits, offering a rapid and adaptable way to maintain operations smoothly across diverse locations.
Global
INFORM has launched GroundStar (GS) TeamWork, a new tool designed to improve task allocation for frontline managers in airlines and ground handling. Part of the GroundStar suite, GS TeamWork offers a mobile-friendly platform providing real-time visibility of flights, staffing, capacity, and break schedules.
💡Ideal for smaller operations, it integrates INFORM’s GS RealTime Staff & Equipment to enable quick staffing adjustments and prevent conflicts. For larger hubs, it allows central allocators to focus on strategic planning while empowering frontline supervisors to manage on-the-fly changes
Malaysia
Konecranes has secured a contract to provide an integrated crane system for Impeccable Vintage Properties (IVP), a subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, supporting infrastructure development at Subang Airport in Malaysia. The system, to be installed in Hangar 3 at the IVP Complex, includes tele-platform units, suspension crane bridges, service trolleys, and power lines designed to enhance maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations.
💡Completion is expected by late 2025 or early 2026.
Singapore
RTX and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) have signed an MoU outlining a 10-year roadmap to deepen strategic cooperation in aerospace maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), advanced manufacturing, AI innovation, and talent development.
💡Singapore is RTX’s third largest commercial base outside the U.S., hosting over 4,300 employees across 12 factories.
Singapore
As Jetstar Asia prepares to cease operations, Singapore Airlines (SIA) is set to increase flight frequencies across key Asian destinations. Its low-cost arm, Scoot, will launch new routes to Okinawa, Japan, and Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, aiming to capture market share left by Jetstar Asia’s departure.
💡With 180 weekly Jetstar flights from Changi Airport no longer in service, SIA and Scoot expect higher demand and improved profitability due to reduced competition and fewer available seats.
Advanced Air Mobility
Australia
Australian vertiport developer Skyportz has showcased a new animation, created by Florida-based Vertiport Simulations, highlighting its patented vertipad design. Presented at the Paris Air Show, the concept addresses key urban air mobility challenges, including downwash and outwash management and fire suppression. In line with FAA Engineering Brief 105A, the design features a wind safety zone beyond the landing surface and includes dynamic height adjustments and adjustable blast screens to optimize operations for various eVTOL aircraft.
💡 After landing, the vertipad lowers to allow aircraft access to charging stations, freeing the pad for incoming traffic. In emergencies, the platform can flood its pit area to extinguish battery fires without environmental contamination.
China
At the 2025 Paris Air Show, EHang announced two key MoUs. The first was signed with ANRA Technologies to integrate EHang’s EH216-S eVTOL aircraft with ANRA’s airspace management systems. The collaboration targets the deployment of UAM services in Europe and Latin America by combining aircraft operations with certified digital infrastructure to ensure safe and scalable aerial mobility.
EHang also inked an MoU with Argentina’s national aerospace firm, FAdeA, to support the certification, production, and service infrastructure for its EH216-S aircraft in Argentina and the broader Latin American region.
Separately, the manufacturer announced the expansion of its partnership with Gotion High-Tech to co-develop next-generation power systems for its EH216 series. Gotion will supply customized battery solutions based on its advanced 46-series cylindrical cells, expected to improve flight range, thrust, and safety.
💡EHang also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Jingyue Hi-tech Zone in Changchun, which includes a 41-unit order of EH216-S aircraft to support low-altitude tourism, emergency services, and urban traffic operations in the region.
Global
At the 2025 Paris Air Show, aviation regulators from the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom unveiled a joint Road Map for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Aircraft Type Certification. The agreement, formalized through a signed Declaration of Intent, aims to align certification and airworthiness standards for AAM vehicles—such as eVTOL aircraft—across the five nations.
💡The Road Map addresses growing disparities in AAM certification criteria by establishing a framework for regulatory harmonization. By sharing safety data, research, and regulatory practices, the initiative seeks to accelerate the safe and coordinated rollout of next-generation aircraft in global markets.
Global
Airbus and MTU Aero Engines have signed a MoU at the Paris Air Show to jointly develop hydrogen fuel cell propulsion technology for aviation. The ZEROe aircraft aims to use four propellers powered by separate hydrogen fuel cell stacks, producing electricity with water as the only emission.
