Nvidia's Huang to join Tsinghua board as 2nd US tech chair

Jensen Huang becomes the second US tech CEO to join Tsinghua University's advisory board, deepening Nvidia's ties to China as semiconductor trade tensions escalate.

Nvidia Corp. Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang agreed to join the advisory board of Tsinghua University's School of Economics and Management, a Beijing institution chaired by Apple Inc.'s Tim Cook, the Financial Times reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

"Huang accepted the invitation from Tsinghua after joining President Donald Trump on his recent visit to China," one of the people said, asking not to be identified discussing private arrangements.

The move places Huang alongside Cook on the board of one of China's most prestigious universities, whose alumni include senior Chinese Communist Party officials and leaders of state-owned enterprises. Tsinghua's School of Economics and Management, founded in 1984, has counted Cook as its chair since 2023. The university has produced many of China's top policymakers and corporate executives, making its advisory board a significant platform for foreign business leaders.

The appointment carries geopolitical weight as Washington and Beijing escalate their technology rivalry. Nvidia, the world's most valuable semiconductor company with a market capitalization exceeding $3 trillion, faces US export restrictions on its advanced AI chips to China. The company's data center revenue, which totaled $47.5 billion in the last fiscal year, is heavily tied to AI chip sales that are now subject to export controls.

The advisory board includes global business leaders and academics who advise on the school's strategy. Cook's appointment as chair in 2023 was itself notable given Apple's extensive supply chain in China and the geopolitical tensions between the two countries. Apple generates roughly 18 percent of its revenue from Greater China, according to its latest annual filing.

Huang's decision follows Trump's visit to China earlier this month, during which the president met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and sought to reset trade relations. The visit marked Trump's first trip to China since returning to office and included a delegation of US business leaders. Huang was part of that delegation, according to Reuters, underscoring Nvidia's strategic interest in maintaining access to the Chinese market.

For Nvidia, the Tsinghua connection comes at a delicate moment. The company's advanced AI chips, including the H100 and B200 processors, are subject to US export controls aimed at limiting China's access to cutting-edge semiconductor technology. Nvidia has developed modified chips for the Chinese market that comply with restrictions, but those products face their own regulatory hurdles. China accounted for about 17 percent of Nvidia's total revenue in the most recent fiscal year, according to company filings.

The last time a major US tech CEO joined a Chinese university board at this level was Cook's appointment to Tsinghua in 2023, which preceded a period of intensified US export controls on semiconductors. Whether Huang's move signals a thaw or triggers further scrutiny from US regulators remains to be seen. The Biden-era chip restrictions have been maintained under Trump, and any expansion of corporate ties to Chinese institutions could face renewed examination.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.