DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

OpenAI's deeper Samsung tie-up lands on a foundry that is running out of capacity

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 10:28:57 GMT

For Samsung Electronics' two loss-making logic businesses, OpenAI's declaration that it is jointly producing and researching next-generation chips with the Korean company matters less as a new logo on the customer list than as a sign of where Samsung's advanced wafers actually go. Samsung Foundry has spent 2026 accumulating leading-edge design wins, and System LSI is narrowing its losses behind an in-house application processor. But the most advanced commercial node Samsung sells to outside customers is now more than half consumed by Samsung's own memory division — which means an OpenAI relationship built on high-bandwidth memory may tighten, rather than relieve, the constraint on the foundry's external business.

AI computing power propels tech sector to US$30 trillion, putting servers at the core of 2027's supply chain

Scarlett Yu — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 09:37:06 GMT

Taiwan's Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute (MIC) expects servers and data center supply chains to become the primary growth drivers for major information and communications technology (ICT) products in 2027. Global server shipments are projected to increase 12.4% year-over-year to 18.6 million units, with AI server shipments rising 17.8% to 5.4 million units.

Samsung, LG secure roles as key suppliers for Apple's foldable iPhone

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 09:10:11 GMT

Apple's expected first foldable iPhone is set to channel a significant share of its component value to South Korean suppliers, with Samsung Display (SDC), LG Innotek, Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco), Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix securing positions across displays, cameras, substrates, passive components, and memory.

Enterprise AI spending gives Taiwan's Systex a new growth wing

Levi Li — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 09:07:38 GMT

Systex reported consolidated revenue of NT$5.9 billion (approximately US$187 million) in August 2026, up 61.91% from NT$3.64 billion a year earlier. Revenue for the first eight months reached NT$38.01 billion, rising 39.65% from NT$27.22 billion in the same period of 2025. Both monthly and cumulative revenue hit record highs for their respective periods.

Huaqin signs Nanchang projects as robotics push widens

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 09:00:11 GMT

Huaqin Technology has signed two new projects in Nanchang High-tech Zone, expanding the smart-hardware ODM group's local manufacturing base into embodied-AI robotics and data collection, according to Hongguan News reporting on Sina Finance.

Jin Lian Cheng expands into semiconductor wafer fab UPS battery recycling

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 08:35:00 GMT

Jin Lian Cheng Resources completed an upgrade to its desulfurization production line as demand increased for lead-acid battery recycling tied to high-spec uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems used by semiconductor plants. The Taiwanese waste lead-acid battery processor said the upgrade restored normal operations while improving sulfur oxide treatment, real-time monitoring, and environmental management.

Cambricon wins PyTorch Foundation board seat in bid to strengthen China AI chip software ecosystem

Levi Li — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 08:35:00 GMT

Chinese AI chip developer Cambricon said on September 8 that it has formally joined the PyTorch Foundation as a platinum member, the organisation's highest membership tier, securing a seat on its governing board.

Google steps up green power purchases in Taiwan for 24/7 carbon-free electricity

Charlene Chen — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 08:30:00 GMT

Over the past half-year, multinational companies and semiconductor suppliers have pressed the government to reduce surplus power conditions. To increase the flexibility of green power transfer and matching, Taiwan Power (Taipower) has planned to launch Sandbox 3.0 in October 2026, which market watchers expect will help address TSMC's surplus electricity issue and add flexibility to Taiwan's renewable energy market.

Ledlink Optics posts 21-month revenue high on AI server, auto demand

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 08:30:00 GMT

Ledlink Optics reported that August revenue climbed on stronger AI server and automotive demand, with consolidated revenue reaching NT$134 million. The figure rose 3.21% from July and 20.42% from a year earlier, as the Taiwan-based supplier said both businesses supported growth heading into the second half of the year.

China expands OLED capacity, challenging South Korea in IT and automotive display markets

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 08:12:34 GMT

South Korea's long-standing dominance in the global display market is facing an aggressive challenge as major Chinese panel makers—including BOE, China Star Optoelectronics Technology (CSOT), and Visionox—rapidly expand their organic light-emitting diode (OLED) production capacity. While South Korea maintains a firm lead in mobile and TV displays, industry analysts warn that a massive volume offensive from China threatens to erode South Korea's footing in fast-growing sectors, particularly IT devices like laptops and tablets alongside automotive displays.

