Month: August 2026

On August 12 South Korea’s government unveiled the ‘7 SEED’ project, a 10-to-20-year push across
small modular reactors, fusion, quantum computing, space, advanced biotech and critical-minerals supply chains.
This briefing lines up Korea’s targets — a 100-qubit quantum computer by 2029 and doubled mineral stockpiles —
against the US Commerce Department’s $2.01B CHIPS quantum award and China’s fast-growing quantum sector.

Korea’s 2026 tax reform adds a production-linked tax credit for solar, wind, batteries, chips, core materials and AI robot parts.
The scheme shifts support from investment to actual output, running through 2036 with a regional multiplier and a tapering final phase.
It closely tracks the US IRA’s 45X credit and Japan’s Strategic Field Production Promotion Tax System.
We break down what it means for industry competitiveness and consumers.

South Korea approved 5 new materials-parts-equipment cooperation projects and named 5 ‘Super Eul’ core suppliers, backed by 91 billion won in 5-year R&D funding.
That is a fraction of the $33.7 billion the US has approved under CHIPS Act and the €135.2 billion China has deployed in equity investment.
Ecopro BM, Hanwha Ocean and three other firms will receive multi-year support for solid-state battery and defense materials.
Here is what was approved, how it compares internationally, and who it affects.

Korea says it will complete the Yongin semiconductor cluster up to 12 years earlier than planned.
TSMC’s $165B Arizona buildout is already shipping advanced chips, while Korea’s accelerated target still lands in 2033-2039.
The plan also folds in 127 trillion won in trade finance and a new Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation push.
Here is what was announced, how it compares to Arizona, and who it affects.

A data-driven comparison of four US-listed robotics and automation ETFs — BOTZ, ROBO, ARTY (formerly IRBO) and ROBT — covering fees, holding concentration, returns and risk, including the IRBO-to-ARTY rebrand.