# Belgium semiconductor industrial espionage investigation

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/belgium-semiconductor-industrial-espionage-investigation
> Updated: 2026-09-07T09:22:29.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 2.

Belgian authorities are investigating allegations of industrial espionage involving advanced semiconductor technology. A 52-year-old former senior researcher at BelGaN, a manufacturer of gallium nitride semiconductors, was detained at Brussels Airport while attempting to travel to Beijing.

Prosecutors allege the suspect, who holds dual Belgian and Chinese nationality, misappropriated specialized intellectual property to benefit a Chinese company. This firm, which produces identical chips, was reportedly established shortly after his employment at BelGaN and received funding from a Chinese investment fund. The investigation follows the July 2024 bankruptcy of BelGaN and includes scrutiny of former managing director Alan Zhen Zhou.

The suspect faces charges including industrial espionage, membership in a criminal organization, and misappropriation of company assets. While electronic equipment has been seized for analysis, a second suspect remains at large.

## Claims

- France has inaugurated REACTIV, a new interministerial unit led by ANSSI to respond to data breaches and secure government IT infrastructure. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The first incident, occurring between June 23 and 25, allowed a hacker to access tax information concerning approximately 350,000 individuals and 250,000 professionals. (single source)
- The attack reportedly began with the theft of a public agent's credentials, which allowed the hacker to progress through various state IT systems. (single source)
- Amélie Verdier stated that passwords were likely stolen via malware on agents' personal equipment. (single source)
- Authorities have implicated two cybercriminals known as 'ChatNoir' and 'Casquette' in the recent DGFiP hacking incidents. (single source)
- ANSSI and the G7 have issued a call to action for public and private organizations to prepare for the transition to post-quantum cryptography. (single source)
- A separate intrusion in late July or early August resulted in the theft of cadastral data affecting approximately 435,000 households. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-07: Belgium detains researcher for suspected semiconductor espionage

A dual Belgian-Chinese national is in custody for allegedly spying on Belgian semiconductor firm BelGaN to transfer sensitive gallium nitride technology to a Chinese competitor.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/belgium-detains-researcher-for-suspected-semiconductor-espionage

### 2026-09-07: France launches REACTIV unit following major state cyberattacks

France has launched the REACTIV unit to bolster state cybersecurity following major data breaches at the DGFiP, which compromised the sensitive information of hundreds of thousands of citizens.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/belgium-and-france-face-major-security-breaches-in-tech-and-tax-sectors

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Cite as: Belgium semiconductor industrial espionage investigation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/belgium-semiconductor-industrial-espionage-investigation