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Friday 10 October 2025
New H-1B fee surge forces Indian tech firms to rethink global workforce plans
The US government has implemented new regulations for the H-1B visa program, requiring applicants to pay fees reaching up to US$100,000. The change is having significant consequences for Indian professionals pursuing employment opportunities in the US, given that roughly 70% of H-1B applicants originate from India, according to Bloomberg. Employer-sponsored by nature, the H-1B visa is critical in facilitating temporary skilled work assignments, especially in information technology sectors.
Thursday 9 October 2025
NSTC gathers global experts to explore future of humanoid robots
Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) will soon host a Smart Robotics Forum, inviting experts from the US, Japan, and Germany to share insights on the latest humanoid robot technologies and development trends. Although still emerging, the global humanoid robot market shows strong potential, with an estimated market scale of about US$2 billion in 2024 and an annual compound growth rate of 45.5-47.9%.
Thursday 9 October 2025
Taiwan launches smart robotics SIG, backed by Asustek, industry leaders
A special interest group (SIG) for smart robotics was officially established on October 8, jointly developed by the Taiwan Smart City Solutions Alliance (TSSA) and the Taipei Computer Association (TCA). Asustek Computer served as the convener, quickly attracting more than 60 Taiwanese manufacturers and startups, including major players such as Asustek Computer, Mirle, MediaTek, Pegatron, Wistron, and Nexcom International.
Thursday 9 October 2025
Taiwanese firms set to revamp HR deployment as US, Thailand tighten expat rules
The restructuring of global supply chains under the Donald Trump 2.0 era is forcing companies to rethink human resource strategies. At TSMC's wafer fabrication facilities in Arizona, roughly 90% of newly hired technical staff are recruited locally, reflecting a declining reliance on Taiwanese expatriates.
Thursday 9 October 2025
Taiwan pushes ahead with InnoTech Expo 2025 amid US chip tariff threat
The Taiwan InnoTech Expo (TIE) 2025 will take place as scheduled on October 16–18 at the Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1, signaling confidence in Taiwan's innovation momentum even as Washington considers sweeping new tariffs on semiconductor and technology products.
Thursday 9 October 2025
Lessons Taiwan should learn from China's involution
In recent years, China's traditional industries and those with lower technical barriers have faced intensifying competition, with bad money driving out good. This trend threatens long-term industrial development and competitiveness. Taiwan's industry value chains face similar challenges amid tariffs, exchange rates, and geopolitical risks, compounded by worsening competition among small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It is imperative to take action now to tackle the problem.
Thursday 9 October 2025
Lite-On Technology posts strong September revenue driven by cloud and server systems
Lite-On Technology recorded consolidated revenue of NT$15.4 billion (US$504 million) in September 2025, representing a 30% increase year-on-year but a 1.6% decline from August. This performance marked the company's second-highest monthly revenue for 2025. For the third quarter, Lite-On posted NT$44.8 billion, up 10.9% quarter-on-quarter and 22% year-on-year, marking the highest quarterly revenue since the third quarter of 2022.
Thursday 9 October 2025
Taiwan's ODMs report strong revenue growth fueled by AI server demand in 3Q25
Taiwan's leading ODMs have posted significant revenue and shipment growth in September and the third quarter of 2025, driven primarily by robust demand for AI servers. Companies including Quanta, Wistron, Mitac, Mitac Digital Technology, and Wiwynn all recorded impressive gains as investments in data center and enterprise AI hardware continue to expand.
Thursday 9 October 2025
SoftBank acquires ABB robotics business, targets AI-driven industrial growth
Japan's SoftBank Group (SBG) and Swiss heavy electrical firm ABB have signed an agreement for SoftBank to acquire ABB's robotics business for US$5.375 billion. According to reports from Nikkei and Reuters, ABB will spin off its robotics division into a standalone company before the acquisition, making it a wholly owned subsidiary of SBG.
Thursday 9 October 2025
China's humanoid robot industry grows, but core processors remain foreign-controlled
As the US-China tech rivalry intensifies, China has ramped up its robot+ strategy in recent years, targeting humanoid robots as a next-generation strategic technology. However, behind this ambitious industrial policy lies a critical challenge: most of China's humanoid robots still rely on core computing processors from international giants like Intel and Nvidia.
Wednesday 8 October 2025
OpenAI reignites AMD ecosystem, boosting Taiwan supply chain prospects
OpenAI has recently intensified collaborations with chip suppliers, signing an AI GPU partnership with AMD following deals with Nvidia and Broadcom. This move revitalizes the previously quiet AMD camp, promising new orders that could enhance shipment momentum for Taiwan's supply chain.
Wednesday 8 October 2025
China and Taiwan chart diverging paths in the 12-Inch SiC market
In the high-stakes arena of silicon carbide (SiC) innovation, a quiet transformation is underway. While much attention has focused on non-Chinese supply chains entering advanced packaging with 12-inch SiC wafers, a new frontier has emerged: a Chinese startup has reportedly broken into Meta's AI glasses supply chain with its 12-inch SiC wafer technology.
Wednesday 8 October 2025
Qualcomm acquires open-source MCU firm Arduino to tap developer community
Qualcomm has announced the acquisition of Italian open-source hardware and software company Arduino, assuring that Arduino's brand mission and community spirit will remain intact. Arduino enables developers to create devices using open-source microcontrollers (MCUs) that sense and interact with their environment, designed for rapid prototyping even by students and makers.
Wednesday 8 October 2025
US rebuilds rare earth supply chain to cut China dependence
The global rare earth market has long been dominated by China, encompassing everything from ore extraction to separation and refining, and even magnet manufacturing. Although the US possesses rare earth resources, high costs, strict environmental regulations, and China's low-price supply led the US to virtually exit the industry after the 1990s, becoming reliant on imports from China.
Wednesday 8 October 2025
Taiwan IPC US expansion to strengthen edge AI supply chain
As demand for edge AI computing and industrial automation rapidly intensifies, geopolitical tensions and tariff uncertainties are prompting customers to seek localized production within their supply chains. Taiwanese IPC vendors are successively launching global production deployments.
Wednesday 8 October 2025
Taiwan's Ample Electronic breaks monthly revenue record as AI boosts component demand

