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Monday 17 August 2026
China's Vertilite commits US$741M to InP laser chips for AI optical interconnects
Chinese optical chipmaker Jiangsu Vertilite Semiconductor Technology is investing CNY5 billion (approx. US$741 million) in a new communications chip and device R&D and manufacturing base in Changzhou, expanding beyond VCSELs into high-end indium phosphide, or InP, laser chips for AI optical interconnects.
Monday 17 August 2026
LG, Nvidia step up humanoid push with robot data factory

Nvidia's Madison Huang is set to visit LG Electronics' Yangjae R&D campus in Seoul on August 18 to inspect the company's robot data factory and hold closed-door talks with senior LG executives on robotics cooperation, according to Yonhap and Chosun Biz.

Monday 17 August 2026
China battery makers rework costs as lithium prices fall and taxes rise
China's lithium battery industry is entering a new phase of cost restructuring as falling lithium carbonate prices, uncertain supply conditions and higher taxes squeeze manufacturers' margins, according to Chinese media reports.
Monday 17 August 2026
Samsung weighs Giheung R&D line for 2nm HBM foundry capacity

Samsung Electronics is reportedly considering repurposing the second line at its next-generation semiconductor R&D complex in Giheung into a foundry send-fab, a shift that would add advanced-node capacity as demand for AI memory strains leading-edge capacity.

Monday 17 August 2026
Samsung Electro-Mechanics, LG Innotek substrate lines near full capacity as AI demand rises

Samsung Electro-Mechanics (SEMCO) and LG Innotek pushed their semiconductor package substrate operations close to full capacity in the first half of 2026 as shipments of high-value substrates for AI accelerators, server CPUs, memory and data center networking climbed, company filings and earnings materials show.

Monday 17 August 2026
Tata succession clouds outlook for chips, clean energy, data centers

Tata's leadership transition may shape the pace of one of India's biggest industrial bets. The group's planned spending on chips, clean energy, and AI data centers is entering a critical stage, but a shift toward tighter capital discipline could slow expansion and alter priorities worldwide.

Monday 17 August 2026
Apple reportedly builds China-specific AI model with Alibaba as Qwen partnership deepens
Apple has trained a large language model (LLM) specifically for the Chinese market with support from Alibaba, according to Reuters, marking a shift from its previous reliance on third-party Chinese models for Apple Intelligence.
Monday 17 August 2026
Modi pledges more chip plants, mass AI training, and an export push in Independence Day address
Prime Minister Narendra Modi used India's 80th Independence Day address from the Red Fort on August 15 to tie semiconductor manufacturing, artificial intelligence training, and trade policy into a single self-reliance push, framing all three as building blocks toward a "Viksit Bharat," or developed India, by 2047.
Monday 17 August 2026
OCI thins solar wafers to boost Vietnam output 39%
OCI Holdings is turning to thinner solar wafers to raise output from its Vietnam operations by nearly 40% without adding production lines, as demand from US customers outpaces existing capacity.
Monday 17 August 2026
India roundup: India's electronics push gains momentum as water, China ties and chip incentives collide

India's electronics and AI infrastructure ambitions are accelerating, but mounting environmental opposition, tighter Chinese visa curbs, and intensifying competition for semiconductor investment are exposing new challenges. As Google advances a US$15 billion AI data center, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) restructures its cloud business, and Dixon Technologies expands its smartphone OEM business, states are sweetening incentives to strengthen India's position in global technology supply chains.

Monday 17 August 2026
Gogolook sees 2026 revenue hit new high as anti-fraud businesses expand
Taiwanese trust technology company Gogolook said its revenue and profitability are expected to stay strong in the second half of 2026, helped by continued growth, critical operating scale, and efficiency gains from generative AI. The company said full-year revenue is likely to reach a new record as its consumer anti-fraud, enterprise anti-fraud, and fintech services all expand.
Monday 17 August 2026
Appier lifts FY26 outlook after record second-quarter revenue and margin gains
Appier, an agentic AI-as-a-service provider, reported record second-quarter 2026 revenue of JPY12.9 billion and raised its fiscal 2026 outlook on the back of stronger growth and higher profitability. The results, announced on the 13th, showed revenue up 24.6% year-on-year and gross margin reaching 60.1% for the first time, with both revenue and operating profit beating the company's guidance.
Sunday 16 August 2026
Samsung, SK Hynix HBM4 hiring war drains South Korea's chip design talent
South Korea's semiconductor talent shortage is intensifying as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix recruit experienced chip designers for increasingly complex HBM4 products, drawing key engineers away from fabless companies and design houses while tighter restrictions complicate movement between the country's two memory giants.
Sunday 16 August 2026
China's AI supernode build-out turns more chips into more computing power

China is accelerating construction of its national computing network, and a growing share of new capacity is likely to use supernodes. With domestic AI accelerators still trailing leading global chips in single-card performance, Chinese vendors are increasingly relying on larger card counts, high-speed interconnects and system-level optimisation to close the gap.

Sunday 16 August 2026
Taiwan Mobile launches tender offer for Systex, targeting majority control
Taiwan Mobile said on August 12 that its board approved a tender offer for Systex Corporation common shares through its wholly owned subsidiary Taiwan Cellular, with the goal of lifting its stake to more than 50%. The telecom operator already held 11.86% of Systex, and the tender offer seeks an additional stake of at least 39%, which would lift Taiwan Mobile's total ownership above 50%.