- Invisible radar a boost for defence
- Lighting event part of Sydney’s Vivid
- RF switches for an array of applications
- Is a legal dispute with Apple costing chip maker Qualcomm?
AS CHINA looks to further boost its electronics supply chain, a Chinese technology regulator has said it would cooperate with a bank to set up a US$30 billion fund to support the push.
China is seeking to expand its technological capabilities and move up the supply chain. However, market turmoil, competition from its Asian neighbours and the slowing national economy threatens these ambitions.
Industry analysts speculate the fund will be used as a stimulus for the tech industry, especially in the manufacturing and lower end electronics sectors. Chinese state-run media have said that the fund would address problems faced by SMEs in the country, many of which are under pressure or have folded due to lack of funding.
The partnership responsible for the fund include an industry group controlled by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and Ping An Bank.
The strategic direction of the fund indicates that it will play a role in shoring up underperforming companies, which may slow the consolidation of the low-cost electronics manufacturing industry in China.
The wider Chinese economic problems of a depreciating currency and slowing growth is worsening the situation for lower-end electronics makers and component suppliers in China, who contend with low margins, inconsistent orders, and are very vulnerable to slowdowns in demand for electronics.