China reportedly tightens humanoid robot IPO rules as market mania meets reality

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 07:53:18 GMT

China is tightening scrutiny of initial public offerings by humanoid robotics companies as regulators seek to curb excessive valuations and distinguish commercially viable businesses from a crowded field of startups, according to The Information.

CIOE: Luxshare bets on flat optics to solve AR glasses' weight problem

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 07:49:59 GMT

At its booth at the China International Optoelectronic Expo (CIOE), Luxshare and its camera-module affiliate Luxvisions showcased the components they believe will define the next generation of smart eyewear, pointing to weight and price as among the industry's biggest remaining obstacles.

Samsung turns to Japan for packaging edge, narrows HBM gap with SK Hynix

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 07:46:21 GMT

Samsung Electronics has opened an advanced packaging research center in Yokohama, bringing development work closer to Japanese suppliers that provide critical materials and equipment for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) as the company works to narrow its market-share gap with SK Hynix.

Getac sees growing drone orders, with 2027 revenue contribution reaching up to 12%

Eifeh Strom — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 07:23:52 GMT

Getac Holdings is expanding aggressively into drone opportunities on the back of its strong industrial rugged computer foundation, making the segment a continued growth driver in the second half of 2026.

Realtek expands cloud AI push with ASIC and SSD chips

Charlene Chen — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 07:23:00 GMT

Realtek chairman Sun-Chien Chiu, who received an honorary fellowship from Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) this week, said in a public interview that the company is already generating revenue from ASIC projects and has started expanding into 3nm products. Although Realtek's ASIC business is still far smaller than MediaTek's, Chiu said it will continue to grow as more projects come in.

Ample Electronic hits 120% utilization as MLCC customers step up copper paste orders

Eifeh Strom — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 07:15:04 GMT

Ample Electronic Technology said strong demand for passive components and artificial intelligence (AI) server-related products is boosting business momentum, as multi-layer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) customers ramp up copper paste purchases.

Kioxia rules out deeper SK Hynix ties, resists further NAND price hikes

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:58:04 GMT

Kioxia has ruled out deeper manufacturing ties with SK Hynix while resisting another round of aggressive NAND price increases, leaning instead on longer customer contracts and disciplined capacity expansion as data-center demand keeps memory supply tight.

Update: US finalizes US$775 million in CHIPS quantum awards, with equity attached

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:55:00 GMT

Washington has converted the largest federal bet yet on quantum computing from a promise into a contract, and it is taking ownership in return. On Sept. 8, the US Department of Commerce announced the signing of final awards with five companies under the CHIPS and Science Act: up to US$375 million for GlobalFoundries and up to US$100 million each for Rigetti, D-Wave, PsiQuantum, and Quantinuum, according to five separate announcements posted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Together, the five deals commit US$775 million, and each carries a minority, non-controlling government equity stake as a condition of the money.

Verizon, Corning strike multi-billion-dollar fiber deal for broadband and AI buildout

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:45:00 GMT

Verizon and Corning have agreed to a multi-billion-dollar supply deal that could shape broadband access and artificial intelligence infrastructure well beyond the US. The pact underscores how telecom networks are becoming a shared foundation for consumer internet, enterprise connectivity, and the data-heavy systems driving the next wave of AI services.

Y.S. Tech's Renwu plant lifts August sales

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:33:34 GMT

Y.S. Tech reported August 2026 revenue of NT$331 million, up 2.36% year-over-year, as new capacity at its Renwu plant helped offset the traditional summer shipment lull for automakers and support steady growth in a weak season.

Amkor expands Arizona chip campus with phase 2 plan

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:32:31 GMT

Amkor Technology's latest Arizona expansion underscores how advanced packaging capacity is becoming a strategic issue for the US semiconductor supply chain. The larger campus aims to meet rising demand for advanced packaging, strengthen domestic production, and support next-generation devices worldwide.

China's up to 99.2% anti-dumping duty on Japan DCS boosts local chip material suppliers

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:30:37 GMT

China has imposed provisional anti-dumping measures on Japanese dichlorosilane (DCS), a semiconductor material used in thin-film deposition, potentially accelerating Chinese wafer fabs' shift toward domestic suppliers.

