Belgium investigated the leak of the GaN chip technology, the charges of espionage by former Chinese senior researchers.

The Belgian Federal Prosecution Service has disclosed a criminal investigation involving sensitive semiconductor technology and Chinese enterprises. A 52-year-old man, who had dual Belgian and Chinese citizenship and had served as a senior researcher in BelGaN, a former Belgian chip manufacturer, was detained. The prosecution is investigating whether it has illegally transferred intellectual property and commercial secrets related to the GaN semiconductor to foreign countries.

Cases involved suspected criminal acts such as espionage, participation in criminal organizations, misuse of corporate assets and illegal disclosure of commercial secrets. These elements are currently within the scope of prosecution investigations and allegations and the case has not yet been finalized by the court.

Arrested at airport and detained for months

According to the Belgian prosecution's disclosure and <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/china/belgium-detains-chinese-man-suspicion-semiconductor-espionage-2026-09-07/"target" rel = "nopener noreferrer" data-linked-reference = "tru" data-reference-label = "Reuter News" </a", Reuters case report, in which the man was born in Beijing, resident in Belgium and had Chinese and Belgian nationality.

He was arrested on 10 May this year at Zafentham airport in Brussels, while he was on his way to Beijing. The case was not disclosed by the prosecution until 7 September. The man is still in custody.

The investigators are also pursuing another suspect. The prosecution indicated that law enforcement had carried out searches and seized data storage equipment and electronic communications for analysis.

The persons concerned denied the charges. At this stage, all criminal charges must be adjudicated by a judicial process and prosecution or investigation does not amount to conviction.

“Two companies with one person on board” became the focus of the survey

The core of the case was not only whether the data had been taken to China, but also the role of the persons involved in the two semiconductor enterprises with a competitive relationship.

The prosecution stated that the man had previously held a senior research position in BelGaN, Belgium. However, investigators found evidence that he was also a director of a Chinese company during BelGaN ' s tenure, which was engaged in a chip manufacturing business similar to BelGaN.

It is even more of concern that, according to the time period announced by the prosecution, the Chinese company was established several months after the man entered BelGaN and was supported by funds from a Chinese investment fund.

The Belgian prosecution is investigating whether, in this dual capacity, the professional intellectual property and commercial secrets held by BelGaN have been illegally transferred abroad.

Key issues under investigation include:

• The illegal acquisition and transfer of BelGaN know-how;
• Where are the technologies and data ultimately destined for them;
• What role Chinese enterprises and investment funds play in the process;
• Whether there is a broader organizational activity.

GaN technology has dual-use value

BelGaN specializes in argon nitrogen-nitrous semiconductor technology. Compared to traditional silicon-based semiconductors, GaN materials have characteristics that are suitable for high power, high frequency, etc., and have important applications in new energy vehicles, electrical and electronics, etc.

Another reason for the attention given to the case by the European security services is that the relevant technology can be applied in both the aerospace and military fields.

The Belgian prosecution has made it clear that the intellectual property and commercial secrets under investigation relate to the production of nitrogenized nitrous chips, which can be used for electric vehicles, aerospace and military purposes.

The background of business insolvency is in the investigative landscape

BelGaN went bankrupt in July 2024, when the company had about 400 employees. Investigations surrounding business insolvency then extend to possible technical and commercial clandestine outflows.

It is now possible to confirm that the Belgian judiciary has placed the case in the framework of criminal investigations, with one suspect in custody and another still being pursued.

It is not yet possible to confirm whether the Chinese companies involved and the investment funds have specific responsibilities in connection with the transfer of the technology and whether the acts in question have been directed or involved by Chinese government agencies. The public judicial material available is not sufficient to support a direct factual conclusion of the above-mentioned issues.

In the context of the continued strengthening of critical technical and economic security reviews in Europe, the follow-up judicial process in the GaN case will be an important case for observing the relationship between Chinese capital, European semiconductor enterprises and sensitive technology protection.