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Monday 25 August 2025
Intel shifts glass substrate strategy, from would-be rival to potential buyer
Intel is reportedly preparing to license its glass core substrate (GCS) technology, reversing course from its earlier plan to commercialize the technology in-house. The pivot could turn Intel from a prospective supplier into a customer, opening opportunities for Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) and Absolics Inc
Monday 25 August 2025
Bill Gates partners with SK Group to advance South Korea's SMR ecosystem as global competition rises
During his recent visit to South Korea, Microsoft founder Bill Gates met with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won to discuss future cooperation in the energy sector, particularly small modular reactors (SMRs). The two sides agreed to deepen their business ties and strategic partnerships, drawing significant attention from the global nuclear industry
Monday 25 August 2025
China's top smartphone ODM plans HK IPO after doubling 1H25 revenue
Huaqin Technology, a leading global intelligent hardware platform company, announced on August 22, 2025, that it will issue H-shares and seek a main board listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX). The offering will account for no more than 8% of its enlarged share capital, excluding the overallotment option, and is aimed at boosting the company's overseas financing capacity and global presence
Monday 25 August 2025
Yageo raises Shibaura Electronics offer to JPY7,130 per share; acquisition hinges on Japanese regulatory approval
The acquisition contest for Japan's NTC thermistor manufacturer Shibaura Electronics is approaching its conclusion, with the final outcome now dependent solely on regulatory approval, reports Nikkei
Monday 25 August 2025
Semco revamps IC substrate supply chain amid AI accelerator push
Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) has recently adjusted its IC substrate supply chain, appointing Mitsubishi and Resonac as the primary suppliers for key materials such as copper-clad laminates (CCL). Industry observers view the move as a response to changes in Semco's advanced build-up film (ABF) substrate business
Monday 25 August 2025
AI glass race intensifies: Sunny Optical trades tech for equity in Goertek
Sunny Optical Technology (Group) Co. said on August 22, 2024, it signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Goertek Inc. and its subsidiary Goertek Optical Technology, a move that could reshape competition in China's precision optics market amid surging demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) hardware
Monday 25 August 2025
South Korea's AI fix to its tariff disrupted ASEAN playbook
The US tariff policies have disrupted global supply chains, hitting South Korea not only by imposing a 15% reciprocal tariff but also by impacting the ASEAN countries where South Korea has actively invested. Moving forward, South Korea must proactively develop an ASEAN strategy and seize opportunities in the artificial intelligence (AI) market
Monday 25 August 2025
Weekly news roundup: Huawei found to use outdated 5nm; Google launches 270M AI model; China's new E-Beam tool
Below are the key DIGITIMES Asia stories from August 11 to 17, 2025. Firstly, a recent teardown confirms that Huawei's Kunpeng 930 chip still relies on TSMC's outdated 5nm process due to US sanctions that restrict its data center growth. Meanwhile, Google has made a significant move by launching the Gemma 3 AI model with 270 million parameters, explicitly designed to lower power consumption on mobile devices. Concurrently, China has successfully unveiled its first homegrown electron-beam lithography machine, although it faces substantial challenges in achieving mass production
Monday 25 August 2025
China tightens rare earth controls with new quota and traceability rules
China has introduced fresh regulatory measures to reinforce state control over its rare earth sector, further cementing its position as the world's dominant supplier of the strategic materials used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced electronics
Monday 25 August 2025
Baidu's Kunlunxin's US$140 million AI chip order from China Mobile fuels face-off with Nvidia
China's push to challenge Nvidia in AI chips is accelerating, with Baidu's Kunlunxin winning a US$140 million order from China Mobile. Alongside Huawei's Ascend processors and Cambricon's rising valuation, these efforts highlight Beijing's drive to build competitive domestic alternatives as US export restrictions tighten on advanced semiconductors
Monday 25 August 2025
South Korean scholars urge closer ASEAN ties to reduce dependence on US and China
South Korean academics are calling for further reforms of the country's New Southern Policy, stressing the need to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN, already home to many South Korean enterprises, as US-China rivalry intensifies. This approach, they argue, not only helps reduce economic dependence on China and the US but also positions ASEAN as a natural strategic partner due to its geographic proximity, abundant resources, cultural affinity, and the soft power of the Korean Wave
Sunday 24 August 2025
DeepSeek’s shock fades, leaving China’s AI to face reality
More than six months after DeepSeek's surprise rise shook global markets and challenged US dominance in artificial intelligence, the Chinese startup's trajectory illustrates a shift from hype to deeper industry reassessment, as both China and the US recalibrate strategies in the rapidly evolving AI landscape
Saturday 23 August 2025
Mitsubishi Fuso and Foxconn sign MOU to develop zero-emission buses for global markets

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), a leading name in Japan's commercial vehicle industry, and Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn), the world's largest electronics manufacturer, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore a strategic collaboration in the field of zero-emission buses. The partnership aims to accelerate the deployment of clean mobility solutions in Japan and global markets

Saturday 23 August 2025
Samsung reportedly clears Nvidia's HBM4 checks as meeting between Jensen Huang and Lee Jae-Yong gains attention
Samsung Electronics' sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM4), delivered to Nvidia in July 2025, has reportedly cleared reliability testing, positioning it for pre-production by late August. The milestone is viewed as a concrete result of Samsung chairman Lee Jae-yong's recent meeting with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang
Saturday 23 August 2025
Japan's last semiconductor stronghold slips under Chinese pressure

Japan's power semiconductor sector, once a global stronghold, is losing ground to fast-rising Chinese rivals as stalled consolidation and mounting financial pressures undermine its competitiveness. Talks between Toshiba and Rohm — two of Japan's five leading power semiconductor firms — have stalled, highlighting how fragmentation is preventing Japan from countering China's increasingly aggressive push