CXMT's 10% DRAM share intensifies debate over South Korea's 52-hour workweek

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:30:00 GMT

China's rapid advance in DRAM is intensifying debate in South Korea over whether rigid working-hour rules could make it harder to preserve one of the country's remaining technology advantages over China.

Ability Enterprises August revenue hits 10-year high on AI vision, drones, robot cameras

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:25:00 GMT

Ability Enterprise reported August 2026 revenue of NT$1.313 billion, its highest monthly level since December 2015, as three new product lines entered volume shipments. The Taiwanese optics and imaging maker said the gain followed a first-half earnings jump and reflected progress in its shift from traditional imaging manufacturing toward AI-enabled visual systems.

LG Display wins Sharp OLED TV supply deal for 2026 turnaround

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:20:00 GMT

LG Display has reportedly become Sharp's sole OLED TV panel supplier in 2026, a shift that could help lift the South Korean maker's large-size OLED business into profit for the first time this year. According to The Korea Economic Daily, the deal comes as Sharp expands OLED use across its premium television lineup and deepens its reliance on LG Display.

JD.com's real target with 3 million robots: physical AI

Levi Li — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:15:31 GMT

JD.com is accelerating its expansion in physical AI, announcing a new "Physical AI Acceleration Plan" at the 2026 JD Global Technology Explorers Conference on September 9. Over the next five years, the company plans to establish 80 RoboBase robotics industry hubs across China, while JD Logistics intends to procure 3 million robots, 1 million autonomous vehicles, and 100,000 drones to advance automation across its logistics supply chain.

Weblink posts record August revenue on AI, premium computing demand

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:10:00 GMT

Acer subsidiary Weblink International reported record August consolidated revenue of NT$3.246 billion in 2026, up 41.52% from a year earlier, as demand for mid- to high-end computing and graphics products strengthened. The distributor also said revenue for the first eight months climbed 36.44% year-over-year to NT$25.604 billion, with both periods setting records for their respective periods.

Foxtron clears another hurdle in the race to make SDVs globally compliant

Levi Li — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 06:06:21 GMT

Foxtron has obtained ISO/SAE 21434 certification for road-vehicle cybersecurity engineering and ISO 24089 certification for road-vehicle software-update engineering following an assessment by independent testing, inspection and certification provider Dekra. The certifications strengthen its cybersecurity and over-the-air (OTA) software-update management framework for increasingly intelligent vehicles.

Sysgration expands Taiwan, US drone manufacturing as procurement plans advance

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 05:58:58 GMT

Sysgration said in August 2026 that rising demand for artificial intelligence, industrial PCs, and drone systems continued to expand its operating scale, while Taiwan's government moved closer to large-scale drone procurement. The company said the policy push is shifting into budget and purchasing stages, positioning 2026 as a key year for domestic drone buying in Taiwan.

Smart applications boost AOPEN, Acerpure revenue

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 05:57:21 GMT

Acer subsidiaries AOPEN and Acerpure both posted strong revenue growth in August 2026, driven by rising demand in the smart applications market.

Thailand pauses 49 data center projects

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 05:56:04 GMT

Thailand has suspended construction on 49 data center projects while stressing that it is not trying to "close the door" to investment. The move comes as the government works to draft a regulatory framework amid public concern over energy use and environmental impacts, Bloomberg reported.

Asia Vital revenue hits record as US CSP ASIC server demand climbs

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 05:55:26 GMT

Asia Vital said August 2026 revenue rose to NT$512 million, up 29.10% year over year, as shipments of ASIC servers to a US cloud service provider customer continued to increase. The Taiwan-based supplier said revenue stayed above NT$500 million for a third straight month, while demand for the customer's next-generation products remained strong.

Axcelis to build new Korea manufacturing site in US$35 million expansion

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 04:49:35 GMT

Axcelis Technologies plans to invest US$35 million in a new semiconductor equipment manufacturing facility in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, a move that could help strengthen global chip supply chains. The project underscores how leading suppliers are expanding production capacity to meet rising demand from manufacturers worldwide.

China's AI meets photonics: CIOE, IICIE, and elexcon open together in Shenzhen

Yunnie Cheng — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 04:48:32 GMT

The 27th China International Optoelectronic Exposition (CIOE) opened at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center, taking place alongside the International Integrated Circuit Innovation Expo (IICIE) and the 23rd Shenzhen International Electronics and Embedded Exhibition (elexcon). Together, the co-located events highlight the accelerating convergence of AI, photonics, and semiconductor technology.

