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Wednesday 17 December 2025
Sapien breaks into Meta's AR supply chain, challenging China's grip on smart glasses components
South Korean IC design house Sapien Semiconductor is emerging as a disruptor in the global smart glasses supply chain, after reports that it will supply display backplanes for Meta's next-generation augmented reality (AR) glasses, a development that could loosen China's long-standing grip on key micro-display components
Wednesday 17 December 2025
MetaX jumps in Shanghai IPO as China pushes homegrown GPUs
MetaX, a Chinese graphics processor startup founded by former Advanced Micro Devices engineers, soared in its trading debut on Shanghai's STAR Market on December 17, 2025. The rally highlights the premium investors are placing on Beijing's semiconductor self-sufficiency drive even as the company grapples with widening losses and intense geopolitical headwinds
Wednesday 17 December 2025
Samsung Foundry reportedly wins Intel 8nm order after Nvidia
Samsung Electronics' foundry division is reported to have secured an 8nm manufacturing order from Intel, adding another blue-chip customer to its mature advanced-node portfolio after Nvidia. Analysts say the win strengthens Samsung Foundry's order momentum at nodes where yields and cost structures have largely stabilized
Wednesday 17 December 2025
Samsung tri-fold phone sees strong sales despite high repair costs
Samsung Electronics' newly launched tri-fold smartphone, the Galaxy Z Tri Fold, has generated robust initial demand despite concerns over its steep repair fees. The device sold out within five minutes of going on sale on Samsung's official website and is currently available only through restock notifications
Wednesday 17 December 2025
Advantest, Tokyo Seimitsu to co-develop die-level probers for AI and HPC
Semiconductor test equipment supplier Advantest and Tokyo Seimitsu have announced a joint plan to co-develop a next-generation die-level prober for high-performance computing components
Wednesday 17 December 2025
CES 2026 participant list reveals a split Korea: Fewer giants, broader ecosystems
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), once the world's premier launchpad for next-generation technologies, is facing mounting questions over its relevance. Ahead of CES 2026, scheduled for 6-9 January in Las Vegas, participation by South Korean companies is expected to fall sharply, with multiple conglomerates scaling back or skipping the show altogether. The pullback highlights a broader reassessment by large corporations of the cost, impact, and strategic value of global tech exhibitions
Wednesday 17 December 2025
CHR Hangko expands South Korea base to penetrate local rechargeable battery supply chain
China-based battery equipment maker CHR Hangko is actively expanding its production base in South Korea, aiming to deepen its presence in the local rechargeable battery supply chain amid growing advances of Chinese firms into battery equipment sectors
Wednesday 17 December 2025
Wah Hong ramps up mass production for smart meter applications with shipments surging
Wah Hong Industrial, a leading Taiwanese optical film and advanced materials maker, remains focused on product upgrades and structural adjustments to enhance overall competitiveness, despite tariff-related uncertainties and conservative demand in 2025, according to the company's president, Chih-Ming Lin
Wednesday 17 December 2025
Korea Lighting pivots from conventional LEDs to bio-opitcal chips, targeting high-value markets
Facing intensifying competition in the traditional LED lighting market, Incheon-based Korea Lighting is repositioning itself as a supplier of bio-optical semiconductor solutions, targeting high-value applications across healthcare, hygiene, beauty, and agriculture
Wednesday 17 December 2025
China's AI chip war: Domestic GPUs challenge Nvidia H200 dominance

Nvidia's H200 GPU is set to reshape China's high-end AI computing market, driving a surge of activity among domestic chipmakers. Chinese GPU and computing firms are mobilizing across the board, accelerating product tape-outs, building software ecosystems, and securing capital. This aggressive, multi-pronged effort signals the rapid formation of a localized compute architecture designed to break international reliance and capture diverse market segments

Wednesday 17 December 2025
SK Hynix taps US$340M state loan to ramp up HBM production
SK Hynix has secured approval for an additional KRW500 billion (US$340 million) in low-interest financing from the state-run Korea Development Bank. The funds will be used to increase investments in semiconductor equipment, highlighting the growing competition to expand high bandwidth memory capacity for artificial intelligence chips
Wednesday 17 December 2025
Nvidia H200 volatility disrupts China's SOE compute strategy
China's AI computing sector is facing acute short-term planning turmoil, spurred by the potential re-entry of Nvidia's H200 GPU. This market volatility directly impacts numerous state-owned AI computing centers
Wednesday 17 December 2025
EU and US chart divergent paths to counter China's EV battery dominance
China continues to dominate the electric vehicle (EV) and battery supply chain. In response, the EU and the US have unveiled comprehensive measures to counterbalance Beijing's lead. Each is pursuing distinct approaches involving resource management, regulatory adjustments, and efforts to localize supply chains. The goal: secure technological and industrial footholds in the fast-evolving EV sector
Wednesday 17 December 2025
AMD CEO visits Lenovo Beijing HQ amid China AI chip focus
AMD chairman and CEO Lisa Su visited Lenovo's global headquarters in Beijing on December 16, 2025, marking a key stop during her recent trip to China. Accompanied by several Lenovo executives, the visit drew significant industry attention
Wednesday 17 December 2025
Tokyo Ohka ramps up South Korea investment for advanced chip materials

Tokyo Ohka Kogyo plans to accelerate investment in South Korea and expand production of materials critical to generative AI semiconductors, positioning itself to meet rising demand for advanced lithography and packaging technologies