South Korean authorities arrested a former subcontractor employee at Incheon International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle SK Hynix's proprietary high-bandwidth memory (HBM) packaging technology to China. The suspect, identified as Mr. Kim, was apprehended moments before boarding his flight
Amid the renewed US-China trade tensions and fierce price competition from Chinese peers, the industry trend of "China Minus One" has resurfaced, spreading from outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) providers upstream to the IC substrate supply chain
China's outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) industry is gaining momentum, driven by surging demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and electric vehicles (EVs). As the country intensifies its technology upgrade initiatives, the back-end supply chain has become a strategic pillar, with major players ramping up both revenue and innovation
These are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from the week of May 12 – May 18. From China's push in DUV lithography and Samsung's resurgence in foundry orders to TSMC's aggressive fab expansion and Europe's looming ban on Chinese inverters, the week highlighted shifting power dynamics across the global tech and semiconductor landscape
InPsytech, a leading provider of high-performance semiconductor intellectual property (IP) solutions under Egis, has been selected to join the Samsung Advanced Foundry Ecosystem (SAFE) as an IP partner. This recognition stems from InPsytech's outstanding performance in open NAND flash interface (ONFI) high-performance IP solutions. InPsytech plans to continue expanding its IP portfolio within Samsung's ecosystem, particularly by strengthening applications for UCIe IP
Japanese NAND flash memory maker Kioxia reported a sharp earnings rebound for fiscal 2024 (April 2024 to March 2025), recording a net profit of JPY272.3 billion (approx. USD 1.9 billion) after a net loss of JPY243.73 billion the year prior
While China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) recently announced updates on deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography, Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment (SMEE) also disclosed its 2023 patent applications related to extreme ultraviolet (EUV) technology, along with the publication of patents filed in September 2024
At the 2025 Semiconductor IP Industry Seminar in Shanghai, Akrostar Technology, Biren Technology, and Enflame Technology unveiled fresh funding rounds, highlighting China's accelerating efforts to localize critical chip technologies amid the global AI boom, as reported by ICsmart and Sina
According to New Daily, citing semiconductor industry sources, the DRAM giants Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron plan to exit the DDR4 market by the first half of 2026 at the latest. Taiwanese firms such as Nanya and Winbond are expected to step in and cover the market shortfall. However, they will likely face intense low-price competition from Chinese rivals
Leading Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker BYD grabbed market headlines in the first quarter of 2025 with the unveiling of its megawatt-level flash charging technology. Silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors played an instrumental role in this technological advancement, as key advantages of the wide bandgap material, including high voltage and temperature resistance and low energy loss, help enhance the efficiency and reliability of electric drive systems to support high-voltage charging
With 2025 being hailed as the inaugural year of the humanoid robot, China's internet giants—Tencent, Baidu, and Alibaba—are accelerating their efforts to secure early dominance in the embodied intelligence industry. What began as isolated initiatives has evolved into a clear trend of strategic alignment, with major players forming increasingly collaborative ecosystems to drive development and commercialization
As interest in humanoid robots surges, Huawei is expanding beyond technology development by deploying capital through its tech investment arm, Shanezen Hubble Technology Investment Partnership (Hubble), to deepen its footprint across semiconductors, AI, and system integration
The Chinese government has escalated its enforcement measures against the smuggling of rare earth metals, intensifying export controls on strategic materials. This crackdown is putting increased pressure on global supply chains for critical resources. Industries reliant on compound semiconductors, notably those using indium phosphide (InP), are experiencing tighter delivery schedules and longer lead times. These constraints threaten the short-term availability of essential wafer materials, potentially impacting important sectors such as 5G telecommunications and defense applications
Alibaba's fourth-quarter results for fiscal 2025 missed market expectations, sending shares down 7.5% in premarket trading. Revenue rose 7% year over year to CNY236.5 billion (US$32.8 billion), narrowly missing the CNY237.2 billion consensus. While net income jumped 279% to CNY12.4 billion, analysts attributed the surge to non-operational gains, including asset disposals and equity revaluations, underscoring lingering pressure on core business fundamentals
Boeing landed its largest-ever single order as Qatar Airways agreed to purchase 210 wide-body aircraft during US President Donald Trump's recent Middle East visit. The deal, announced on April 14, includes 130 Dreamliners and 30 777X jets, with options for 50 additional aircraft, alongside an agreement with GE Aerospace for over 400 engines