Huawei orchestrates China's DUV lithography push to cut reliance on ASML

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 04:44:13 GMT

Huawei is emerging as a central organiser of China's effort to build a domestic semiconductor equipment supply chain, backing critical lithography suppliers and helping connect them with major chipmakers including SMIC.

Commentary: Huawei's Kirin comeback, Xiaomi's Xring entry widen China's chipmaking race

Levi Li — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 04:39:05 GMT

In September 2020, Huawei's smartphone business suffered a severe blow.

LG Innotek tackles glass substrate microcrack issue as 2028 production race heats up

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 04:33:59 GMT

LG Innotek is applying internally developed artificial intelligence to semiconductor glass substrate manufacturing, targeting microcracks, one of the technology's toughest yield challenges. The move comes as industry forecasts and supplier roadmaps increasingly point to around 2028 as an early window for initial glass-core substrate production.

Huawei Qiankun turns 2 million cars into its next assisted-driving advantage

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 04:30:49 GMT

Huawei's automotive technology business has crossed a new scale threshold, with both Huawei Qiankun Intelligent Driving and HarmonySpace surpassing 2 million installations, while the Huawei Qiankun app has also reached 2 million users.

SEMIFIVE begins HyperAccel chip production on Samsung 4nm as capacity tightens

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 04:28:56 GMT

SEMIFIVE has begun mass production of HyperAccel's data center inference accelerator using Samsung Foundry's 4nm process, marking the Korean custom-silicon company's first large-scale production program on the node as Samsung's Pyeongtaek SF4 line remains at full utilization.

Apple yields to memory suppliers in historic strategy shift, with Kioxia tipped as NAND long-term agreement recipient

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 04:22:22 GMT

Apple, historically known for wielding unmatched leverage in component price negotiations, has reportedly been trading pricing leverage for long-term supply guarantees from memory manufacturers. Facing a severe structural shortage driven by the AI infrastructure boom, the company has reportedly signed a long-term supply agreement (LTA) for NAND flash memory, prioritizing volume guarantees over cost suppression.

India's HCLTech opens semiconductor lab in Bengaluru to serve global chip supply chains

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 04:18:37 GMT

HCLTech has opened a new semiconductor laboratory in Bengaluru, a move that could matter for chipmakers and device makers worldwide as they look for faster testing, qualification, and failure analysis. The facility is designed to shorten development cycles, support production quality, and strengthen India's role in the global semiconductor ecosystem.

IT panel peak season loses its edge after brands stocked too early

Levi Li — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 03:53:52 GMT

The display panel market has entered its traditional peak season, but the recovery in IT demand has fallen short of expectations. LCD monitor panel prices are holding steady in September, supported by seasonal inventory building ahead of year-end, while notebook panel demand has weakened sharply amid mounting brand inventory and subdued procurement. Prices for some notebook panel products remain stable, but signs of softness are emerging in selected specifications.

European automakers expand China software teams amid layoffs

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 03:41:50 GMT

European automakers are reportedly expanding software teams in China even as they cut jobs and close plants, as they race to complete the "last mile" of software-defined vehicle (SDV) and smart-driving development. Supply-chain sources say the move reflects the growing role of China's software talent in helping automakers lower costs and speed up execution.

China's AI computing plan targets sixfold growth, 100,000-card clusters

Levi Li — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 03:11:05 GMT

China is accelerating the large-scale deployment of AI computing infrastructure. On September 7, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released its 15th Five-Year Plan for the information and communications industry, setting out CNY3.8 trillion (US$566.3 billion) in cumulative information infrastructure investment from 2026 to 2030.

Cambricon takes a PyTorch Foundation board seat as China's chip challengers turn to software

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 02:45:31 GMT

Cambricon has joined the PyTorch Foundation as a Platinum member, taking one seat on its Governing Board and one on its Technical Advisory Council. The Linux Foundation announced the membership on September 8 at the combined KubeCon + CloudNativeCon + OpenInfra Summit + PyTorch Conference China 2026 in Shanghai, where Alibaba Cloud also joined at the Platinum tier and Ant Group at Gold.

Exclusive Interview: WG Tech sees a faster route for TGV beyond displays

Levi Li — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 02:39:43 GMT

WG Tech (Jiangxi) Group is accelerating its shift from display glass into semiconductor applications, targeting through-glass via (TGV) substrates for optical communications and advanced packaging as AI demand expands.

