Pac Tech Pulse: February 2026

Newsletter by Aryan D'Rozario

Published February 10, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

Australia revises Policy for responsible use of AI in government. The revised policy reinforces safeguards to support safe, transparent and trusted adoption of AI across the Australian Public Service, ensuring that innovation progresses alongside accountability.

Source: OpenGov Asia

In detail: Australian Government Policy for responsible use of AI in government

Date: January 26, 2026

India releases a White Paper on Democratizing Access to Artificial Intelligence (AI) Infrastructure. The white paper defines democratizing access to AI infrastructure as making the AI infrastructure, including compute, datasets, and model ecosystems available and affordable, such that it reaches a wide set of users.

Source: Suryaa

In detail: Democratising Access to AI Infrastructure

Date: December 30, 2025

India releases a White Paper on AI Governance. The white paper proposes a "techno-legal" framework to balance innovation and risk. The framework integrates legal safeguards, technical controls, and institutional mechanisms to ensure trusted AI development.

Source: Times of India

In detail: Strengthening AI Governance Through Techno-Legal Framework

Date: January 24, 2026

Malaysia launches "Jelajah AI MyMahir", a community-level AI upskilling initiative. The program will reach 60 constituencies, delivering hands-on AI learning to students, workers, women, entrepreneurs and small business owners. The focus is on practical AI usage that boosts productivity, employability and income-generation as automation continues to change job and skills requirements.

Source: Business Today

Date: January 17, 2026

Philippines launches AI Literacy as a Life Skill in Schools. The program aims at embedding artificial intelligence literacy into basic education, positioning AI as a practical life skill.

In detail: Philippine Information Agency

Date: January 13, 2026

Bangladesh publishes draft National AI Policy Bangladesh 2026-2030. The policy aims to create Bangladesh as a producer of home-grown innovation, modernize public services, and promote inclusive economic growth. The draft policy provides a formal framework for these goals, aligning the country's technological ambitions with Vision 2041 and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Source: The Daily Star

In detail: National AI Policy Bangladesh 2026-2030 (DRAFT V1.1)

Date: January 26, 2026

China releases a work plan to deepen the integration of the industrial internet and artificial intelligence (AI). The plan, published by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is as part of a broader effort to strengthen the manufacturing sector.

Source: Press Release

Date: January 9, 2026

Japan adopts its first national basic plan on the development and use of artificial intelligence. The plan sets out a strategy to accelerate AI adoption while strengthening safety and public trust. The plan establishes a framework for "reliable AI," balancing technological innovation with risk management.

Source: Babl

Date: December 23, 2025

New Zealand launches plan to help small businesses overcome barriers to adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI). The policy offers practical, co-funded support to lift productivity and drive growth.

Source: Press Release

Date: January 14, 2026

New Zealand announces program to modernize the public service industry through the adoption and implementation of artificial intelligence. The Public Service AI Work Program is the government's two-year strategy to "accelerate the uptake of AI" in public service and other government departments.

Source: Cyber Daily

In detail: Press Release, Public Service AI Work Programme to 2027 A3

Date: January 20, 2026

Singapore launches a comprehensive governance framework for the responsible deployment of agentic AI. The new Model AI Governance Framework for Agentic AI builds on Singapore's original Model AI Governance Framework introduced in 2020 and provides organizations with practical guidance on deploying AI agents safely and reliably.

Source: Market Tech

In detail: Government of Singapore, Infocomm Media Development Authority

Model AI Governance Framework (MGF) for Agentic AI

Date: January 23, 2026

South Korea enforces their AI Basic Act. The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) confirmed that penalties under the AI Basic Act, formally titled The Act on the Promotion of Artificial Intelligence Development and the Establishment of a Trust-Based Foundation, such as fines of up to $20,500 (KRW 30 million), will be deferred during a one-year grace period while regulators focus on guidance and adaptation.

Source: Korea Tech Desk

In detail: Framework Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and Establishment of Trust

Date: January 22, 2026

Energy Technology

Australia announces a national pilot program to recycle end-of-life solar panels. The plan aims to reduce landfill waste, recover valuable minerals, and support Australia's transition to cleaner and cheaper energy. The program is intended to build a long-term, sustainable solution for managing the growing volume of retired solar panels.

Source: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Date: January 16, 2026

China issues new guidelines to promote green microgrids in the industrial sector. The guidelines are a part of a strategy to bolster the new energy sector and accelerate carbon reduction in key industries. Industrial green microgrids are integrated energy systems designed to primarily supply clean power to industrial users, combining technologies such as solar and wind power, high-efficiency heat pumps, advanced energy storage solutions, and intelligent energy management.

Source: Press Release

Date: January 9, 2026

India proposes amendments to their Electricity Rules 2005. The amendments aim to simplify the regulatory framework for captive power generation. Under the existing rules, a power project qualifies as a captive generating project only if two core conditions are met. Captive users must hold at least 26 percent ownership in the project and consume at least 51 percent of the electricity generated.

Source: Mercom

In detail: Draft amendments to Electricity Rules 2005

Date: January 5, 2026

India publishes revised Guidelines for the Type Tests for Major Equipment of Power Sector and the Guidelines for Model Quality Assurance Plan (MQAP) for Major Equipment of Power Sector. The revisions follow directions from India's Ministry of Power and submissions from multiple stakeholders across the industry.

Source: Power Peak Digest

In detail: Guidelines for the Type Tests for Major Equipment of Power Sector and Guidelines for Model Quality Assurance Plan (MQAP) for Major Equipment of Power Sector

Date: January 20, 2026

India publishes draft National Electricity Policy, 2026. The policy proposes strict norms for power tariff determination, a framework for sweeping structural reforms to improve the financial health of discoms, financing requirements, and suggestions on long-term generation and transmission planning.

