A former senior researcher at BelGaN, identified as H.L., has been arrested on charges of industrial espionage and the unlawful disclosure of business secrets. Investigators believe H.L. simultaneously led GanKool, a Chinese chip firm funded by a Chinese investment fund, which developed the same gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor technology as BelGaN.
The case came to light during a financial probe following BelGaN's bankruptcy in the summer of 2024. Authorities suspect that managers and the researcher intentionally caused the company to collapse after transferring its proprietary intellectual property to China.
Investigators also found links between BelGaN's final CEO, a Chinese national, and the rival firm GanKool. Prosecutors stated that a second suspect is still at large, with media reports suggesting the CEO may be the individual in question.