2025-06-04: Japan Unveils AI-Driven Strategy to Regain Global IP Leadership
India launches new EV manufacturing policy to attract global automakers
Good Morning,
Below are some of the most important developments in the artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and cloud computing sectors in Asia today.
▪️ Japan: Japan Unveils AI-Driven Strategy to Regain Global IP Leadership
Japan is leveraging artificial intelligence to strengthen its intellectual property competitiveness.
▪️ India: India launches new EV manufacturing policy to attract global automakers
India has launched a new policy to boost electric vehicle manufacturing and attract global automakers to localize production.
▪️ Taiwan: Trump’s Tariff Hikes on Metals and Semiconductors Spur Market Slump and Labor Strains in Asia
Recent adjustments to US tariffs on steel, aluminum and semiconductors have triggered significant market and labor disruptions across Asia.
▪️ Taiwan: TSMC Unveils Growth Strategies and Capacity Expansion at Latest Shareholder Meeting
TSMC’s recent shareholder meeting and related announcements reveal its strategies to navigate currency headwinds, expand capacity, and address social and environmental responsibilities while forecasting robust growth.
▪️ Taiwan: NVIDIA Partnerships Accelerate AI-Driven Transformation in Taiwan’s Financial Sector
The financial services sector is rapidly integrating artificial intelligence technologies in collaboration with NVIDIA to enhance fraud prevention, financial management, and customer services.
▪️ South Korea: Samsung Pay Payment Outage Disrupts Morning Transactions and Restored After Three Hours
On the morning of June 2, 2025, Samsung Pay experienced a service outage that disrupted contactless and online transactions.
▪️ South Korea: SK Telecom SIM Data Breach Triggers Record Subscriber Exodus and Telecom Competition in Korea
SK Telecom’s April SIM card data breach sparked an unprecedented wave of subscriber churn and number porting across Korea’s mobile carriers.
For more information on these developments, please see the full report below.
Thanks for reading,
Rodney J Johnson
Today's Developments
Widely Reported On Issues of Importance
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Japan Unveils AI-Driven Strategy to Regain Global IP Leadership
Japan is leveraging artificial intelligence to strengthen its intellectual property competitiveness.
Under Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, the government introduced the Intellectual Property Promotion Plan 2025 at the Prime Minister’s Office. The initiative aims to boost Japan’s IP competitiveness by harnessing AI and attracting top international talent. It outlines measures to streamline the patent framework for AI-driven inventions and to create an environment that draws global experts in technology and innovation.
The plan sets a target for Japan to return to the top four in the World Innovation Index by 2035.
Currently, Japan ranks 13th in the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization’s 2024 edition, having slipped from its peak of fourth place. Officials also aim to place Japan among the top four in the Global Innovation Index by 2035 and to raise the share of intangible assets in the market capitalization of major Japanese companies from 32 percent in 2020 to over 50 percent.
To address the rise of generative AI and its effects on design creation, the plan proposes revising the Design Law to extend protection to designs in virtual environments such as the metaverse.
The revised legislation will recognize a broad range of object and image designs as protectable and will introduce legal, technical, and contractual measures to combat infringement and counterfeiting of both physical and virtual product designs. It also requires creators and AI enterprises to provide adequate design disclosures.
Further, the plan identifies eight strategic areas—including digital technology, artificial intelligence, and quantum technology—in which Japan will concentrate resources.
The government will pursue leadership roles in international standard-setting bodies, expand participation in global intellectual property organizations, and host international conferences domestically to foster collaboration and increase visibility.
Beyond technology, the initiative seeks to revitalize regional economies by integrating IP strategies with cultural industries such as anime and film.
By linking intellectual property policies to local creative sectors, the government aims to stimulate economic growth outside major metropolitan areas and reinforce Japan’s domestic innovation ecosystem.
References for this Development
AI使い知財競争力の強化へ、政府が戦略本部会合で計画決定 国際的ランク4位復活も
The Sankei News | Local Language | News
政府、ＡＩ使い知財競争力強化 国際ランクのトップ４復活狙う
Tokyo Shimbun | Local Language | News
先端技術の権利保護へ法整備 政府、知的財産計画を決定
Nikkei | Local Language | News
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India launches new EV manufacturing policy to attract global automakers
India has launched a new policy to boost electric vehicle manufacturing and attract global automakers to localize production.
The government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India (SPMEPCI) in March 2024, and plans to open applications as early as June, running through March 15, 2026.
The policy offers a reduced import duty of 15 percent on fully built EV units priced above $35,000, provided that automakers meet specific investment and operational requirements. To qualify, companies must invest at least 41.5 billion rupees (approximately $500 million) in a local plant within three years of approval, and they may import up to 8,000 vehicles annually at the concessional rate, carrying over unused quotas into subsequent years. Once approved, manufacturers keep the 15 percent duty rate for five years.
To ensure manufacturers meet performance expectations, SPMEPCI ties incentives to revenue milestones and penalties.
Automakers must achieve at least 50 billion rupees (around $586 million) in revenue by their fourth year of operations and 75 billion rupees by the fifth, or face fines up to 3 percent of their committed investment. In response to lobbying from domestic producers such as Maruti Suzuki India and Tata Motors, the government revised guidelines on June 2, 2025, to include brownfield investments—allowing automakers to repurpose existing facilities rather than build new ones—thereby granting more flexibility in plant utilization and investment modes.
Global EV manufacturers have responded unevenly.
Tesla has signaled its intent to continue importing vehicles only through showrooms, citing past disputes over import duties and assembly rules, while BYD Co. has opted out amid broader India–China tensions. By contrast, VinFast Auto Ltd. already is constructing a manufacturing plant in India. Analysts warn that without major international players, SPMEPCI may struggle to reshape the market, especially given the dominant positions and protective policies that favor domestic leaders Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra. Critics also question whether stringent revenue targets and penalties might discourage sustained investment rather than foster production growth.
References for this Development
India’s flagship EV policy to be a ‘non-starter’ for global giants
Hindu Business Line | English | News
Centre notifies guidelines to boost electric car production
The Hindu | English | News
India's new flagship EV policy to be a ‘non-starter’ for global biggies
The Economic Times | English | News
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