Samsung-led EUR3B funding round nearly doubles Mistral's valuation

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 02:21:29 GMT

French AI startup Mistral has raised EUR3 billion (US$3.5 billion) in a funding round led by Samsung Electronics, nearly doubling its valuation as the company seeks to strengthen its position as Europe's leading alternative to US and Chinese AI developers.

US security agencies tell AI firms to degrade answers to suspected Chinese distillation traffic in secret

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 02:17:22 GMT

The NSA, CISA, and the FBI are asking American frontier AI developers to treat model outputs themselves as an exfiltration surface, in a joint Cybersecurity Advisory that names six China-based AI companies as running what the agencies call industrial-scale knowledge distillation campaigns against US models. The most operationally striking recommendation is not a block or a ban: the agencies want providers to subtly alter responses to high-confidence malicious distillation requests, without telling the user.

Arm expands push for agentic AI infrastructure with new Neoverse chip design

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 02:16:54 GMT

Arm is stepping up its role in AI infrastructure as cloud providers, original equipment makers, and software partners build systems for agentic AI, a shift that could affect data centers worldwide. The company said its latest Neoverse Compute Subsystems N4 and Arm AGI CPU aim to give customers more choice across performance, efficiency, and silicon design.

Mature-node chip scramble may persist through 2028 as supply chain management becomes bargaining leverage

Scarlett Yu — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 02:03:21 GMT

Capacity for advanced semiconductor processes and packaging remains tight, while mature-node chips required for AI-related peripheral applications are also facing mounting supply pressure. IC design houses and semiconductor industry sources generally expect the current capacity constraints to last longer than the chip supply crunch that followed the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chinese automakers face globalization test in overseas push

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 01:32:51 GMT

China's auto industry has moved from capacity expansion and price competition into a final round of competition, as the decisive factor shifts to how each brand performs overseas. The reason is simple: overseas markets offer more rational margins, making the global expansion of Chinese brands increasingly important.

Accenture, Google Cloud launch global Gemini Enterprise business group

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 01:25:00 GMT

Accenture and Google Cloud launched a new global business group to help companies scale agentic AI, a move that could speed enterprise adoption of AI tools worldwide. The effort targets faster deployment, clearer returns, and broader access to AI talent, engineering, and industry expertise across sectors.

Apple may delay iPhone 18 base model to 1Q27

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 01:19:48 GMT

Apple's fall product event will begin at 1 a.m. Taiwan time on September 10, with the company set to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro series and its first foldable phone, tentatively called iPhone Ultra. Market watchers said Apple may postpone the standard iPhone 18 until the first quarter of 2027, using older models to support sales in the fourth quarter.

Preferred Networks eyes an IPO as Japan's AI chip ambitions outgrow private funding

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 01:13:53 GMT

One of Japan's few private technology companies valued above US$1 billion is preparing to abandon a decade of engineering independence, because designing an AI chip is no longer the expensive part — manufacturing one at volume is.

Meta ships Muse as its agent bet, waging faster model cadence can close the frontier gap

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:57:05 GMT

Meta launched Muse on September 9, a personal AI agent that acts on a user's behalf across email, calendar, payments, shopping, and the smart home — the clearest sign yet that the company means to convert a year of catch-up spending on frontier models into a consumer product before rivals lock in the agent market.

ASML chooses Netherlands for major expansion after warning it could build abroad

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:40:02 GMT

ASML's groundbreaking at Brainport Industries Campus North commits Europe's most valuable company to a build-out that could eventually hold up to 20,000 workplaces in a single Dutch metropolitan region, against a current global workforce of more than 44,500.

Qualcomm to build custom AI inference chips for AWS

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:32:39 GMT

Qualcomm's multi-generation agreement to build customized AI inference silicon and optical interconnects for Amazon gives the company something its data center roadmap has lacked since it re-entered the market: a named, US-scale hyperscaler willing to put Qualcomm parts into a production fleet. The commercial value was not disclosed; the strategic value is the point. Qualcomm has spent the past year buying its way into AI infrastructure and telling investors it belongs there. Amazon Web Services (AWS), the largest buyer of AI compute in the market, has now agreed.