Taiwanese electronic materials supplier Ample Electronic posted record-high revenue in September 2025, marking its 29th consecutive month of year-over-year growth, as strong demand for passive components and a rally in precious metals fueled sales momentum.

Wednesday 8 October 2025
Meta announces new submarine cable plan to boost Asia-Pacific connectivity
Social media leader Meta has unveiled a new submarine cable project, Candle, set for completion in 2028. The cable will create a robust communications network linking Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, becoming the highest-capacity submarine cable in the Asia-Pacific region. Meta's other submarine cable initiatives also reserve potential extensions into Asia, with the company committing to long-term digital infrastructure investments across the continent, though specific investment amounts remain undisclosed.
Tuesday 7 October 2025
NTT to launch next-gen IOWN optical network infrastructure in 2026
The launch for the next-generation optical communication infrastructure, IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network), led by Japanese telecom group NTT, is scheduled for 2026. The production system for core equipment will involve US semiconductor company Broadcom, Japanese IC substrate manufacturer Shinko Electric Industries, and Taiwan-based Accton.
Tuesday 7 October 2025
CATL extends global lead as Korean battery utilization drops to 50%

South Korea's once-dominant battery manufacturers are losing their footing in the global electric vehicle (EV) supply chain, as Chinese rivals surge ahead, driven by low-cost lithium iron phosphate (LFP) technology, strategic pivots, and overwhelming production efficiency. New data shows Korea's three major battery makers—LG Energy Solution, SK On, and Samsung SDI—are ceding market share at an accelerating pace.

Tuesday 7 October 2025
Huawei overtakes Apple, topping global smartwatch market
Huawei smartwatches have recently seen a steady rise in sales in the Japanese market, particularly favored by middle-aged and elderly consumers. Retail channels indicate that since April 2025, when Takuya Kimura became the brand ambassador, the number of customers aged 40 to 70 has noticeably increased. Many have chosen Huawei smartwatches as their first smart wearable device, mainly focusing on health monitoring features that meet their needs.
Tuesday 7 October 2025
Qualcomm shifts GPU strategy, refocuses on real-world AI efficiency
The year 2025 has brought many changes to the mobile industry. Apple launched its self-developed modem chip in the iPhone 16e, followed by Xiaomi's Xuanjie O1, its high-profile self-developed system-on-chip (SoC). Although Qualcomm has repeatedly emphasized it is not competing with customers, warning signs from downstream clients can no longer be ignored.
Tuesday 7 October 2025
Japan to expand export controls on dual-use technologies from October 9
Japan will expand export controls to cover general-purpose machine tools, integrated circuits, drones, radar, navigation, and testing equipment, requiring companies to verify potential military use. The new rules, effective October 9, 2025, broaden oversight beyond UN arms embargo countries to most global destinations, including China and Southeast Asia.
Tuesday 7 October 2025
Former Sharp chairman's bonus lawsuit against Foxconn to continue in mid-October
The third court hearing in the ongoing bonus dispute between former Sharp Corporation chairman and veteran Foxconn executive Cheng-wu Dai and Foxconn Precision is scheduled for October 13 at the New Taipei District Court.
Tuesday 7 October 2025
China's SiC industry finds high-value exit in Meta's AR supply chain

As the global semiconductor industry eyes the rise of 12-inch silicon carbide (SiC) wafers as potential game-changers in advanced packaging, a surprising development is reshaping the conversation. A Chinese startup has reportedly discovered a high-value application for large-diameter SiC substrates—one that directly aligns with the supply chain of tech giant Meta's AI-powered smart glasses.

Tuesday 7 October 2025
Commentary: Leadership shakeup at HP challenges Taiwan's PC supply chain to adapt
Global PC giant Hewlett-Packard (HP), the world's second-largest PC brand, is undergoing a major leadership upheaval that has sent ripples through its extensive Taiwan supply chain. Reports indicate that Alex Cho, president of HP's Personal Systems Group (PSG), will step down, with senior vice president Ketan Patel set to take over.