South Korea has taken another step in its push to become a global Artificial Intelligence heavyweight, signing a sweeping agreement with SoftBank’s Arm Holdings to strengthen the country’s semiconductor and AI sectors.

The deal, announced Friday by a presidential policy adviser, underscores Seoul’s determination to raise its profile in advanced chip design and secure talent needed for a future heavily driven by AI.

Kim Yong-beom, the adviser who briefed reporters, said the memorandum of understanding includes a plan for Arm to establish a chip design school inside South Korea. The initiative is designed to train about 1,400 high-level chip design specialists, filling a gap that has long dogged Asia’s fourth-largest economy. The country has built a dominant position in memory chips through giants such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, yet it has struggled to grow equally strong system-semiconductor and fabless industries.

Officials say that weakness could become an obstacle as global AI competition intensifies.

Arm, a British chip and software company controlled by SoftBank, earns revenue by licensing chip architectures used in everything from smartphones to servers. Its role in the global semiconductor ecosystem expanded even further as AI companies began building models on increasingly complex computing stacks. Korean officials believe that having Arm embed a chip design curriculum locally could accelerate the country’s transition from a memory-centric industry to one capable of competing across the full semiconductor value chain.

The agreement came after SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son met South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Friday. According to Kim, Son told the president that demand for chips will rise sharply as AI advances. Son also pointed to a serious weakness that South Korea will have to confront: energy supply. He said the country does not have enough energy capacity to support the scale of AI developments coming down the line.

Son has become one of the highest-profile evangelists of hyper-advanced AI. On Friday, he repeated his view that AI will surpass human intelligence, going far beyond the boundaries set by current systems. He said so-called Artificial Superintelligence would be “10,000 times smarter than people” and argued that it no longer made sense to believe humans could control, instruct, or manage AI. Instead, he urged societies to focus on learning how to coexist with this next phase of machine intelligence.

The meeting with Son fits into a string of high-level conversations Seoul has held with global tech giants as it tries to vault into the top tier of AI powers. President Lee has also met OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in recent months, signaling a coordinated strategy to intertwine South Korea’s industrial base with the world’s leading AI companies.

South Korea’s biggest firms are already building out relationships tied to AI infrastructure. In October, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix signed letters of intent to supply memory chips for OpenAI’s data centers, supporting the company’s Stargate project. Stargate is a private initiative backed by SoftBank and Oracle that aims to build massive next-generation data centers for AI workloads.

Son is expected to meet SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won later on Friday to discuss semiconductor and AI cooperation, according to the Donga Ilbo newspaper. SK Group declined to comment on the report.

The AI race in Korea has also attracted Nvidia, whose chips currently underpin most state-of-the-art AI models. In late October, Nvidia said it would supply more than 260,000 of its most advanced AI chips to the South Korean government as well as major Korean corporations, including Samsung Electronics. The move was welcomed by Seoul, which sees access to cutting-edge chips as essential for its domestic tech ecosystem.

The Arm deal lands at a moment when global tech alliances have become as important as domestic industrial policy. Seoul’s ambition to be one of the world’s top three AI powers depends not only on innovation at home but also on tapping global expertise and stitching itself into the worldwide supply and development chain. Arm’s chip design school is intended to create a local generation of engineers who can contribute to advanced architectures rather than simply manufacture components invented overseas.

The deal also diversifies the country’s partnership portfolio. For decades, South Korea’s semiconductor sector focused on scaling memory and competing with Taiwan’s TSMC in high-end fabrication. The new agreement, combined with Seoul’s outreach to companies like OpenAI, Nvidia, and Oracle, marks a shift toward a broader strategy that blends infrastructure, design capability, data-center development, and AI model research.

Officials are framing the agreement with Arm as a foundational step. Kim said the training programme would support long-term ambitions that hinge on building a balanced semiconductor ecosystem able to produce chips tailored for next-generation AI systems, rather than only memory modules. Analysts expect this kind of development to become critical as AI models multiply in size, energy demands climb, and countries fight to secure both talent and core intellectual property.

For more than a decade, Portugal has been one of the most attractive destinations for global investors seeking stability, mobility, and long-term residency in Europe. The country’s residency-by-investment program, widely known as the Golden Visa, has played a unique role in connecting international capital with national development priorities. As global migration trends shift and cross-border investment behavior evolves, Portugal is now entering a new phase where its strategy focuses more strongly on innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable economic contribution.

In this context, understanding what the next evolution of the program represents – particularly as investors look ahead to the Portugal Golden Visa 2026 – becomes essential for entrepreneurs, executives, and families evaluating long-term relocation or diversification options.