China GPU developer Biren expands AI chip R&D into optical interconnects, advanced cooling

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:25:01 GMT

Chinese GPU developer Biren Technology has teamed up with Shanghai University to establish an Integrated Circuit Intelligent Chip Joint Laboratory, expanding their cooperation into joint research on AI-chip optical interconnects and advanced thermal management.

SDC, LGD target advanced glass packaging

Yunnie Cheng — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:24:31 GMT

As glass substrates emerge as a next-generation semiconductor packaging material, they have become the centerpiece of the display industry's cross-sector transformation. Although South Korean panel makers have turned their attention toward glass substrates and advanced packaging, their overall strategy remains exploratory. Compared to rivals in Taiwan and China, South Korea's leading players face a double-edged sword: their parent conglomerates already maintain established semiconductor and packaging divisions, a structure that enables cross-technology synergy but can also constrain new business expansion.

CSPs expand Malaysia AI server hubs as Southeast Asia grows

Charlene Chen — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:23:55 GMT

According to the latest DIGITIMES Intelligence report, US-based cloud service providers (CSPs) are expanding their footprint in Malaysia, with Microsoft and Google driving the next wave of added AI computing capacity. The availability of land, power, and related infrastructure for campus developments of several hundred MW will further shape Malaysia's data center growth pace and regional divergence.

Backed by Nanya partnership, PieceMakers eyes AI memory upgrade boom

Yunnie Cheng — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:22:37 GMT

As AI compute requirements scale, memory bandwidth has become a primary bottleneck governing system performance. PieceMakers Technology, which maintains a strategic partnership with Nanya Technology, is slated to debut on Taiwan's Emerging Stock Board on September 16, 2026. Leveraging 3D stacking and Near Memory architectures, the company is positioning itself to capture burgeoning AI memory upgrade opportunities, driving concurrent top- and bottom-line growth.

Taiwan's chip research agencies overlap on two new 300mm fabs

Charlene Chen — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:12:16 GMT

To receive 12-inch (300mm) advanced-process R&D and pilot-line equipment donated by TSMC, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and the National Development Council (NDC) are jointly funding ITRI's new advanced semiconductor pilot production laboratory. The facility is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027 and will begin phased activation in the first quarter of 2028.

Taiwanese suppliers are being demoted to second tier as Xiaomi squeezes prices

Charlene Chen — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:08:44 GMT

Xiaomi Auto moved aggressively in September 2026, officially launching its second product line, the SkyNomad extended-range SUV series, on September 7. The company also said cumulative deliveries have surpassed 800,000 vehicles and laid out a timetable to enter the European market in 2027. But behind the upbeat headlines, Taiwanese suppliers are settling for secondary-supplier roles.

WinWay revenue surges on AI chip pin-count demand

Charlene Chen — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:08:16 GMT

Semiconductor test interface maker WinWay said AI-related orders drove August 2026 revenue to NT$1.706 billion (US$53.8 million), up more than 2x year-over-year and a record high for a single month. The company also posted its fifth straight month of month-over-month growth, its third consecutive monthly revenue record, and said cumulative revenue for the first eight months of 2026 rose nearly double, beating expectations.

Arm expands AI platform strategy across cloud, robotics and mobile

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:08:03 GMT

Arm unveiled new platforms and ecosystem programs for cloud data centers, Physical AI and mobile devices on September 8, broadening its role beyond CPU intellectual property into a wider AI computing platform. The company said the push is aimed at supporting agentic AI, which requires systems to plan tasks, retrieve data, coordinate models and take actions on behalf of users.

Uber Eats names Samuel Li Taiwan GM

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:07:49 GMT

Uber Eats on September 8 named Samuel Li as its Taiwan general manager, as the delivery platform continues to deepen its local market presence and partner relationships, and drive business growth in Taiwan.

IQE returns to profit in 1H26, warns on China InP risk

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:07:30 GMT

IQE said first-half 2026 results came in better than expected on an AI data-center buildout boom, but the UK compound semiconductor epitaxy maker also warned that China's grip on indium phosphide, or InP, could become a major industry risk. Bloomberg and Reuters reported that surging demand for next-generation optical communications chips helped IQE post core profit of GBP6 million (about US$8.1 million) in the first half of 2026, swinging the company back into the black.

