As AI compute demand surges, the rising need for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) testing and failure analysis is reshaping semiconductor inspection equipment markets, affecting chipmakers, foundries, and equipment suppliers worldwide. Demand for integrated microscopy platforms and localised service hubs is increasing to control yield, reduce costly iterations, and secure AI supply-chain positions
When TSMC chairman C.C. Wei recently dismissed the hype around Chinese robots as "just for show," it sparked heated debate across the tech sectors on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Yet, the market had already quietly signaled a nuanced answer
South Korea will keep electricity rates unchanged for the second quarter of 2026 amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which are pushing global energy prices higher, a decision intended to stabilize household costs in the short term. The move, however, exposes mounting contradictions between the country's electricity pricing mechanism and broader energy policy objectives
SEMICON China 2026 opened on March 25 in Shanghai, as the global semiconductor industry enters a new expansion cycle fueled by the rapid rise of artificial intelligence
As countries tighten controls on advanced chips and AI computing demand surges, how China secures compute resources matters globally. DIGITIMES Research reports H3C, a top Chinese server maker, has expanded exports into ASEAN and Central Asia since 2023, reshaping supply chains and offering alternative routes around US trade pressures
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are significantly increasing capital expenditures at their factories in China to expand chip supply and enhance profitability. According to Seoul Economic Daily, citing data from the Financial Services Commission, Samsung plans to invest KRW465.4 billion (approx. US$308.8 million) in its Xi'an plant in 2025, a 67.5% increase over the KRW277.8 billion invested in 2024
As advanced packaging pushes toward 3D integration and high-bandwidth computing, hybrid bonding has emerged as a critical battleground for semiconductor equipment makers
SK Hynix is actively evaluating whether to adopt TSMC's 3nm process for the logic die of its seventh-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM4E), aiming to close Samsung Electronics' performance advantage. However, industry analysts warn that production timing and cost challenges pose significant risks to SK Hynix's 3nm ambitions
Automotive parts giant Denso, closely linked with Toyota Motor, has officially submitted a proposal to acquire shares in Rohm Semiconductor, signaling its clear intent to pursue a takeover. This move appears to show Denso's intention to strengthen its position in the automotive semiconductor and power control sectors
STMicroelectronics said this week that its STM32 microcontrollers, produced in partnership with Hua Hong Semiconductor, have entered volume production in China and are now being shipped to local customers, marking a significant step in the company's "China for China" strategy
Through highly centralized supply chains, a software-first development philosophy, and extensive state subsidies, Chinese automakers have compressed traditional vehicle development cycles from five to seven years to less than two. In some cases, development timelines have shrunk to just a few months
The US Patent and Trademark Office has rejected an attempt by Tianma Microelectronics to challenge a patent held by LG Display, citing concerns that the Chinese company may be under the influence of a foreign government
SAIMEMORY, a Japanese startup backed by SoftBank, is positioning its proprietary Z-Angle Memory (ZAM) as a potential successor to high-bandwidth memory (HBM) as physical limits begin to constrain current AI architectures, according to Nikkei and PC Watch
Samsung Electronics is reportedly set to begin mass production at its gallium nitride (GaN) power semiconductor foundry line as early as the second quarter, while also preparing silicon carbide (SiC) samples for production later this year, according to reports from The Elec and ZDNet
As the rest of the world scrambles to catch up with China in lithium-ion batteries, Chinese companies are already pushing into new frontiers — racing to scale up sodium-ion batteries while simultaneously betting big on next-generation solar technology
