Rare earth metals are essential to modern industry and defense. They are found in high-performance motors, precision weapon guidance systems, and a range of green energy technologies. Yet the global rare earth supply chain has long suffered severe imbalances
America's largest technology companies — including Google, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft — have begun disclosing their capital spending plans for 2026. The numbers reveal an investment surge driven by the rapid expansion of generative artificial intelligence. Combined capital expenditures by the group are now estimated to reach between US$600 billion and US$630 billion. This far exceeds market expectations and rivals the annual gross domestic product of many mid-sized nations
Qun Ge, global senior vice president and chairman and president of Synopsys China, is set to depart. The move appears routine. But it points to deeper structural shifts in the global EDA industry's China market
Power semiconductor maker Panjit International is positioning itself to capitalize on the booming demand from AI data centers, targeting fast growth in AI, cooling, and power supply markets. The company expects shipments of its hot-swap products to surge in 2026, with AI-related products accounting for up to 15% of sales this year. Currently, Panjit has secured design wins with two major cloud service providers (CSPs), and is seeking to win orders from additional customers while laying out plans for next-generation hot-swap technology
China-based foundry SMIC will release fourth-quarter 2025 results on February 10 and hold its first 2026 investor briefing on February 11. Market focus is expected to center on its advanced packaging push, which is shifting from a supporting function toward a core manufacturing strategy
Despite possessing a land area roughly one-fiftieth the size of Taiwan, Singapore has established itself as one of the most closely watched economies and supply chain hubs in Asia. This ascent is the result of a long-term strategy to internationalize its education system and labor force
Liquid cooling adoption has been led by Nvidia servers, with ASIC servers now accelerating the shift. DIGITIMES Research estimates liquid cooling will account for 50% of AI server thermal solutions in 2026, driven largely by ASIC platforms. Industry sources said cooling suppliers are not only targeting Nvidia GPU systems but are increasingly competing for ASIC server orders due to higher margins
At the annual Taipei International Book Exhibition — traditionally a peak season for e-reader launches and promotions — E Ink Holdings, the world's largest e-paper material supplier, used the event to assess the latest market trends. David Liu, assistant vice president of E Ink's eReader Business Unit, shared his frontline observations
Rising AI computing demand is lifting shipments of general-purpose servers, positioning them as a key growth driver for the server supply chain in 2026. Supply chain sources said AI servers will continue to grow faster, but expanding AI inference workloads are increasingly translating into stronger demand for conventional server systems
The RISC-V ecosystem is making steady progress across various application fields, from cloud high-performance computing to automotive electronics. Industry players are launching solutions targeting these areas while actively expanding into future-oriented sectors like robotics and space exploration
TSMC has made a significant change in its process plan for the Kumamoto second fab, confirming an upgrade from the initially planned 6/7nm node to 3nm. This facility will become Japan's first 3nm wafer fab, while Japan-backed Rapidus advances toward 2nm development
Elon Musk plans to localize production of Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot in the US, with final assembly set for California and Texas. However, analysts and industry sources say the project will continue to rely heavily on China's rapidly expanding robotics supply chain in the coming years
Each year, hundreds of millions tune in to China's Spring Festival Gala, the nation's most-watched television event. In recent editions, the spectacle has become something more than traditional entertainment—it has transformed into a glittering stage for robotics prowess. Dozens of quadruped robots have marched in perfect synchronization, while humanoid machines have executed intricate dance routines that once seemed confined to science fiction. The performances captivate audiences and dominate social media, generating viral moments that showcase China's technological ambitions on a grand scale
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) signaled a focus on operational execution and supply-chain readiness during its February 3, 2026, earnings call, positioning the first half of 2026 as a foundational period for a broader artificial intelligence (AI) platform rollout. Management framed the current phase as a transition toward a more significant ramp in the second half of the year, emphasizing deployment discipline over immediate revenue acceleration