Taiwan Mobile moves into enterprise AI integration with Systex

Yunnie Cheng — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:05:34 GMT

Taiwan Mobile kicked off its fourth annual Tech Day, "D.E.E.P. Tech Day 2026," on September 8. This year's event centered on Agentic AI, exploring enterprise strategy, platform technologies, Japanese corporate case studies, deployment, and governance and security.

Industrial AI needs eyes: Sony tests its sensor edge in Aramco's physical world

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:04:57 GMT

For years, sensor technologies tied to image processing and machine vision have carved out their own foothold in the digital world, where the prevailing use of AI was largely confined to workflows such as historical data analysis and software-level applications. The smartphone market became the most visible proving ground, where image-sensing technology held a formidable edge as a crucial component in unlocking the full potential of smartphones' intelligent layer.

Realtek expands Wi-Fi 8, optical communications, ASICs, keeps Nvidia partnership low-profile

Levi Li — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:04:39 GMT

ITRI held its 15th Laureate Ceremony on September 7, honoring three new laureates in 2026: TSMC executive vice president and co-COO Y.P. Chyn, Realtek chairman Sun-Chien Chiu, and superintendent of Taipei Veterans General Hospital Wei-Ming Chen.

OpenAI taps Firmus for Malaysia data center capacity

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:04:24 GMT

OpenAI has signed a multi-year agreement with Australian AI infrastructure developer Firmus for dedicated computing capacity at two data center sites in Malaysia, becoming an anchor customer as demand for power and data-center capacity accelerates.

Samsung's Taylor fab reportedly fully booked before 2nm production begins

DIGITIMES — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:04:00 GMT

Samsung Electronics' Taylor foundry fab in Texas has reportedly reached full booking before 2nm volume production begins, signaling stronger demand for the company's incoming US advanced-node capacity as the site moves toward trial operations.

Lotte Energy Materials pivots from EV weakness to AI, ESS copper foil

Levi Li — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 23:47:23 GMT

Cooling electric vehicle demand is forcing South Korean copper foil makers to rethink capital and capacity. Lotte Energy Materials has sold a 90% stake in its architectural exterior contracting subsidiary Lotte EcoWall for KRW170.8 billion (approx. US$120 million), and is redirecting the proceeds into its core copper foil business.

LCD supply could tighten by 2028 as Taiwan sells its fabs to chipmakers

Lily Hess — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 23:45:39 GMT

LCD panel supply could tighten around 2028 as Taiwan manufacturers exit the segment faster than expected, while China uses profits from LCD to ramp OLED investment. The shift is being driven by shrinking LCD line capacity, rising demand for advanced semiconductor packaging, and continued growth in large-screen TVs.

Analysis: When 72% of the world's EV batteries are Chinese, one defect travels

Scarlett Yu — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 23:43:29 GMT

A battery quality controversy involving GAC Aion has put supplier CALB, the world's fourth-largest EV battery maker, under scrutiny and highlighted a less comfortable side of China's breakneck expansion in new energy industries.

Syrma SGS Elemaster opens electronics plant in southern India to serve global markets

DIGITIMES — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 23:43:13 GMT

A new electronics factory in Bengaluru is set to strengthen India's role in global supply chains, with potential benefits for customers in railways, industrial systems, energy, and medical devices worldwide. The facility highlights rising demand for high-reliability manufacturing and deeper India–Italy industrial ties.

Indonesia bets on a full EV supply chain as BYD opens its Subang plant

DIGITIMES — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 23:42:51 GMT

Indonesia's industry minister said the country has the resources to build a complete domestic electric vehicle chain, speaking in Subang, West Java, on September 3, as BYD inaugurated an IDR16 trillion assembly plant, joining the Chinese carmaker's operating plants in Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Brazil.

Tesla's Cybercab hits the road, but regulation may become autonomy's next scaling bottleneck

DIGITIMES — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 23:39:32 GMT

Tesla has finally put its purpose-built Cybercab onto public streets, marking a critical step in Elon Musk's years-long ambition to transform the EV maker into an autonomous mobility company.

Kian Shen eyes stronger 3Q26 on chassis, lightweight frames, Lean3

Willis Ke — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Taiwan's Kian Shen is counting on chassis, lightweight panel frames, and the Lean3 electric vehicle to drive growth, with third-quarter 2026 performance expected to improve from the previous quarter as July returned to profitability and non-operating income provided additional support.