Belgian man held for chip secrets espionage

A 52-year-old Belgian-Chinese man is in pretrial detention in Belgium on suspicion of industrial espionage and transferring semiconductor trade secrets to China. Prosecutors announced on Monday, September 7, 2026, that the man was arrested on May 10, 2026, at Brussels Airport as he was preparing to board a flight to Beijing. The suspect held a senior research position at BelGaN, a Belgian company specializing in gallium nitride semiconductors, a technology used in electric vehicles, satellites, and military systems. BelGaN, which employed approximately 400 people, was declared bankrupt in July 2024. Investigators suspect the man was simultaneously acting as a director for a Chinese company engaged in similar manufacturing activities. This Chinese firm was reportedly established just a few months after the suspect joined BelGaN and was financed by a Chinese investment fund. The investigation is focusing on allegations of espionage, membership in a criminal organization, misuse of company assets, and unlawful disclosure of business secrets.