At CES 2026, Qualcomm Technologies highlighted new collaborations and growing adoption of its Snapdragon Digital Chassis solutions, aiming to advance software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and agentic AI-driven in-cabin experiences. The company outlined updates across infotainment, digital cockpit, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and end-to-end automated driving platforms.
Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) has designated the silicon photonics (SiPh) co-packaged optics (CPO)-AI ecosystem as a core focus for the next decade, aiming to advance key AI computing infrastructure and technologies. This move aligns with the government's new AI-driven initiatives under the "New Ten Major AI Construction Projects," which include unmanned vehicles, smart robots, SiPh, and quantum technology development. The NSTC's decision comes amid a stalled 2026 budget proposal totaling NT$299.2 billion (US$9.5 billion), which includes funding for these critical tech sectors. If the 2026 plan is interrupted, continuation will depend on securing support beyond 2027 to maintain momentum in this strategic area.
AMEC disclosed on January 8, 2026, that its founder and chairman, Gerald Yin, plans to reduce his personal shareholding over the next three months to meet tax obligations following his restoration of Chinese citizenship. The filing shows that Yin plans to sell up to 290,000 shares via centralized bidding starting 15 trading days after the announcement, with the sale window running from January 30 to April 29, 2026. The transaction represents 0.046% of AMEC's total outstanding shares.
Shanghai Iluvatar CoreX Semiconductor, a Chinese general-purpose GPU developer, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange's Main Board on January 8, 2025. Shares were priced at HKD144.6 (US$18.5), raising about HKD3.7 billion (US$474 million). The stock jumped 31.5% at the open to HKD190.2, lifting its debut valuation above HKD47.5 billion, signalling investor demand for China's domestic compute hardware.
China's domestic lithography sector is entering another phase of internal restructuring, with AMIES Technology consolidating industrial assets originally spun out from Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment (Group) Co., Ltd. (SMEE). Corporate filings and Shanghai Securities News show that AMIES has acquired 100% of Shanghai Weiyao Industrial Co. for CNY228.5 million (US$32.5 million), replacing SMEE as the sole shareholder. The transaction completes SMEE's exit from Weiyao while keeping the asset within the SMEE-origin corporate structure.
Materials test and analysis provider MSScorps continued its record-breaking revenue performance in December 2025, buoyed by active investments by customers in advanced processes and next-generation advanced packaging technologies. Robust demand from semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) customers fueled orders for materials analysis, as well as silicon photonics (SiPh) and AI inspection and testing services.
Taiwan's passive component industry is experiencing another round of price increases. Joyin, a circuit protection components brand under Walsin Technology, has issued price increase notices to customers, announcing increases of 20-25% for varistors and 15-20% for negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistors. The new prices will take effect for shipments starting January 16, 2026.
China has intensified pressure on Japan's supply chains. Following curbs on dual-use items and rare earth exports, the Ministry of Commerce has launched an anti-dumping probe into Japanese-origin dichlorosilane (DCS).
Optical lens maker Largan Precision held an earnings briefing on January 8, 2026, during which chairman Adam Lin expressed a wary smartphone industry outlook. Surging memory prices are squeezing smartphone bills of materials (BOM), making customers more hesitant to pursue lens specification upgrades. Visibility for the full year of 2026 remains unclear, with only the first quarter confirmed to be affected by the traditional off-season, during which capacity utilization will be lower than in previous years.
SAS subsidiary GlobalWafers reported consolidated revenue of NT$5.506 billion (US$173.9 million) in December 2025, up 16.86% month-over-month and 0.27% year-over-year, marking the third-highest historical level for the period. For the fourth quarter of 2025, consolidated revenue reached NT$14.502 billion, a marginal 0.06% quarter-over-quarter increase but an 11.27% decline from the previous year. Full-year 2025 consolidated revenue totaled NT$60.598 billion, down 3.24% year-over-year.
China's Ministry of Commerce said on January 7, 2026, that it has launched an anti-dumping investigation into Japanese-origin dichlorosilane (DCS). While framed as a routine trade-remedy case under existing rules, the decision reflects a more specific reality in the semiconductor materials supply chain: China now has domestic fallback capacity in this critical process material, allowing policymakers to act selectively at a sensitive juncture.
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