In recent years, China's traditional industries and those with lower technical barriers have faced intensifying competition, with bad money driving out good. This trend threatens long-term industrial development and competitiveness. Taiwan's industry value chains face similar challenges amid tariffs, exchange rates, and geopolitical risks, compounded by worsening competition among small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It is imperative to take action now to tackle the problem
Global Lighting Technologies (GLT) has liquidated its Zhongshan factory in Guangdong, China and has plans to start trial production at its new facility in Vietnam facility in the fourth quarter of 2025. GLT chairman Mang-shiang Lee said the company has reduced display segment revenue to below 5% of its overall sales and is expanding into the biomedical sector for stable future growth
South Korea has formally launched its first Physical AI Association, uniting over 100 companies and institutions from across the artificial intelligence, defense, healthcare, semiconductor, and manufacturing sectors. The newly established body aims to position South Korea as a global hub for physical AI innovation—the integration of AI with real-world applications, including robotics and autonomous systems
As the US-China tech rivalry intensifies, China has ramped up its robot+ strategy in recent years, targeting humanoid robots as a next-generation strategic technology. However, behind this ambitious industrial policy lies a critical challenge: most of China's humanoid robots still rely on core computing processors from international giants like Intel and Nvidia
OpenAI has recently surged in influence by forging strategic partnerships with global AI leaders. Beyond close ties with Nvidia and AMD, OpenAI announced collaborations with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to secure 900,000 DRAM wafer capacities monthly for its Stargate Project, fueling the peak of the AI boom
In the high-stakes arena of silicon carbide (SiC) innovation, a quiet transformation is underway. While much attention has focused on non-Chinese supply chains entering advanced packaging with 12-inch SiC wafers, a new frontier has emerged: a Chinese startup has reportedly broken into Meta's AI glasses supply chain with its 12-inch SiC wafer technology
China's new K-visa program, designed to attract foreign STEM professionals, has triggered domestic backlash amid soaring youth unemployment. Critics argue the policy, which allows overseas talent to work in China without employer sponsorship, risks sidelining local graduates struggling to find jobs in an already challenging labor market, according to Yonhap News and Sing Tao
Samsung Electronics is set to release a new high-end foldable smartphone designed specifically for the Chinese market, aiming to break into China's price-competitive smartphone landscape by focusing instead on flagship devices
Hotai Motor unveiled the Toyota Corolla Cross GR Sport and Corolla Altis GR Sport on October 7, aiming to boost year-end sales by appealing to a younger demographic with sporty designs, improved handling, and suggested retail prices of under NT$1 million (approx. US$32,800) for both models
As electric vehicle (EV) adoption surges and global attention on ESG and renewable energy deepens, battery reuse and recycling have become pivotal to the waste battery circular economy. South Korea's eNDIVe is standing out with a dual-track strategy that combines both reuse and recycling, positioning the company for steady long-term growth despite current economic headwinds
The global rare earth market has long been dominated by China, encompassing everything from ore extraction to separation and refining, and even magnet manufacturing. Although the US possesses rare earth resources, high costs, strict environmental regulations, and China's low-price supply led the US to virtually exit the industry after the 1990s, becoming reliant on imports from China
The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is fueling a new semiconductor supercycle, prompting Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to ramp up recruitment efforts in a bid to secure leadership in next-generation technologies
China is enhancing its DUV lithography technology amid US export restrictions. Yuliangsheng's 28nm immersion DUV machine is being tested at SMIC, while SMEE has patented a method to improve chip pattern quality
Chinese NAND Flash giant Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp. (YMTC) is preparing to enter the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market and is anticipating a technological breakthrough. As more Chinese companies attempt to enter the HBM space, traditionally dominated by SK Hynix, Samsung Electronics, and Micron, global memory dynamics may shift
On October 2, Meta announced the acquisition of US-based IC design company Rivos, which develops high-performance computing chips and solutions based on the RISC-V architecture. Interestingly, at the beginning of 2025, Meta also set its sights on South Korean chip startup FuriosaAI, a company gaining attention for its unique Tensor Contraction Processor (TCP) chip architecture and dedicated to enhancing AI performance through the efficiency of TCP design
