Alibaba

ByteDance

CATL

Huawei

Meituan

Tencent

Xiaomi

Most Followed

Market News

Listings (IPO)

Earnings Reports

Venture Roundup

Big Tech

Automotives

Retail and Commerce

Collections

News

Features

Insights

Press Releases

Anta

DeepSeek

Geely

Li Auto

Mixue Bingcheng

Pop Mart

Going Global

Latest

Collaborate

Earnings

Auto

Retail & Commerce

… to prepare [as if the] situation in the Middle East would be a long one, which will drive up the oil costs and sequentially affect people's daily spending willingness and affect the global demand," the tech industry veteran told reporters on March 11, adding that the situation is "a big test for tech suppliers' risk management."
Kai-Chen Lo, an industry analyst with the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research, said naphtha cracker costs could rise in the short term and the supply of certain petrochemical products could be temporarily affected in light of the force majeure notices sent by Asian petrochemical companies.
Most petrochemical companies that have not yet issued force majeure notices can respond to the naphtha supply issue by adjusting inventories or sourcing alternatives for the short term, she said.
"However, if upstream supply reductions expand or persist, impacts could gradually transmit downstream to industries such as rubber and plastics raw materials and plastic product manufacturers," the analyst told Nikkei Asia. "We have to closely monitor the logistics situation and the price trends of raw materials to see how the situation unfolds."
This article first appeared on <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/supply-chain/exclusive-asian-executives-flag-rising-supply-chain-risks-from-iran-war">Nikkei Asia</a>. It has been republished here as part of 36Kr’s ongoing partnership with <a href="https://www.kr-asia.com/nikkei-teams-up-with-36kr-in-asia-tech-news-coverage/">Nikkei</a>.

