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Friday 6 February 2026
The Kumamoto master plan: behind TSMC's strategic leap to 3nm supremacy
TSMC is doubling down on Japan. By upgrading its second Kumamoto facility to 3-nanometer production, the chipmaking giant has turned what was once a secondary supply-chain hedge into a cornerstone of its global strategy to dominate advanced AI silicon
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Monday 9 February 2026
LG CNS partners with FuriosaAI, bringing South Korea's NPU to enterprise AI services
To promote the formal deployment of South Korea's domestic NPU and reduce reliance on Nvidia, LG Consulting & Solutions (CNS), the IT services arm of South Korea's LG Group, has joined forces with local IC design company FuriosaAI. The two will jointly integrate FuriosaAI's second-generation RNGD NPU into LG CNS's enterprise agentic AI platform, targeting the public-sector digital transformation market
Monday 9 February 2026
EMS Watch: USI profit climbs 12% in 2025 as consumer electronics offset weak comms sales
Universal Scientific Industrial (Shanghai) Co. (USI) posted higher earnings in 2025 despite a decline in revenue, reflecting improving profitability amid pricing pressure and uneven demand across key business segments
Monday 9 February 2026
Qualcomm's 2nm tape-out marks India's arrival in cutting-edge chip design
According to ANI and IANS, Qualcomm Technologies has completed the tape-out of its 2-nanometre semiconductor design with significant contributions from its engineering centres in India, underscoring the country's rising importance in the global race toward next-generation chip technologies and aligning with New Delhi's push to strengthen domestic semiconductor design capabilities
Monday 9 February 2026
India, Malaysia forge strategic pact on chips, energy and digital payments
India and Malaysia used Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to Kuala Lumpur to signal a step-change in their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, unveiling wide-ranging cooperation across semiconductors, clean energy, digital finance, and security that carries implications for supply chains, the Indo-Pacific balance, and South–South economic integration
Monday 9 February 2026
India-US trade deal offers tariff cuts, capital goods access to reshape supply chains
New Delhi and Washington have established an interim trade deal framework targeting electronics, intellectual property, and supply chains. The Economic Times reports that this move aims to enhance competitiveness and improve supply chain resilience. This agreement follows discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, focusing on reducing trade barriers between the two nations
Monday 9 February 2026
US and India agree framework for interim trade deal to advance bilateral pact talks
The US and India have agreed on a framework for an interim trade agreement aimed at expanding market access and strengthening supply chains, marking a step toward a broader bilateral trade agreement launched earlier this year by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Monday 9 February 2026
India's semiconductor push shifts focus under ISM 2.0 from fabs to design, equipment and IP
According to The Economic Times, India's Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0 will prioritise chip design companies and startups, followed by building a domestic ecosystem for semiconductor equipment and materials, and strengthening the talent pipeline to support end-to-end semiconductor development
Monday 9 February 2026
TSMC supports Japan's advanced packaging plant construction
TSMC chairman C.C. Wei recently visited Japan and appeared alongside Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to jointly announce that Kumamoto Fab 2 will be upgraded from a 6nm to a 3nm process, signaling Japan's plan to reclaim its semiconductor glory. However, according to supply chain sources, when the Japanese government first invited TSMC to build fabs in Kumamoto, it had already mapped out three major strategies that included advancing advanced packaging and constructing new facilities. Most importantly, Japan aims to leverage its strengths in equipment and materials to reinforce its critical position and bargaining power in the advanced packaging industry chain
Monday 9 February 2026
South Korea bets on AI and electric powertrains to shape cars of future

The South Korean government announced plans to invest KRW464.5 billion (approximately US$316 million) in the automotive sector in 2026, targeting research and development as well as infrastructure upgrades to accelerate the country's transition to next-generation vehicles. Key priorities will include end-to-end artificial intelligence (E2E AI) for autonomous driving, software-defined vehicle (SDV) standard systems, and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) powertrains

Monday 9 February 2026
India roundup: India's annual budget to boost AI and chip ecosystem
India unveils the latest Union Budget, which includes India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, to boost chip incentives. The Trump Administration announced a reduced 18% tariff on India as India diversifies trade partners
Monday 9 February 2026
China tightens regulations on EV battery recycling with digital ID system

As the global electric vehicle market grapples with mounting concerns over collapsing resale values, China—the world's largest and most experimentally regulated EV market—is moving decisively with a sweeping policy overhaul

Monday 9 February 2026
China pulls the plug on EV door-handle futurism

A single regulatory notice issued recently by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has made the country the first in the world to formally declare the end of what might be called the automotive industry's "era of invisibility." Under the new rules, beginning Jan. 1, 2027, all new vehicles sold in China will be prohibited from using fully electric hidden door handles. The regulation effectively applies the brakes to an industry-wide push toward ever more electronic, futuristic design, forcing automakers to return to a basic principle of physical safety

Monday 9 February 2026
India reportedly explores linking UPI with China-linked Alipay+ to expand cross-border digital payments
India is in talks with Ant International, the Singapore-based payments firm with roots in China's Ant Group, to link its Alipay+ cross-border payments platform with India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI), a move that could significantly expand the overseas usability of India's dominant digital payments system, two government sources told Reuters
Monday 9 February 2026
India advances semiconductor ambitions as TSMC fabricates DLI-backed startup chips
India marked a milestone in its semiconductor push as seven chip designs from startups under the design-linked incentive (DLI) scheme were successfully fabricated, including advanced nodes at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC). The progress underscores India's aim to develop indigenous chip design and manufacturing capabilities amid global supply constraints
Sunday 8 February 2026
Record Japan blizzard threatens AI chip supply chains
A record-breaking blizzard driven by extreme weather has battered Japan's northern Aomori Prefecture, dumping snow at more than two and a half times the historical average. The storm has claimed lives, paralyzed local commerce, and raised fresh concerns about the resilience of global technology supply chains