Samsung Electronics recently unveiled the current status and prospects of its extreme ultraviolet (EUV) exposure process, generating significant interest globally. Particularly noteworthy is Samsung's dependence on Japanese suppliers for pellicles, with a transmittance rate of around 90%, as the company has yet to transition to domestically produced alternatives in South Korea.

Micron Technology has announced that it's shipping the Micron 3500 NVMe SSD, which leverages its 232-layer NAND to power demanding workloads for business applications, scientific computing, cutting-edge gaming, and content creation.

Poland is expected to play a greater role in driving Central Europe's tech industry forward as Warsaw awaits a new government in December. Donald Tusk. a veteran Polish politician who served as the country's Prime Minister between 2007 and 2014 before serving as President of the European Council from 2014 to 2019, led his party Civic Platform to victory at Poland's national election in October, will return as Prime Minister, forming a government together with two smaller opposition parties in December. According to a source from the Polish political circle, the incoming government will seek to further strengthen Poland's role in the global high-tech value chain, and a subsidy package potentially worth billions is anticipated to attract and consolidate foreign investment in the Polish high-tech industry, especially when it comes to semiconductors.

Google DeepMind scientists, utilizing the AI tool GNoME, have revealed an astounding 2.2 million crystal structures. This discovery presents significant possibilities for progress in areas such as microchips, batteries, solar panels, and various renewable energy sources, underscoring the extraordinary capacity of AI to facilitate the exploration of innovative materials.

With smartphone sales slumping under global inflation in recent years, the demand for CMOS image sensor (CIS) parts and lenses has also fallen. Yet sources in the supply chain point toward signs of recovery in Southeast Asia, South America, Africa, and other emerging markets, while the market in China, the focus of many observers worldwide, also shows hints of warming up early in the fourth quarter of 2023. According to Counterpoint Research, October 2023 saw a year-on-year increase of 5% in smartphone sales worldwide, finally reversing a 27-month-long trend. Demand is expected to drive sales growth into the fourth quarter and beyond, offering a glimmer of hope for the smartphone supply chain.

Recent geopolitical tensions and high inflation have had little impact on Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as Michele Montecchio, general manager of Acer Middle East, noted the company's sustained growth even as the global PC market shrunk in 2023. In addition, Nilesh Khalkho, CEO of Dubai distributor SharafDG, expects the PC market in Dubai to grow in the first half of 2024.

Known for "Whoscall," an app for phone number identification, Gogolook is one of the few successful software companies born in Taiwan. Listed in the Taiwan Innovation Board in July, Gogolook is expanding its business across Southeast Asia. However, the differences in languages, cultures, and user environments can pose challenges to its expansion.

As the end of 2023 approaches, a noteworthy trend is emerging in satellite connectivity, specifically the direct link between smartphones and satellites. This development is driven by collaborations between smartphone manufacturers, chip designers such as Qualcomm and MediaTek, and satellite operators like SpaceX and Lynk Global. Looking forward, the anticipation is that advancements, such as increased power, will enable the integration of new-generation low Earth orbit(LEO) satellites for direct connections with mainstream smartphones.

Samsung Electronics is set to usher in the era of On-Device AI in 2024 with the introduction of the new Galaxy Book 4 series and the spring 2024 flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S24. Details of these devices and their incorporation of AI technology have been unveiled.

As the year draws to an end, Chinese automakers have launched a new round of price wars, hoping to meet their annual sales target. The competition has intensified this year: even BYD is joining the race, and Geely Auto Group (Geely), has gone so far as to drop prices for its new model Ji Yue 01 just one month after its debut. There are around 10 firms that have recently announced price reductions. Industry experts estimate such price slashing will continue for up to five years.

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has listed locally-based EV company Nio in a vehicle manufacturer's information management system. The company is rumored to take 100% ownership of its two joint plants accordingly, but it has not confirmed the news.

China has seen plenty of EV companies emerge and the competition between car parts suppliers grows intense. Supply chain sources said if a component maker cannot offer indispensable products, it will have difficulty surviving in the Chinese market.

In a collaborative effort, Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) and the European Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (ECCT) have unveiled the ambitious "Paving the Way to Net Zero Power Report." Officials from the Ministry of Economic Affairs highlight the invaluable contributions from European partners, bringing fresh net-zero perspectives to Taiwan, spanning technology, policy, and more. With Taiwan's power sector responsible for over 50% of carbon emissions, reducing power-related carbon emissions has emerged as a critical step toward achieving net-zero goals. The report aims to introduce new technologies and foster increased collaboration with ECCT in the coming years.

China has imposed stricter export controls on graphite, a critical EV battery material, since December 1. Many Japan-based companies relying on China's raw materials have been diversifying their supply chains and purchasing from other countries to reduce risks.

The challenges of geopolitical turmoil made it more difficult to concentrate on climate change issues as the UN COP28 climate talks convened in Dubai. Considering that nearly all crucial component providers of the semiconductor industry are significant energy consumers, discussions at COP28 are anticipated to revolve around reducing the reliance on fossil fuels.

LG Display (LGD)'s LCD business in China continues to incur losses due to the expansion of Chinese competitors. Currently, the utilization rate at LGD's 8.5-gen LCD factory in Guangzhou is only 50%, which has garnered talks about whether or not it will be sold in the future. After the reported acquisition interest from Skyworth ultimately fell through, BOE and TCL CSOT emerged as strong acquisition candidates. It has been reported that Samsung Electronics may be involved as well.

In the global TV market for the third quarter of 2023, Samsung Electronics maintains its top position based on sales with a nearly 30% market share, while LG Electronics holds a similar leading position in the OLED TV market.

In the burgeoning Micro LED display market, wearable devices are proving to be a focal point for growth, and forecasts indicate that by 2028, the market scale for Micro LED in wearables is poised to surpass that of TV-use Micro LED, with Apple Watch adoption expected to materialize in 2026 at the latest.