PacTech Pulse: August 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Australia announces an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Framework. The framework is designed to ensure that Australia can capture the opportunity of AI, share the benefits, and keep Australians safe. The framework also establishes an Office of AI within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and announces a firm commitment to protect Australian creative works from being used to train AI models without consent.

Source: Minter Ellison

In detail: Press Release

Date: July 17, 2026

Australia outlines AI Consumer Safety Priorities. The priorities aim to increase accountability and ensure safe adoption of AI. The five priority areas are: Duty of Care, Privacy, AI Safety in the Workplace, Consumer Protections, and Framework for Automated Decision-Making.

Source: Capital Brief

In detail: AI Consumer Safety Priorities

Date: July 19, 2026

China releases an Action Plan on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Cooperation and Development. The action plan is a part of broader efforts to strengthen international AI collaboration and bridge the digital divide.

Source: Global Times

In detail: Press release

Date: July 17, 2026

China releases an Action Plan on International AI Ethics Governance. It calls on countries to take steps in ethical governance, categorized and tiered risk prevention and control, the development of agile governance mechanisms, the cultivation of a collaborative ecosystem across industrial chains and the fostering of a favorable social environment.

Source: CGTN

In detail: Global AI Governance Action Plan, Press Release

Date: July 17, 2026

China releases draft National Standard for Security Classification and Grading Method for Cybersecurity Technology and Artificial Intelligence Applications. The standard addresses the safety of Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents, including data leakage, uncontrolled permissions, tool misuse and actions that deviate from a user's intent.

Source: CGTN

In detail: Draft National Standard "Security Classification and Grading Method for Cybersecurity Technology and Artificial Intelligence Applications"

Date: July 28, 2026

Japan releases a second Artificial Intelligence Basic Plan. The plan aims at accelerating the deployment of smart technologies to address national challenges, while enhancing regulatory frameworks and managing risks associated with their use, including cybersecurity threats.

Source: Arabic Trader

In detail: Japan's Second Artificial Intelligence Basic Plan

Date: July 10, 2026

Malaysia launches the Malaysia Digital Action Plan 2030 (MD2030). The plan offers a national roadmap that places the Ministry of Digital at the center of efforts to achieve the country’s ambition of becoming an “AI-driven nation” by 2030. The five-year plan sets national priorities across economic growth, digital public services, infrastructure, talent development, cybersecurity and AI innovation.

Source: Digital Watch

In detail: Ministry Of Digital Press Release

Date: June 30, 2026

Pakistan publishes a draft National Data Governance Policy. The policy establishes the country’s first unified framework governing how federal agencies collect, store, share and use government data, while introducing new rules for artificial intelligence, cross-border data transfers and citizens’ digital rights.

Source: Arab News

In detail: Pakistan Digital Authority Press Release, National Data Governance Policy

Date: June 30, 2026

Singapore introduces voluntary transparency guidelines for generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Chatbots. The guidelines aim to standardize how companies explain their capabilities, limitations, and risks to consumers and call on Chatbot deployers to bring together information that is often scattered across privacy notices, terms of service and other documents. The framework is intended to help users understand what a Chatbot can and cannot do, how reliable it is, how their data is handled, and how they can report problems.

Source: The Edge

In detail: IMDA Press Release

Date: July 20, 2026

South Korea announces a national strategy to foster "Physical AI," an Artificial Intelligence capable of autonomous judgment and action in real-world environments such as robotics and manufacturing. The strategy is centered on four key areas: data, technology, diffusion, and ecosystem.

Source: Chosun Daily

Date: July 01, 2026

South Korea releases an AI Basic Healthcare Strategy. The strategy introduces AI across the medical field to address gaps in regional care and the concentration of patients at large hospitals in the Seoul area. The plan would allow local public health centers and clinics to receive AI support for care and use AI for emergency patient transport and public hospital operations to make up for shortages of medical staff.

Source: Chosun Biz

Date: July 22, 2026

South Korea releases a national strategy to develop “Physical AI Ports.” Gwangyang Port will serve as a technology testbed and Jinhae New Port will become the country’s flagship AI-enabled port. The strategy aims to introduce AI across port operations, allowing equipment to operate autonomously while optimizing cargo handling and logistics.

Source: Smart Maritime Network

Date: July 23, 2026

Thailand releases a revised draft AI Act. The Act adopts a risk-based approach influenced by international frameworks such as the EU AI Act, while tailoring the framework to Thailand's legal and economic priorities. If enacted, it would introduce obligations that extend beyond Thailand's borders, establish new compliance requirements for higher-risk AI systems, and impose transparency obligations for AI-generated content.