Asian executives flag rising supply chain risks from Iran war

Logistics

Singapore

Malaysia

Thailand

Vietnam

Indonesia

Philippines

Japan

South Korea

Hong Kong

Southeast Asia

China

Huawei veterans raise funding for startup powering AI data centers

East Asia

Venture Capital

Artificial Intelligence

Deep Tech

Investment

AI Infrastructure

Diagens Biotechnology has passed a listing hearing with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and disclosed its post-hearing prospectus on March 15, with Huatai International serving as the sole sponsor. The move puts the Hangzhou-based firm on track to become the world's first publicly listed company offering <a href="/industry/ai">artificial intelligence</a>-driven tools and solutions built on a medical imaging foundation model.
Founded in 2016, Diagens develops medical imaging products and services. Its portfolio includes six medical imaging software products, three commercialized medical devices, four key reagents and consumables, and two technology licensing products.
At the center of its lineup is AI Autovision, a chromosome karyotyping-assisted diagnostic software designed for chromosome analysis. The product targets applications including birth defect prevention, premarital and preconception screening, and assisted reproductive technology.
Clinical trials of AI Autovision have been completed, and an application was submitted in May 2025 to the National Medical Products Administration for registration as a Class 3 medical device. In the same month, the regulator designated it an innovative Class 3 medical device, allowing the product to enter an accelerated approval process.
In a multicenter clinical trial involving 1,518 real-world samples, AI Autovision achieved a sensitivity and specificity of 100% in detecting numerical chromosomal abnormalities. For structural abnormalities, the system recorded a sensitivity of 94.05% and a specificity of 100%.
The company said the average analysis time per case is more than three times faster than conventional manual systems, highlighting the potential clinical value of AI-assisted analysis in complex medical imaging tasks. The claim is attributed to the company and is not independently verified.
Beyond its flagship product, Diagens has developed a full workflow solution for chromosome karyotype analysis that spans sample preparation through result interpretation. Its lineup includes the Autovision chromosome analysis software, Kayoflow automatic cell harvester, Kayoflow slide preparation and staining system, and Metasight automated cell microscopic imaging scanner.
According to Frost &amp; Sullivan, Diagens ranked first in China's chromosome karyotype analysis market by revenue in 2024, with a 30.6% market share.
Chromosome karyotype analysis remains the gold standard in cytogenetic diagnostics. It is widely used in preconception screening, assisted reproductive technology, inherited metabolic disease diagnosis, and hematologic cancer research.
The mainland China market for chromosome analysis is projected to expand to RMB 2.038 billion (USD 294.9 million) by 2030 and RMB 6 billion (USD 868.3 million) by 2035, according to Frost &amp; Sullivan. Diagens said its current market position could allow it to capture growth as demand increases.
The company attributes the performance of AI Autovision largely to iMedImage, its proprietary model.
iMedImage is a general-purpose foundation model designed for reasoning-oriented learning and training in medical imaging. Built on this architecture, Diagens is developing customized AI models and tools for targeted disease diagnosis and treatment applications.
As of March 10, iMedImage reportedly supports 19 medical imaging modalities and covers more than 90% of clinical medical imaging scenarios, including reproductive health, hematologic malignancies, and other clinical applications. According to the company, its cross-domain generalization capabilities have been validated across multiple environments and imaging formats, including microscopic imaging, obstetric ultrasound, CT imaging, and microscopic video.
Diagens plans to further develop the iMedImage foundation model to improve its generalization capability and reasoning efficiency. It also intends to expand computing capacity to process large-scale medical imaging datasets more efficiently, while extending cloud services to support deployment across clinical environments.
The firm also plans to extend the model to additional medical imaging modalities and clinical specialties to broaden its applications.
To accelerate the healthcare sector's transition toward smart systems, Diagens intends to license the iMedImage model for localized deployment. The company said this approach could help address a challenge in remote areas where medical equipment is available but specialized expertise is limited. It also plans to allow hospitals and medical experts to train disease-specific models tailored to their own clinical needs.
Policy support may further reinforce the company's strategy. Last October, the National Health Commission, together with four other government agencies, issued guidelines promoting and regulating healthcare applications that use AI. The policy calls for AI-assisted medical imaging diagnostic services to become widely available in hospitals classified as secondary level and above nationwide by 2030.
Financially, Diagens reported revenue of RMB 112 million (USD 16.2 million) in the first three quarters of 2025, up from RMB 20 million (USD 2.9 million) in the same period of 2024. Gross margin during the period reached 75.9%.
Since its founding, the company has attracted investment from institutions including Goldport Capital, Meihong Investment, Grand Flight Investment, Liyuan Investment, Jiayuan Venture Capital, Guozhong Capital, Winning Venture Capital, Tenghua Investment, Yuhang Economic Development Zone, Sinowisdom, Yingboli Investment, Huabao Venture Capital, Blue Shell Capital, and Huadan Investment.
According to the prospectus, proceeds from the planned IPO will primarily be used for the R&amp;D and commercialization of AI Autovision, development of other medical imaging software candidates and medical devices, advancement of the iMedImage foundation model and related AI technologies, expansion of the company's technology licensing business, strengthening commercialization capabilities and market penetration in China, expanding global operations, pursuing strategic partnerships and investments across the healthcare value chain, and general corporate purposes.
This <a href="https://xueqiu.com/2854806290/379509716">article</a> was adapted based on a feature originally written by Stone Jin and published on IPO Zaozhidao. KrASIA is authorized to translate, adapt, and publish its contents.
Note: RMB figures are converted to USD at rates of RMB 6.91 = USD 1 based on estimates as of March 16, 2026, unless otherwise stated. USD conversions are presented for ease of reference and may not fully match prevailing exchange rates.