💡The collaboration follows a three-phase plan: initial joint research to improve key technologies, alignment of research strategies on hydrogen applications, and potentially developing a full fuel cell engine for commercial aircraft.
Global
SITA has partnered with Urban-Air Port (UAP) to develop modular vertiport infrastructure combined with advanced digital platforms aimed at transforming urban air travel. The collaboration will leverage SITA’s travel technology alongside UAP’s patented vertiport designs to create scalable, passenger-focused vertiport systems supporting eVTOL aircraft for both passenger and cargo transport.
💡The partnership will introduce the world’s first fully integrated software-defined vertiport, featuring the jointly developed “AirOne” system. Central to the initiative is the cloud-based Vertiport Management System (VMS), designed to optimize operations through AI and automation, enabling flexible, high-density urban deployments for advanced air mobility.
Japan-USA
Wisk Aero has signed a three-party MoU with the City of Kaga, Japan, and JAL Engineering Co., Ltd. (JALEC), a subsidiary of Japan Airlines, to explore the introduction of autonomous air mobility in the region. The collaboration will focus on regulatory development, market analysis, public acceptance, and potential manufacturing and supply chain support for its all-electric, self-flying air taxi.
💡According to Wisk, Kaga City, designated as a national strategic special zone, offers a supportive environment for testing advanced mobility technologies. The city’s existing air mobility consortium and regulatory flexibility provide a foundation for evaluating Wisk’s Gen 6 aircraft.
Marine
Asia-Pacific
A report from energy consultancy Xodus, produced in partnership with Subsea7, reveals that the Asia-Pacific region is poised to become the world leader in CO2 shipping, requiring nearly 80 specialist vessels by 2055 to support its growing carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) infrastructure.
The report highlights the need for more than 90 storage sites and around 8,000 kilometers of pipelines, driven by the vast distances between emitters and storage locations, particularly in Japan and Korea. Linking CCUS projects with LNG assets could reduce transport costs by 10-15%, effectively shortening shipping distances by over 3,000 kilometers.
💡Despite currently high offshore transport and storage costs, these are expected to decrease as local storage facilities are developed and market competition increases. APAC’s concentrated industrial emissions are likely to keep capture and collection costs relatively low, positioning the region as a highly competitive CCUS market in the long term.
Australia
Australian wave energy developer WaveX, based in Perth, has secured 82% of its AUD 2.15 million seed funding round, with a June 30, 2025 deadline. Led by company directors, the CFO, existing investors, and Perth Angels, the raise is managed by LIQUIDITY.
💡Completion will unlock a AUD 2.4 million government grant. WaveX’s D-Spar—a floating steel buoy converting wave motion into electricity—aims to provide stable, renewable power complementing wind and solar. WaveX holds ESIC status, offering shareholders tax incentives. In March, WaveX partnered with London-based Arup to accelerate development and optimize the D-Spar system.
India
AVTL, a joint venture between Aegis Logistics and Vopak India, will develop India’s first independent ammonia storage terminal at Pipavav, Gujarat. The terminal will have a 36,000-ton capacity and is expected to be operational by late 2026.
💡The €53 million project supports ammonia imports for fertilizers and aims to boost green ammonia exports, advancing India’s clean energy transition. The initiative complements other green ammonia projects in India, including a Japanese-led green ammonia production MoU and Hygenco’s ammonia plant in Odisha, targeting full operation by 2027.
Japan-Singapore
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), through its Singapore-based subsidiary MOL Asia Oceania (MOLAO), will join the PIER71 Smart Port Challenge (SPC) 2025 for the first time as an innovation partner. The accelerator, jointly established by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and NUS Enterprise, supports startups developing solutions in logistics efficiency, decarbonization, and port digitalization.
💡MOLAO will offer industry expertise, business support, and opportunities for proof-of-concept trials. It will work alongside MOL PLUS, MOL’s corporate venture arm, which returns as an investment partner for the fifth consecutive year. The 10-week program begins in September in Singapore.