Source: Hogan Lovells

Date: July 03, 2026

Vietnam approves its National Digital Transformation Strategy for 2026–30. The strategy sets out a long-term plan to build a data-and AI-driven digital nation by 2045. The government aims to fully digitalize administrative records by 2030, achieve 99 percent satisfaction with online public services and ensure all ministries and provinces use shared national digital platforms.

Source: Biometric

In detail: Press Release

Date: July 22, 2026

South Korea announces its Manufacturing AI 2030 Strategy. The strategy aims to integrate artificial intelligence across core manufacturing industries including semiconductors, automobiles, and shipbuilding.

Source: Seoul Economic Daily

In detail: Press Release

Date: June 29, 2026

Vietnam publishes its first official list of 46 high-risk AI systems, providing greater clarity on the technologies subject to enhanced regulatory oversight. The list identifies AI systems that may pose significant risks to life, health, the lawful rights and interests of individuals and organizations, public interests, national interests, and/or national security. Providers and operators of these systems will be required to comply with stricter governance and conformity assessment requirements before the systems can be placed into service.

Source: Vietnam Briefing

In detail: Press Release, Decision No. 33/2026/QD-TTg

Date: July 09, 2026

Data Centers

Australia announces the Australian Standards for AI. The standards will require large-scale Data Centers to underwrite new power generation and contribute at least as much energy to the national grid as they consume. The framework also imposes water efficiency obligations and mandates that operators pay the full cost of grid connections and any additional water infrastructure.

Source: MLQ.ai

Date: July 19, 2026

Thailand revises its screening policy for Data Center investments. The revised policy will assess Data Center projects across four dimensions: electricity supply and energy readiness, water-resource management, environmental protection and pollution controls, and the tangible benefits for Thailand and efficient use of national resources.

Source: The Nation

Date: July 27, 2026

Energy Technology

Bangladesh publishes comprehensive guidelines for developing onshore wind-power projects. The new framework is expected to help Bangladesh tap its potential in wind energy as it pursues ambitious renewable-energy targets. The guideline establishes a clear framework for the development of land-based (onshore) wind power projects.

Source: Financial Express

In detail: Onshore Wind Power Project Development Guideline for Bangladesh, 2026 (Improved Draft)

Date: July 07, 2026

China unveils a roadmap that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) with the full life cycle of advanced nuclear energy systems. Dubbed AI for Accelerator-Driven Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems (ADANES), the aim of the roadmap is to deploy AI in the field with zero tolerance for safety failures.

Source: Interesting Engineering

Date: July 20, 2026

Semiconductors

China adds 14 European entities to its export control list, prohibiting Chinese exporters from supplying them with dual-use items, including rare earths and permanent magnets, without special authorization. In a statement released July 24, the Ministry of Commerce said the affected companies would be denied export permits to safeguard national security and uphold China's international non-proliferation obligations.

Source: SP Global

Date: July 24, 2026

South Korea publishes a pan-government strategy to accelerate the localization of defense semiconductors and secure a stable supply chain. The plan aims to speed up development based on weapons-system demand and build an industrial ecosystem spanning design through mass production through public-private cooperation. The centerpiece of the strategy is a full-cycle framework linking demand, development, verification and mass production.

Source: Herald Business

Date: July 23, 2026

Thailand unveils the Siam Silica Framework. The framework offers a comprehensive roadmap to build a domestic semiconductor ecosystem while positioning the nation as a central hub within an integrated ASEAN supply chain. The framework targets five strategic domains: Photonics Fabrication, Advanced Packaging, Silicon Design, Quantum Photonics, and Power Devices.

Source: Inquirer.net

Date: July 29, 2026

Biotechnology/Pharmaceuticals

South Korea announces plans to ease regulations to allow biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) to produce products in line with the regulatory standards of overseas clients. By moving away from applying only domestic facility standards to also recognizing importing countries' regulations, the change is expected to reduce the burden on companies during global contract processes.

Source: Seoul Economic Daily

Date: July 24, 2026

Medical Technology

Nothing critical to report this month.

Aerospace Technology

Nothing critical to report this month.

Quantum Technology

Malaysia publishes a National Post-Quantum Cryptography Migration Plan and a Quantum Cryptography Sandbox. These strategic frameworks aim to safeguard the country against future cyber threats posed by quantum computing, and the migration plan and sandbox are designed to build a robust national cryptography ecosystem.

Source: Vietnam Plus

Date: July 10, 2026