Diagens nears IPO with medical imaging AI, foundation model

Health Tech

On March 13, at the Appliance &amp; Electronics World Expo 2026, Yang Xiangwen, head of Mova's white goods division, unveiled a new product called Airbot. The compact device functions as both a mobile air conditioner and what the company describes as a spatial terminal for smart climate control. Its introduction drew attention at the event and raised questions about whether there's room to reshape how air conditioning systems are used.
While many traditional white goods manufacturers continue to compete through promotions and price cuts, Mova is experimenting with a different approach. With Airbot, it is attempting to challenge longstanding assumptions about how air conditioning systems are installed and used by introducing a freely mobile cooling device.
Historically, the installation point of an air conditioner has shaped how people use indoor space. Cool air from a unit in the living room rarely reaches the bedroom, and cooling from a study seldom extends to areas such as balconies. This fixed model often clashes with the flexible living patterns common among younger households.
Airbot addresses this limitation by separating the air conditioner from the wall and turning it into a mobile unit. Equipped with a human tracking sensor, the device can locate users in real time and move toward them using omnidirectional wheels at its base. The system directs airflow toward the user, allowing cooling to follow the person through different parts of a home.
The design may appeal to renters who cannot install permanent air conditioning units. It could also reduce the need for multiple systems in large homes or open-plan spaces. In theory, a single device could move between rooms rather than requiring a separate unit for each area.
In residential environments, Airbot can travel between living rooms, bedrooms, studies, balconies, gardens, and courtyards. The system is designed to adjust its cooling settings automatically based on the surrounding environment, reducing the need to install dedicated air conditioners in spaces such as kitchens or bathrooms.
In commercial settings, the device could operate in offices, retail stores, and exhibition halls, where localized cooling may be useful. Outdoors, it may provide temporary cooling during activities such as camping or fishing, according to the company.
Yang said Airbot is intended to transform air conditioners from what he described as a “spatial accessory” into a scenario-based component of everyday environments. According to him, this shift could change how consumers think about air conditioning.
Industry observers told 36Kr that Airbot may represent an early version of a broader product category. Mova is reportedly exploring additional spatial climate solutions. Future systems, according to these observers, could adjust airflow paths based on building layouts or maintain balanced temperature and humidity across an entire home without requiring manual adjustments.
Another notable aspect of Airbot is its interaction model. Instead of relying solely on direct user commands, the system is designed to sense environmental conditions, make decisions, and execute actions autonomously.
Autonomy in <a href="/industry/robotics">robotics</a> generally refers to a closed loop that combines perception, decision-making, and action without constant external input. Mova said Airbot demonstrates this capability in three areas:
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">Perception: Airbot's sensor system collects environmental data and analyzes it using algorithms that identify behavioral patterns and potential user needs. For example, if the system detects that a user repeatedly turns off the air conditioner around 10 p.m, it can learn this routine and automatically switch to sleep mode at the same time in the future.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Decision-making: Airbot runs on an <a href="/industry/ai">artificial intelligence</a> platform with local computing capabilities. According to the company, the device processes environmental data on the unit itself rather than relying entirely on cloud servers. This design may reduce response time and limit the amount of user data transmitted externally.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Execution: The system can adjust airflow temperature, wind speed, and direction automatically. In future iterations, it may also reposition itself within a space to deliver cooling where it is needed most, according to Mova.</li>
</ol>
This approach differs from conventional smart air conditioners, which typically respond only to commands issued through remote controls or mobile apps. Airbot is designed to interpret patterns and adjust its behavior accordingly.
Another feature highlighted by the company is its learning capability. Mova said the system's algorithms improve over time as they analyze user behavior. Each device functions as a localized learning terminal, gradually adapting to its owner's habits.
The company also said that anonymized feature data could be shared across devices to improve system performance while protecting personal information. Some industry insiders compare the concept to Tesla's autonomous driving data network, where aggregated data helps refine system performance across a fleet.
At its core, Airbot rethinks how temperature control operates across different environments. As a mobile air conditioning robot, it blends characteristics of home appliances with those of autonomous systems.
As sensing technologies and local computing capabilities improve, more household appliances may incorporate robotic features. Devices that integrate terminal functionality with autonomous operation could become more common, interacting with both users and their surroundings.
KrASIA features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3721247974766981">article</a> was written by Xiao Xi for 36Kr.