Source: Economic Times

In detail: Draft Electricity Policy, 2026

Date: January 22, 2026

Indonesia establishes the Dewan Energi Nasional (DEN), or National Energy Council. The Council, valid from 2026 to 2029, aims to accelerate energy self-sufficiency and support the country's energy transition agenda. The Council's mandate is to coordinate among ministries and agencies to boost domestic energy production, expand renewable energy use, and shift consumption toward alternatives such as biofuel and biosolar.

Source: Cabinet Secretariat of The Republic of Indonesia - News

Date: January 29, 2026

Malaysia issues guidelines for their Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS). The purpose of these guidelines is to regulate the direct procurement of electricity generated from Green Energy Plant (GE) owned by Renewable Energy Developer (RED) to the Green Consumer registered with the Electricity Utility Company (EUC) via Electricity Supply Network in Peninsular Malaysia.

Source: Guidelines for Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS)

Date: December 30, 2025

Malaysia issues guideline for Electricity Meters. The purpose of these guidelines is to set out the requirements to be fulfilled for electricity meters including the processes of approval, testing and initial verification.

Source: Guidelines for Electricity Meters

Date: January 01, 2026

New Zealand announces plans to strengthen their Electricity Authority. The government amends the Electricity Industry Act to give the Electricity Authority power to increase penalties for serious rule-breaking from a maximum of $2 million to up to $10 million, or 10 percent of a company's turnover. The amendments also introduce instant infringement fines (up to $2000) for more minor, repeated breaches.

Source: Scoop

In detail: Press Release

Date: January 13, 2026

Semiconductors

China announces a ban on exports of equipment with dual military and civilian applications to Japan. The ban includes items that use rare earth elements.

Source: DW

Date: January 8, 2026

Thailand unveils a national strategy to accelerate its semiconductor and advanced electronics industry. The strategy targets upwards of $79 billion (2.5 trillion baht) in investment and over 230,000 skilled workers by 2050 as it pushes to establish a fully integrated, "Made-in-Thailand" chip ecosystem.

Source: Babl

In detail: Thailand Board of Investment

Date: January 7, 2026

Vietnam establishes the Vietnam National Multi-Project Wafer Coordination Center (VNMPW/CC). The Center's mandate is to support state management and provide public services for chip prototyping, strengthen industry linkages, and bolster Vietnam's position in the global semiconductor value chain.

Source: Vietnam Briefing

In detail: Ministry of Science and Technology

Date: January 2, 2026

Biotechnology/Pharmaceuticals

Australia publishes Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) Compliance Principles 2026 and 2027. The new principles are applicable across all TGA regulated areas, including medical devices, prescription and non-prescription medicines, complementary and listed medicines, unapproved therapeutic goods, and other therapeutic goods

Source: Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) Press Release

In detail: TGA Compliance Principles 2026 and 2027

Date: January 22, 2026

China revises their Regulations for the Implementation of the Drug Administration Law. The revised regulation aims to encourage drug research and innovation, strengthen the whole life-cycle control of drugs, and provide a solid legal guarantee for high-level drug safety and the high-quality development of the pharmaceutical industry.

Source: National Medical Products Administration

Date: January 1, 2026

India issues a draft notification to remove cough syrups from Schedule K of the Drugs Rules, 1945. This move aims to reclassify cough syrups from over the counter (OTC) to prescription-only medicines. Once finalized, cough syrups will no longer be available for over-the-counter sale and must be sold only under the prescription of a registered medical practitioner.

Source: Indian Pharma Post

In detail: Gazette Notification

Date: January 1, 2026

Japan issues a notification outlining the intent and key elements of amendments to the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices (PMD) Act. The notice clarifies the expanded use of real-world data (RWD) in regulatory submissions, broadens the scope of the conditional approval system, introduces a best-efforts obligation to draw up pediatric drug development plans, and establishes a framework for priority reviews in the event of supply shortages.

Source: Pharma Japan

Date: January 6, 2026

Aerospace Technology

China launches electronic licenses for dangerous goods air transport.

Source: ChemNet

In detail: Civil Aviation Administration of China Press release

Date: January 15, 2026

Quantum Technology

India releases the Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework. The framework aims to integrate the four pillars of Quantum technologies - Quantum communication, Quantum computing, Quantum sensing and Metrology and Quantum materials and devices - into India's Tri-Services.

Source: Tribune India

In detail: Press Release

Date: January 22, 2026

South Korea releases a roadmap for their quantum industry. The roadmap aims to help South Korea become the world's top quantum chip producer by 2035. The plan includes goals of securing homegrown quantum technologies that can deliver industrial breakthroughs by building advancements in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector.

Source: Yonhap News

Date: January 29, 2026

Energy Technology

Australia publishes details of its $1.2 billion Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve. The first minerals to be the focus of the Strategic Reserve will be antimony, gallium and rare earth elements, which are crucial for clean-energy and high-technology manufacturing. The Reserve includes $1 billion for transactions to be drawn from the expanded $5 billion Critical Minerals Facility, which provides government-backed loans and equity support for projects.

Source: PV Magazine

In detail: Ministers for the Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Date: January 12, 2026

Thailand introduces a one percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blending mandate. Under the new rules, Jet A-1 fuel specifications and quality requirements at production and sales points had been classified into three categories: conventional Jet A-1; co-hydro-processing and conventional Jet A-1 blended with neat SAF. The regulations are intended to ensure SAF producers meet international standards, in line with the government's policy to promote sustainable and low-carbon aviation fuels.

Source: Oils & Fats International

Date: January 20, 2026

Programs & Projects