The Futures Summit: A New Era of Development Cooperation
April 10, 2026 • 8:30 am – 4:30 pm EDT
Hosted by Global Development
Pac Tech Pulse: April 2026
Photo: CSIS
Artificial Intelligence
China releases a National Standard System covering the entire lifecycle of Humanoid Robots and embodied artificial intelligence. The standard system, unveiled at the annual meeting of Humanoid Robots and Embodied Intelligence Standardization (HEIS) in Beijing, comprises six key components – basic commonality, brain-like and intelligent computing, limbs and components, complete machines and systems, application, and safety and ethics.
Source: CGTN
In detail: Press release
Date: March 01, 2026
China releases an Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development. The five-year blueprint includes a sweeping “AI+ Action Plan” aimed at integrating the technology across industries. The plan calls for policymakers to expand AI adoption across sectors ranging from manufacturing and healthcare to logistics and robotics.
Source: Quantum Insider
In detail: Press Release Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development
Date: March 05, 2026
Indonesia issues a joint ministerial decree establishing national guidelines for the use of digital technology and artificial intelligence in education. The decree aims to ensure that AI tools are used responsibly across all levels of learning. The decree, known as a Surat Keputusan Bersama (SKB), applies to formal education from early childhood programs through universities, as well as informal learning environments, including within families.
Source: Babl
In detail: Press Release
Date: March 18, 2026
Singapore revises its healthcare AI guidelines to enable more innovations to augment the healthcare workforce and new drugs to reach patients faster. The Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) co-developed and launched the revised healthcare AI framework that addresses developments in artificial intelligence, such as generative AI, to better support innovation, while ensuring safety and quality. The regulatory sandboxes will facilitate the evaluation of AI solutions in real-world healthcare settings, ensuring that AI tools are built using quality, real-life data.
Source: Singapore Legal Watch
In detail: Health Sciences Authority
Date: March 11, 2026
South Korea approves a three-year national road map to pivot from an ICT powerhouse to the world’s top three artificial intelligence (AI) leader by 2028. The roadmap anchors the push on 6G commercialization, strengthening AI technologies and AI transformation across all industries. On the industrial front, the plan seeks to accelerate AI adoption across sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture and fisheries and ports to boost productivity.
Source: Korea Times
Date: March 29, 2026
Vietnam implements law regulating artificial intelligence (AI). Passed by the National Assembly in December, the law focuses on the risks posed by generative AI, requiring human oversight and control along the lines of the European Union’s landmark AI Act. It requires companies to clearly label AI-generated content such as deepfakes that cannot readily be differentiated from reality. It also requires them to disclose to customers when they are interacting with an artificial rather than a human agent.
Source: The Strait Times
In detail: Press Release
Date: March 01, 2026
The Philippines permits artificial intelligence (AI) to be allowed for use in public schools. Under the guidelines, teachers, non-teaching personnel, and students will be allowed to utilize AI tools such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Grammarly, Quillbot, Canva, Tome, and Khanmigo, provided they follow “ethical, pedagogical, and human-centered standards.”
Source: Coingeek
In detail: Foundational guidelines on artificial intelligence in basic education
Date: March 05, 2026
Data Centers
Australia publishes draft technical standards for large data centers and similar facilities connecting to National Electricity Market (NEM).The publication of the new standards is intended to ensure that data center development is smooth and does not impact electricity supply in the future by focusing on projects that have the potential to impact Australia’s energy security.
Source: Pinsent Masons
In detail: Australian Energy Market Commission
Date: March 18, 2026
Australia publishes its expectations of data centers and AI infrastructure developers framework. Under the framework, the government has made clear that data center developments must put the needs of the Australian people first, ensuring that local communities benefit directly through jobs, investment in skills and innovation. The framework sets out five expectations data centers developments must meet, which include prioritizing Australia’s national interest, supporting Australia’s energy transition, using water sustainably and responsibly, investing in Australian skills and jobs, and strengthening research, innovation and local capability.
Source: ARNnet
In detail: Department of Industry Science and Resources
Expectations of data centres and AI infrastructure developers
Date: March 23, 2026
Energy Technology
Australia’s Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has released a Directions Paper proposing updates to the rules that govern how gas distribution networks are regulated. The AEMC’s proposed package is designed to support an orderly transition. Service providers would have a reasonable opportunity to recover the costs of past investments, supporting their ability to safely maintain and operate networks for remaining customers. At the same time, consumers would not pay for assets they are no longer expected to use. If demand falls significantly and assets become stranded, that risk is borne by the network - consistent with what occurs in competitive markets.
Source: Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC)
In detail: Gas Networks in Transition, Directions paper
Date: March 19, 2026
China releases guidelines to promote comprehensive recycling and reuse of end-of-life photovoltaic (PV) modules. The goal is to build a system capacity to deal with the wave of large-scale PV module retirements that is expected to happen. China will further upgrade the green manufacturing level of PV modules, increase the use of recycled materials, improve waste assessment standards, and testing and inspection methods.
Source: Intimedia
In detail: Press Release
Date: March 03, 2026
China rolls out a three-year action plan to accelerate the high-quality development of energy-saving equipment. The plan aims to foster new drivers of green growth and support the country's low-carbon transition. According to the plan, jointly issued by multiple government departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China will strive to achieve breakthroughs in key materials and components for energy-saving equipment from 2026 to 2028 and reach internationally leading levels in the efficiency of major equipment such as electric motors and transformers.
