Tech talent has moved from being simply a hiring priority to a matter of national security. As major economies increasingly tie talent to competitiveness and national security, control over its cross-border movement is tightening. That shift is visible today: Taiwan's Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau is probing 17 companies accused of illegally recruiting tech talent in Taiwan, China is preparing to tighten exit controls on key technical workers, and the US continues expanding semiconductor and AI export controls and research security reviews.

Ajinomoto raised its full-year forecast on August 6 as growing demand for AI servers and high-performance computing lifted sales of electronic materials used in semiconductor package substrates, highlighting how advanced packaging is shifting more value upstream into specialized materials.

China's State Council has released a revised version of the regulations on the protection of IC layout designs, set to take effect on October 15, 2026. It is the first full overhaul since the rules were issued in 2001, adding protection for photonic and quantum IC designs, increasing punitive damages for intentional infringement, and improving systems for layout design registration, licensing, and rights enforcement.

The United Arab Emirates is considering investing as much as JPY1 trillion (approx. US$6.3 billion) in a 500MW artificial intelligence data center in Akita Prefecture, according to Bloomberg. Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment is expected to lead the investment in a project that could become Japan's largest data center.