Mova's Airbot turns air conditioning into a moving climate companion

Robotics

Consumer Economy

Controversy surrounding Meizu that had been simmering since before the Lunar New Year appears to have reached a turning point.
According to information obtained by 36Kr from internal sources, Meizu recently announced a major restructuring that will see more than half of its employees leave the company, affecting roughly 400 people.
Those departing face three possible outcomes. Some will receive severance packages exceeding the legal minimum, others will move to newly separated business units, while a third group may be absorbed by partner companies. Most employees were expected to complete the necessary procedures by March 13.
As part of the restructuring, 36Kr reported that Meizu's Pandaer lifestyle technology brand team will be spun off to operate independently, taking responsibility for its own profits and losses. Meanwhile, part of Meizu's augmented reality glasses team is expected to be absorbed by the AR hardware company RayNeo.
Earlier, on February 27, Meizu attempted to address growing speculation, stating that it had decided to suspend in-house development of new smartphone hardware and was in discussions with third-party hardware partners.
After the restructuring, the remaining smartphone-related staff at Meizu will number about 400. According to 36Kr, those who remain are expected to be reassigned in two directions. Some may join the team working on Meizu's Flyme automotive operating system, while others may shift toward <a href="/industry/ai">artificial intelligence</a> software development.
In addition, the core assets of Meizu's smartphone division have already been packaged and integrated into hardware companies within the <a href="/company/geely">Geely</a> ecosystem. These assets include software code, product documentation, technical interface documentation, engineering code libraries, and visual interaction materials.
A source familiar with the matter said most of the remaining staff are concentrated in Zhuhai, where Meizu's headquarters is located. The team is unlikely to continue operating under the Meizu brand, and employees may eventually transition to a new corporate entity.
In response to inquiries from 36Kr, Meizu said Flyme's open ecosystem will become the company's foundation moving forward, forming what it described as a sustainable, closed-loop business model.
“Organizational adjustments accompanying strategic transformation are a normal part of industry development,” the company said. “Aside from suspending domestic smartphone hardware R&amp;D, all other businesses are progressing steadily.”
Meizu added that its overseas smartphone business, AI-powered smart glasses, and Pandaer brand continue to operate normally. It also denied reports that its AR team would be absorbed by RayNeo, calling the claim inaccurate.
For many employees, signs of disruption had already emerged before the holiday.
In the weeks leading up to the Lunar New Year, Meizu began terminating outsourced staff, slowing internal approvals, and extending the holiday break while delaying the official return-to-work date. Many employees interpreted these moves as signals that the smartphone business was under pressure.
According to 36Kr, the smartphone division still had a narrow window for survival earlier this year. Before the holiday, the team reportedly attempted to pursue an acquisition by a well-known AI company, but negotiations ultimately failed.
“The other party believed the Meizu brand had no value,” a source familiar with the talks said.
In its earlier announcement, Meizu identified one major factor behind its shift: rising memory prices.
“The level of competition in the smartphone market is far beyond imagination,” the company said. “With memory prices skyrocketing, the commercialization of new smartphone products has become increasingly difficult.”
A recent report from Counterpoint Research showed that in the first quarter of 2026, DRAM prices rose 50% quarter on quarter, while NAND flash prices surged more than 90%.
The increase has significantly altered the bill of materials structure of smartphones.
According to the report, memory now accounts for 43% of total device costs for smartphones priced below USD 200, representing a 25% quarter-on-quarter increase. For smartphones priced above USD 400, memory costs are expected to account for 20–23% of total device costs by the second quarter of 2026.
The rise in memory prices has compressed profit margins across the smartphone industry.
Since late last year, China's smartphone market has entered a period of instability.
In January, smartphone brand Realme announced that it would return to the Oppo system, aiming to improve efficiency through deeper integration.
By March, many smartphone makers had introduced the largest collective price adjustments in nearly five years. Oppo, OnePlus, Vivo, <a href="/company/xiaomi">Xiaomi</a>, and Honor raised prices across multiple product tiers by around RMB 500, (USD 72.4) with some models abandoning the segment below RMB 1,000 (USD 144.7) altogether.
The withdrawal of Meizu's smartphone business also reflects how the surge in artificial intelligence investment is reshaping established technology sectors. Companies across the industry are reassessing their priorities, shifting resources toward AI, software, and ecosystem development while hardware margins tighten.
KrASIA features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3721227876039047">article</a> was written by Qiu Xiaofen for 36Kr.
Note: RMB figures are converted to USD at rates of RMB 6.91 = USD 1 based on estimates as of March 16, 2026, unless otherwise stated. USD conversions are presented for ease of reference and may not fully match prevailing exchange rates.