A Changing Global Environment for Talent and Capital

Over the past few years, residency-by-investment programs worldwide have faced pressure to adapt. The global economy has become more interconnected and digital, geopolitical competition has intensified, and countries are reevaluating the balance between attracting foreign investment and maintaining housing affordability, regulatory control, and national security.

Portugal responded proactively to this environment by reshaping its program to emphasize contributions that strengthen strategic sectors, promote innovation, and support long-term economic growth. While some investment routes have been phased out, the core of the program remains active and more aligned with global expectations of responsible and productive investment.

This shift mirrors a broader international trend: nations are increasingly competing not only for capital but for high-value individuals who can contribute entrepreneurial, technological, and financial expertise. Portugal, already a growing hub for digital nomads, startups, fintech companies, and multinational teams, continues to position itself as a stable entry point into the European market.

Why Portugal Remains a Leading Choice for Investors

Portugal’s attractiveness goes far beyond its visa framework. The country offers a rare combination of advantages that appeal simultaneously to investors, entrepreneurs, and families:

• A stable democratic environment and strong rule of law
• One of the safest countries in the world
• High-quality infrastructure, healthcare, and education
• A strategic time zone for companies operating across the US and Europe
• Competitive corporate tax incentives for innovation and R&D
• A lifestyle marked by mild weather, strong culture, and accessible cost of living

These elements form a comprehensive value proposition. Even with program adjustments, Portugal continues to attract high-income individuals and global families seeking not only mobility but also security, diversification, and long-term stability.

The Strategic Role of Investment Funds in the New Phase

One of the most important developments in the evolution of Portugal’s residency-by-investment framework is the increasing emphasis on regulated investment funds. These vehicles channel capital into sectors such as technology, renewable energy, healthcare, education, and industrial modernization.

For investors, this shift offers several advantages:

• Professional fund management by licensed financial entities
• Diversified portfolios supported by regulatory oversight
• Clear alignment with national economic priorities
• Attractive risk-adjusted returns in sectors with growth potential
• Transparency and governance standards consistent with EU regulations

As global investors become more selective, Portugal’s move toward structured and supervised investment models strengthens credibility and positions the country competitively alongside other European alternatives.

What Investors Expect from the Portugal Golden Visa 2026

Looking ahead, the next stage of the program reflects a deeper integration between foreign investment and Portugal’s long-term development strategy. The focus is on:

1. Sustainable contribution to high-value sectors

Funds supporting technology, clean energy, industrial transformation, and export-oriented companies are expected to remain central.

2. More efficient application and digital processes

Portugal continues investing in administrative modernization to reduce waiting times and deliver more predictable timelines.

3. Stronger alignment with EU standards

Residency programs across Europe are undergoing regulatory tightening. Portugal’s compliance-first approach provides reassurance to investors.

4. Growing interest from US and Asian markets

Rising geopolitical uncertainty and asset diversification strategies are directing more attention to Portugal as a safe, EU-based alternative.

For individuals planning ahead, understanding these dynamics is essential for making informed decisions.

Portugal’s Broader Economic Vision and the Role of Global Residents

Beyond the visa itself, Portugal is shaping an economy grounded in innovation, internationalization, and digital competitiveness. With strong growth in sectors such as green technology, biotech, telecommunications, AI, and nearshore service centers, the country is positioning itself as a talent magnet within Europe.

Residency-by-investment applicants often bring more than financial resources. They relocate businesses, establish partnerships, create job opportunities, and integrate into the entrepreneurial ecosystem. This contributes to:

• Increasing Portugal’s competitiveness
• Strengthening global networks
• Bringing new skills and perspectives
• Supporting long-term economic resilience

As global competition for talent intensifies, Portugal stands out for offering a stable and welcoming environment where investors can integrate without sacrificing lifestyle, safety, or opportunity.

The Outlook: A Program Evolving, Not Ending

Despite speculation in international media over the years, Portugal’s Golden Visa remains active – but with a refined purpose. The years leading to 2026 reflect a transition toward a more strategic, transparent, and resilient investment model.

For investors, this evolution represents an opportunity rather than an obstacle. The program rewards long-term thinking, aligns with modern investment standards, and provides a stable path to European residency while contributing to Portugal’s economic future.

As global uncertainty grows, Portugal’s consistency, stability, and forward-looking approach make it one of the most compelling options worldwide for high-net-worth individuals seeking mobility, diversification, and a stronger European presence.