Belgian authorities have arrested a former senior research executive at bankrupt chipmaker Belgan on suspicion of illegally transferring gallium nitride (GaN) chip manufacturing know-how and trade secrets to China. The dual Belgian Chinese national was detained at Brussels Airport in May while preparing to fly to Beijing and remains in custody.
Acquired by Chinese investors in 2022, Belgan set out to turn the former On Semi fab in Oudenaarde into a GaN production facility. Investigators now suspect the new owners may have been aimed less at rescuing the business than at obtaining its technology. Belgan went bankrupt and was liquidated in 2024.
As reported by De Standaard, the suspect H.L. simultaneously held a senior position at Belgan while acting as a director of Gankool, a Chinese company established shortly after the acquisition that develops the same GaN technology. Belgian media report that former Belgan CEO Alan Zhou Zhen is being sought as a second suspect.
Imec confirmed it has been contacted by investigators because the detained executive previously worked at the Belgian R&D institute and said it’s fully cooperating with the judicial investigation.