Meizu slashes workforce as smartphone unit winds down

Smartphones

… outlet. It provides backend infrastructure, including APIs and cloud databases, intended to simplify the replication of unified systems across chain networks.
According to Sunmi, more than 7,000 enterprises across roughly ten countries have adopted Max, and the company is focused on enhancing customization to embed such infrastructure choices over time.
Sectors where chainization is most visible, including retail and F&amp;B, are also those in which payment infrastructure and operational efficiency play a central role in the customer experience. Yet companies expanding overseas often do so before fully adapting their systems to new markets. That gap can create opportunities for integrated, next-generation solutions to be adopted from the outset, rather than retrofitted later.
In that context, companies that support globalizing chain brands at the level of operational infrastructure, such as Sunmi, may find themselves positioned at a critical juncture in the next phase of consumer globalization.
This article was published in partnership with <a href="https://www.sunmi.com/en/">Sunmi</a>.

Sunmi lays the rails for brands chasing global chain expansion

Fintech

Enterprise Services

Hardware

Internet of Things

Payments

… technology companies push the category. Earbuds, in particular, have a lower barrier to adoption.
<h3>36Kr: What will companies compete on?</h3>
DH: Comprehensive capability.
Operating systems, integration between software and hardware, ecosystem building, and product definition.
<h3>36Kr: What functions do your earbuds offer?</h3>
DH: We categorize them into several groups.
Practical features include smart message notifications, schedule reminders, and instant notetaking.
There are also more exploratory use cases. For instance, if you see something in a museum and do not recognize it, you can consult the earbuds. If you see a product offline, you can compare prices online or purchase it immediately.
You can also call a ride or complete other tasks.
<h3>36Kr: Since your earbuds are positioned as a second, complementary device, what technical challenges arise?</h3>
DH: The biggest challenge is the OS.
An OS must handle three responsibilities: hardware scheduling, software coordination, and human-machine interaction.
Second, AI hardware must communicate with users through microphones and speakers, and provide visual feedback through screens.
Third, it must connect many software services to fulfill user requests. In many cases, the system cannot make decisions on its own.
<h3>36Kr: Does that mean integrating a large software ecosystem?</h3>
DH: Exactly. We already integrate services such as Didi, Flight Master, QQ Music, Ximalaya, Xiaoyuzhou, and SMZDM.
Even though we are a small company, many large tech companies are willing to cooperate with us. That has exceeded our expectations.
<h3>36Kr: If the AI era requires a native OS, how is it fundamentally different from smartphone operating systems?</h3>
DH: Smartphones and PCs rely on graphical interfaces.
In the AI era, interaction will be based on natural language and vision. Operating systems must solve problems like invoking AI models and understanding users, and these are things Android, iOS, and Windows never had to handle.
Another difference is the separation of interaction and computation.
Typically, AI hardware runs a lightweight OS on the device to handle interaction, while heavy computation happens in the cloud. Both sides must work together.
<h3>36Kr: Could you build this on top of Android?</h3>
DH: We evaluated all existing operating systems. At one point, we considered modifying Android's graphical interface code and integrating AI features. But we eventually realized the complexity was extremely high.
<h3>36Kr: Is your competitive advantage the OS or the hardware?</h3>
DH: Ultimately, our strength lies in the AI OS and our ability to integrate software and hardware.
<h3>36Kr: Why are many companies building AI earbuds with cameras?</h3>
DH: Every tech company is trying to figure out how AI will translate into real-world scenarios.
Wearable devices could create entirely new user needs and usage scenarios.
For example, if you see a bottle of Coca-Cola offline, an online platform could capture that demand and convert it into an online purchase. That creates new traffic.
<h3>36Kr: What exactly do you mean by capturing traffic?</h3>
DH: About 30% of daily demand happens online, while roughly 70% occurs offline.
When you see a store, a product, or a parking space, you may want to record it, scan a QR code, or search for information.
Using a smartphone in those moments can be inconvenient. As a result, a lot of potential traffic disappears.
<h3>36Kr: Those scenarios sound fragmented. How valuable can they really be?</h3>
DH: When smartphones first emerged, people also underestimated their traffic potential. But smartphones created fragmented time usage, which enabled platforms like Douyin. GPS also enabled location-based services like Meituan.
Before smartphones existed, no one asked why they should search for nearby restaurants or book rides online.
With AI and wearable sensing, many everyday actions will become simpler.
In the future, every offline scenario can potentially be improved through better experiences.
<h3>36Kr: Some people worry that always-on cameras could create privacy risks. How do you address that?</h3>
DH: We deliberately chose a low-resolution two-megapixel camera.
The goal is simply to allow AI to understand the environment. The images are not visible to users and are deleted after processing.
We also implemented multiple privacy safeguards.
For example, the charging case includes fingerprint authentication. We have also designed secure cloud storage and other privacy protection measures.
KrASIA features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3716670530106761">article</a> was written by Qiu Xiaofen for 36Kr.