New Zealand
EV Maritime has unveiled the first EVM200 class battery-electric fast ferry, designed to operate between downtown Auckland and Half Moon Bay. Built with lightweight carbon fibre, the ferry offers speeds up to 25 knots and a range of 32 km, accommodating 200 passengers on the main deck plus 30 on the upper deck.
Supported by the New Zealand government and Auckland Transport’s low-emission fleet initiative, the vessel integrates global components including Freudenberg batteries, Danfoss motors, and HamiltonJet waterjets. Hydrodynamic optimization was achieved with Emirates Team New Zealand, resulting in an efficient hull design.
💡The ferry is the world’s first to use the CharIN megawatt charging system, enabling quick recharges during 10-minute terminal stops.
USA-South Korea
A report from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) announced the approval in principle (AIP) for a floating small modular reactor (SMR) design developed by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), affiliates of South Korean conglomerate HD Hyundai. The design aims to generate electricity offshore and nearshore, supporting port facilities and nearby communities.
💡The AIP is the second approval for a floating nuclear power barge design from HD KSOE and continues their collaboration with ABS on advanced nuclear technologies, including a 15,000 TEU nuclear-powered containership concept.
Space
China
Private Chinese firm Cangyu Space Technology has announced plans for a global commercial data relay satellite constellation utilizing a mix of geostationary (GEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), and inclined geosynchronous orbit (IGSO) satellites. The system, revealed at the Meishan Satellite Application Industry Development Conference in Sichuan Province, will comprise 13 satellites designed to enable space-based information transmission worldwide, including the polar regions.
The constellation includes six MEO satellites, four GEO satellites positioned along the equatorial belt, and three IGSO satellites to enhance regional coverage and provide improved observation angles.
💡Cangyu also highlighted the planned use of Q/V frequency bands, which are suitable for high-capacity satellite communications, signaling the company’s ambition to offer advanced, wide-reaching data relay services as part of China’s expanding commercial space ecosystem.
Australia-Vietnam
Australia and Vietnam have jointly launched the Australia-Vietnam Strategic Technologies Centre in Hanoi, aiming to deepen collaboration in 5G/6G, AI, semiconductors, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. The centre is a partnership between Vietnam’s Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology and the University of Technology Sydney, with AUD2.1 million ($1.3 million) in initial funding from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and equipment support from Nokia.
💡At the launch, eight joint research projects received AUD400,000 in seed funding, while 19 women in STEM were honoured, and nearly 100 scholarships were awarded to support the next generation of technology professionals.
Indonesia
Airbus Public Safety and Security has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PT Indosat Tbk and PT SOG Indonesia to explore the deployment of Agnet, Airbus’ secure, mission-critical communication and collaboration platform, in Indonesia. The agreement was formalized during Indo Defence 2025 and aims to evaluate a potential go-to-market strategy tailored to local requirements.
💡The collaboration will assess opportunities to provide high-performance communication solutions for government, public safety, defence, critical infrastructure, and industrial users. The Agnet platform enables secure voice, video, and data transmission across a range of devices, supporting enhanced public safety and disaster management in Indonesia.
Indonesia
Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has signed a cooperation agreement with PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN) to develop a phased array antenna for satellite communications. The agreement, signed by BRIN’s Head of the Telecommunications Research Center, Nasrullah Armi, and PSN President Director Adi Rahman Adiwongso, was formalized during the Indo Defense, Indo Aerospace, and Indo Marine 2025 Expo.
💡The collaboration covers the research, prototyping, field testing, and development of phased array antennas, which use electronically controlled radiation patterns for satellite connectivity without mechanical movement.
Philippines
Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC), the Philippines’ sovereign wealth fund, is considering funding the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) acquisition of satellite bandwidth from the geostationary Agila satellite. The initiative aims to provide internet access to 10 million Filipinos across 30,000 barangays. Negotiations with satellite provider Astranis have reduced project costs by at least a third, making the investment more feasible within DICT’s $170 million budget.
💡MIC sees the project as aligned with its mandate to invest in critical digital infrastructure, reflecting a broader push to enhance sovereign satellite capabilities in the region.
**Nothing in this article is intended to be or should be construed as legal or financial advice.**