Samsung Electronics recently conducted a survey of the semiconductor demand of its major global customers. The results indicate that the adjustment of memory inventory for customers in various fields is nearing completion, and starting from 2024, there may be shortages in the supply of DRAM and NAND Flash in some regions.

The strike initiated by the United Auto Workers (UAW) at General Motors, Ford and Stellantis plants has lasted for two weeks. Automotive suppliers said that the Big Three's orders, especially those of pickups, will likely be diverted to foreign carmakers. The three companies also worry about whether raising worker's wages will impact their capabilities to win orders back.

With electronic shelf labels (ESLs) moving from three to four colors and e-readers from black and white to color, the e-paper industry is facing some headwinds.

As India strives to build localized semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, the South Asian country is looking to find partners for its government-owned chip fabrication lab, which was once India's sole commercial foundry in the 20th century.

Apprehension has set the tone for the panel industry as the current market conditions make it most likely that consolidations and mergers will take place in China. Sources in the Chinese panel industry indicate that several companies are about to undergo such changes.

The South Korean government has unveiled a substantial 16.6% reduction or KRW5.2 trillion (US$3.89 billion) in research and development (R&D) spending in its budget proposal for 2024, with the spending to drop to KRW25.9 trillion from KRW31.1 trillion in 2023. Korean industry estimates that the budget cut could cause more than 1,200 newly hired R&D personnel to face layoffs in the 25 government-funded research institutes specializing in science and technology.

The European Union is actively reviewing its reliance on other countries for energy supplies. It has paid a hefty price to stop using Russia's gas. However, it also depends on lithium and fuel-cell batteries made in China. The situation has alarmed the EU member states.

With the Biden administration finalizing the national security guardrails of the CHIPS and Science Act's (CHIPS Act) funding allocations and restrictions, South Korean semiconductor companies may have to transform their operations in China and leverage their mature-node capacities there to target products for domestic demand, according to Korean news media.

EVs are increasing the demand for silicon carbide (SiC). In addition, generative AI also drives data centers' needs for new-generation power semiconductors.

In alignment with trends across various sectors, semiconductor firms are vigorously exploring AI-powered solutions to refine operations and boost productivity. A notable development in this domain is the recent collaboration between Cadence and Renesas. In a conversation with DIGITIMES Asia, Jayashankar Narayanankutty, the Group Director of Cadence Design Systems, explained that this alliance is poised to influence every developmental initiative embarked upon in India.

China's AI chip leader, Cambricon Technologies Co., bears the mission of independent chip development in China and catching up with European and American companies like Nvidia. However, after going public in 2020, Cambricon delivered its worst half-year performance in the first half of 2023. The six early investors in Cambricon have recently almost completely liquidated their holdings, taking advantage of the surge in the company's stock price driven by generative AI since 2023 and cashing out.

LG Display (LGD), the leader of the large-sized OLED display market, is actively venturing into the mid-to-small-sized IT OLED market. It recently announced the mass production of a 17-inch foldable panel for notebooks. Through LG Electronics, it's expected to launch South Korea's first foldable notebook to expand its market.

Nishoku Technology has also been actively increasing its production capacity in Vietnam due to businesses moving their order and production line out of China. Adjustments have been made to its operations in China in response to the same change, too, said Nishoku Chairman Chen Piao-Fu.

China's Vice Premier He Lifeng expressed "strong concern and dissatisfaction" on Monday to the European Union's chief trade negotiator Valdis Dombrovskis over the bloc's anti-subsidy probe into Chinese electric vehicles.

The South Korean government plans to invest KRW2.2 trillion (US$1.66 billion) in the next five years to strengthen the competitiveness of cutting-edge industries such as semiconductors, rechargeable batteries, and biotechnology. The final goal is to promote "Global Clusters in Advanced Industries," bringing together companies, universities, research institutions, and others to create a world-class innovation technology ecosystem in the country. Meanwhile, it will also relax restrictions on corporate venture capital (CVC) investments and expand cash subsidies for foreign investors entering the industry clusters.