The key to whether something sells or not is not the superiority of the product technology, but whether consumers are willing to pay for it. That's a key message Laura Huang, associate professor of Harvard Business School, delivered at SparkLabs Taipei Demo Day 4 held recently.

Foxconn Technology Group (Hon Hai Precision Industry) chairman Young-Way Liu has pointed out that quantum computing is attracting more global attention, and the next three to five years would be a crucial period for Taiwanese ICT firms to establish a meaningful presence in this new trend.

SMIC's co-CEO Mong-song Liang has submitted his resignation over a management adjustment. A disgruntled Liang, the R&D leader of China's number-one foundry house, says in his letter of resignation that he believes he is no longer trusted by the company. TSMC chaiman Mark Liu has dismissed speculation that the foundry house has seen clients reduce orders...

China's IC foundry industry will register another growth in output next year, driven by the country's efforts in boosting its IC self-sufficiency, as well as international chipmakers' intention of expanding their factory sites locally in China, according to Digitimes Research.

Even with the birth of quantum computers, instruments for data collection and measurement will still need semiconductor components and Taiwan's ICT industry should see how they can play a major role in the quantum computing era, according to James Liao, president of Academia Sinica, Taiwan's top academic institution.

Despite speculation that 5nm chip orders for the world's top foundry house is slowing down, industry sources say TSMC is expected to see an about 20% rise in wafer shipments to the node segment in first-half 2021. In the meory sector, chipmakers are expected to boost their output for 176-layer 3D NAND chip in second-half 2021...

Amid concerns that quantum computing could threaten the existence of the semiconductor industry, Taiwan's minister of science and technology Tsung-Tsong Wu has noted that his ministry will continue to provide support to companies such as TSMC to help them maintain their competitiveness in the industry.

Powertech Technology (PTI), a major memory backend service provider, has recently completed a management change. Its new CEO, Boris Hsieh, told Digitimes in a recent interview how PTI group is aiming to become an all-round OSAT. In the memoery market, NOR flash is expected to be in short supply in 2021, with prices to rise by 5% in the first half of next year...

Taiwan government-sponsored Institute for Information Industry (III) has developed Chameleon software to be matched with gateways, enabling Internet connection of machines and equipment at production lines to boost smart manufacturing.

Samsung is keen on catching up with TSMC in advanced node semiconductor manufacturing, but sources blame unsatisfactory yield rates for 8nm process at the Korean foundry for short supply of Nvidia's new GeForce RTX 30 GPUs. The Korean giant, however, has a clear leadership in commercializing microLED displays. Its 110-inch microLED TV is set to be available in first-quarter 2021...