Once famous for cassette tapes, TDK has transformed into a critical supplier of components powering smartphones, batteries and sensors worldwide. Operating largely behind the scenes, the Japanese company now plays a quiet but essential role in the global electronics ecosystem.
Hidden Champions of Asia explores the companies quietly powering the global technology economy. From semiconductor materials to precision automation, these firms rarely appear in headlines but play a decisive role in the supply chains that enable modern industry and digital innovation.
Europe is entering a decisive moment. While the United States and China continue to dominate the global AI landscape, Europe is searching for a path that protects its values without sacrificing competitiveness or autonomy. The real question is no longer whether Europe should build its own AI model, but what kind of model is actually achievable — and how it can turn its structural strengths into strategic leverage.