China's Guangfan positions AI wearables as the next computing platform

… its assumed average jet fuel price was USD 85 per barrel for the second half, and even though it was 83% hedged against Brent crude oil until the end of June, the company said it is still exposed to movements in the "crack spread," the price difference between crude oil and jet fuel.
Air New Zealand said its jet fuel price assumption "is no longer appropriate," and the "crisis is expected to meaningfully affect second-half earnings."
The carrier also said it has made "initial fare adjustments" and may need to make further changes to pricing, its network and schedules.
Apart from the Middle East strain, Cathay reported a loss at HK Express before net finance charges and taxation of HKD 996 million (USD 127.2 million) for 2025, worsening from HKD 204 million (USD 26.1 million) a year earlier. CEO Lam described the amount as "substantial" and attributed it partly to short-term factors, including new routes that "will take time to mature." The disclosure document also said that some aircraft were "grounded due to industrywide Pratt &amp; Whitney engine issues that continued without improvement."
A bigger problem was shifting customer behavior, especially last summer, when many travelers shunned Japan over an unfounded rumor that a major earthquake was about to hit the country. Lam said this had a "rather big impact" on traffic, as HK Express relies heavily on Japanese routes.
Lam said that this is no longer a factor and that the budget carrier's traffic has rebounded, but refrained from making any predictions about a return to the black.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/business/transportation/cathay-logs-higher-profit-as-iran-war-jolts-airlines-with-sudden-shifts">Nikkei Asia</a>. It has been republished here as part of 36Kr’s ongoing partnership with <a href="https://www.kr-asia.com/nikkei-teams-up-with-36kr-in-asia-tech-news-coverage/">Nikkei</a>.
Note: HKD figures are converted to USD at rates of HKD 7.83 = USD 1 based on estimates as of March 16, 2026, unless otherwise stated. USD conversions are presented for ease of reference and may not fully match prevailing exchange rates.

Cathay logs higher profit as Iran war jolts airlines with "sudden shifts"

Transportation

Travel

Mobility

… conflict."
This article first appeared on <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/business/transportation/china-s-24bn-global-port-push-reveals-supply-chain-security-goals">Nikkei Asia</a>. It has been republished here as part of 36Kr’s ongoing partnership with <a href="https://www.kr-asia.com/nikkei-teams-up-with-36kr-in-asia-tech-news-coverage/">Nikkei</a>.

China's global port push reveals supply chain security goals

Latin America