Samsung Electronics acquired four US silicon photonics patents from UK-based Rockley Photonics in September 2026, South Korea's Shinailbo reported on November 11, citing US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) records. The reported acquisition could strengthen Samsung's intellectual property portfolio in optical interconnect technology as it expands its silicon photonics foundry business to compete with TSMC.

Samsung Electronics aims to complete its first 3D Cube-H design kit, a hybrid copper bonding technology for vertically stacked logic chips, in early 2027, with prospective customer evaluations to follow, ZDNet Korea reported on November 10, citing an industry source familiar with the plans.

Smaller electronics manufacturers are relying on the spot market for memory as major customers lock in future supply through long-term agreements, according to independent electronic components distributor Smith.

Advantech's South Korean business grew 67% in the first three quarters of 2026, as industrial equipment, networking and cloud infrastructure, and healthcare remained its largest local markets. Some South Korean customers and partners have moved edge AI solutions into mass production, while the company is looking to extend its industrial computing and software integration expertise into robotics and energy applications.

Alibaba filed for a Hong Kong IPO for its chip design unit, T-Head, as a spin-off on November 10. The separate listing would let investors gain direct exposure to the group's chipmaking business as China's AI ecosystem seeks to reduce its reliance on US semiconductors through domestic alternatives.

Jiangsu HISI Semiconductor (HISIGK) has prepared 14 automated lithography systems for delivery across 300mm, 200mm and 150mm wafer platforms, expanding its specialty semiconductor equipment business in markets ranging from MEMS to AR optics and LED chips.

CATL is exploring lithium-air batteries as a long-term research direction, attracting attention to the prospect of electric vehicles travelling more than 2,000km (≈ 1,243 miles) on a charge. That range remains a theoretical scenario, with no announced production battery or vehicle test demonstrating it.

SK Hynix is using Nvidia's AI technology and GPU acceleration to speed up memory chip simulations, with improvements in etching-process development and tests of thermal and elastic deformation analysis. As memory structures and manufacturing processes become increasingly complex, the companies are working to reduce simulation time and computational demands to support process optimization during R&D.

China and the US have extended selected export-control, tariff, and maritime measures ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen on November 18-19. US President Donald Trump has said he expects to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping during the summit, though no bilateral meeting date has been formally announced.

Apple's generative AI (GenAI) service, Apple Intelligence, has completed regulatory filings for tablets and laptops in China after securing approval to launch on smartphones, advancing the company's AI strategy in the Chinese market.

Taiwanese passive component makers Yageo and Walsin Technology reported contrasting October results, with Yageo posting record monthly revenue on strong AI demand while Walsin's sales declined from September due to China's National Day holidays. Both companies recorded year-over-year revenue growth of more than 50%.

Nvidia showcased its work with South Korean manufacturers on robot simulation, precision sanding and factory digital twins as its AI Day Seoul event opened on November 9, despite the absence of senior director Madison Huang, who canceled her planned visit to South Korea.

An incoming Democratic majority in the US Congress is likely to place Nvidia under greater scrutiny in light of recent revelations that the chipmaker's CEO, Jensen Huang, had an affair with an alleged Chinese spy. The legislature is already advancing a series of bills that seek to halt the flow of advanced US chips to China.

Trinity Fab, a semiconductor testing facility backed by SK Hynix and South Korean public bodies, will begin testing chipmaking equipment and materials in October 2027, The Elec reported on November 8. The KRW874.6 billion (approx. US$651 million) facility will operate under SK Hynix's mass-production standards, giving domestic suppliers access to production-grade testing without building their own facilities.