Source: China Daily
In detail: Press Release
Date: March 20, 2026
India issues CERC (Terms and Conditions for Purchase and Sale of Carbon Credit Certificates) Regulations, 2026. The regulations, published by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) propose a framework for the purchase and sale of Carbon Credit Certificates (CCCs) under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023. The objective of the regulations is to create a framework for the exchange of CCCs between obligated and non-obligated entities on power exchanges, or through such other mode as may be permitted by the Commission.
Source: Mercom
In detail: Terms and Conditions for Purchase and Sale of Carbon Credit Certificates Regulations, 2026
Date: March 02, 2026
India announces the Green Ammonia and Green Methanol Standards. The standards set clear emission limits and eligibility criteria for production using renewable hydrogen. The standards aim to standardize and certify ammonia and methanol produced with minimal greenhouse gas emissions.
Source: Hans India
In detail: Press Release Green Ammonia Standard Green Methanol Standard
Date: March 07, 2026
India mandates that all solar projects use locally manufactured ingots and wafers from June 1, 2028. The aim of the new rules is to extend domestic sourcing rules to the most import-dependent segment of the solar supply chain.
Source: Financial Express
In detail: Press Release Amendment to ALMM Order for Implementation of ALMM for Wafers
Date: March 18, 2026
India’s Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has issued a notification for the Terms and Conditions of Tariff (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2026. The regulations bring Integrated Energy Storage Systems (IESS) under the country’s formal tariff structure to accelerate adoption and strengthen grid reliability. The amendment recognizes IESS as part of, allowing deployment alongside generating stations or transmission assets to store and dispatch electricity as needed, improving grid flexibility and reliability. The regulations also note that such systems can help defer or avoid the need for additional transmission infrastructure.
Source: Energetica
Date: March 23, 2026
India’s Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has issued the national generation adequacy plan for 2026-27 to 2035-36. The CEA has projected deployment of 80 GW of battery energy storage systems by 2035-36 as part of India’s long-term generation planning framework. The plan targets a total installed capacity of 1,121 GW and envisages storage as a key enabler for integrating large-scale renewable energy into the grid. The plan projects solar and wind capacities of 509 GW and 155 GW, respectively, by 2035-36, alongside a total energy storage buildout of 174 GW/888 GWh, including 94 GW of pumped storage capacity.
Source: Renewable Watch
In detail: National Generation Adequacy Plan (2026–27 to 2035–36)
Date: March 23, 2026
New Zealand releases a new national strategy that sets out a plan to support the sustainable growth of the country’s geothermal sector. Among the goals of the strategy is to double geothermal energy use in New Zealand, both for power and heat, by 2040. The strategy sets out five central goals to deliver on its vision and desired outcomes:
- Improve access to geothermal data and funding to enable development
- Ensure regulatory and system settings are fit-for-purpose
- Advance knowledge and uptake of existing geothermal technologies and geoheat opportunities
- Enable place-based geothermal clusters
- Drive geothermal science, research and innovation, including next-generation technologies
Source: Think Geo Energy
In detail: Press Release Geothermal Strategy
Date: March 18, 2026
Philippines issues Department Circular No. DC2026-02-0008, strengthening the implementation of the Energy Storage Systems (ESS) Policy to enhance renewable energy reliability and grid stability. The amendatory circular supplements DC No. DC2023-04-0008 and introduces mandatory energy storage integration for prospective variable renewable energy (VRE) power plants with an installed capacity of 10 megawatts (MW) and above. Under the updated framework, such projects must integrate ESS equivalent to at least 20% of the plant’s installed capacity as part of project development and grid interconnection, subject to system studies and technical requirements.
Source: Solar Quarter
In detail: Department of Energy Press release
Date: February 26, 2026
South Korea bans naphtha exports from midnight on March 26. The ban will remain in place for five months, with priority supply ensured for healthcare, core industries and essential consumer goods, the ministry added.
Source: The Strait Times
Date: March 27, 2026
Semiconductors
Nothing critical to report this month.
Biotechnology/Pharmaceuticals
Taiwan maps out a four-year national pharmaceutical resilience preparedness program that aims to bolster the country’s domestic drug supply. The new framework comes in response to geopolitical changes that have impacted global medicine supply chains. Specifically, the country will focus on producing at least 50 key pharmaceuticals in Taiwan, using policy subsidies, market guidance and National Health Insurance reimbursement incentives to boost production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and promote general self-reliance in the biopharma realm.
Source: Fierce Pharma
In detail: Press Release
Date: March 06, 2026
Medical Technology
Japan formally approves its national strategy on medical countermeasures (MCMs). The strategy sets out measures to strengthen preparedness and response during infectious disease emergencies.
Source: Pharma Japan
Date: March 25, 2026
Aerospace Technology
India issues a fresh set of guidelines for foreign airlines seeking to operate flights to and from the country. The guidelines detail the approval process, documentation requirements, and compliance obligations before services can begin.
Source: NDTV
Date: March 11, 2026
Quantum Technology
India officially approves 23 leading academic and research institutions to establish state-of-the-art quantum laboratories. This development is a cornerstone of the National Quantum Mission, an initiative designed to propel the nation into the forefront of quantum science and technology. The mission focuses on the development of advanced quantum computing capabilities, the implementation of secure satellite-based quantum communication networks, and the creation of highly precise quantum sensors and materials.
Source: India Vision
In detail: Press Release
Date: March 16, 2026
