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Thursday 16 April 2026
Tesla AI5 tape-out signals dual sourcing with Samsung, TSMC

Tesla has finalized the design of its next-generation AI5 chip, marking a milestone in its in-house semiconductor development. CEO Elon Musk confirmed the tape-out in a post on X, saying the design has been sent to foundry partners for fabrication. Musk also said Tesla is developing follow-on processors, including AI6 and Dojo3.

Thursday 16 April 2026
TSMC says Applied Materials and JSR form top-tier chipmaking team
Japanese materials giant JSR has established an advanced planarization process solution joint research center in Taiwan, with JSR representative director and CEO Hank Hori personally attending the launch. Also present were Derek Witty, general manager of Applied Materials; Erix Yu, President of Applied Materials Taiwan; and Simon Jang, vice president of Advanced Tool and Module Development of Technology Development under the R&D at TSMC.
Thursday 16 April 2026
ASE Holdings to acquire Innolux Fab 5 for US$460 million

ASE Holdings has secured Innolux's Fab 5, with the company announcing on April 15 that its semiconductor unit's board had approved the NT$14.85 billion (US$460 million) acquisition.

Thursday 16 April 2026
TSMC capex hits US$56 billion, reshaping global semiconductor supply chain
TSMC's capital expenditure has surged in recent years, with 2026 spending forecasted to reach a record US$52-56 billion and market expectations even suggesting an upward revision to US$70 billion. This staggering investment is creating a powerful magnetic effect across the semiconductor ecosystem.
Thursday 16 April 2026
ASML raises 2026 revenue guidance as AI-driven chip demand overwhelms supply — and its customers know it
The lithography giant's first quarter earnings call reveals more than a beat-and-raise quarter: it exposes a structural shift in how chipmakers relate to their sole EUV supplier
Thursday 16 April 2026
JSR restarts Taiwan production as TSMC dominates advanced nodes
Japanese photoresist leader JSR officially announced on April 15 the establishment of an advanced planarization process solutions research center in Hukou, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Thursday 16 April 2026
Spain aims to boost chip design, photonics, and quantum tech influence
The Spanish ICT Association (AMETIC) has been actively promoting Spain's standing in the domestic technology industry. Albert Anglarill, director of AMETIC's Catalonia office, said the organization primarily advocates for its member companies, facilitates information exchange, and expands their international visibility. Looking ahead, Spain is focusing on developing key sectors where it already has a solid foundation: chip design, photonics, and quantum computing.
Wednesday 15 April 2026
Taiwan equipment makers ride advanced packaging and SiPh wave
Nvidia is accelerating the commercial rollout of silicon photonics (SiPh) technology, marked by the launch of its Rubin Ultra platform and the gradual establishment of co-packaged optics (CPO) architecture. This milestone signals a new technological turning point for the semiconductor industry.
Wednesday 15 April 2026
South Korea's 97.5% reliance on Israeli bromine puts chip supply chain at risk
Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are stoking concerns over semiconductor materials supply chains, as key inputs such as helium and bromine face potential disruptions amid ongoing conflict in the region.
Wednesday 15 April 2026
ASML posts solid 1Q26 as AI-driven demand lifts outlook
ASML reported first-quarter 2026 results in line with expectations, signaling continued momentum from surging artificial intelligence (AI) demand and strengthening semiconductor industry fundamentals.
Wednesday 15 April 2026
Southern Taiwan Science Park eyes US$94 billion on AI tailwinds
Riding the artificial intelligence (AI) boom and strong demand for advanced semiconductor processes, the Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP) posted record-high revenue of NT$2.97 trillion (approx. US$94.13 billion) for 2025, up 34.26% from 2024. The figure fell just shy of the industry's original projection of NT$3 trillion, yet the park maintained its leading position among Taiwan's three major science parks.
Wednesday 15 April 2026
Taiwan's AI chip dominance draws the global spotlight and scrutiny
Taiwan has emerged as the world's most consequential node in the AI supply chain — and the world is taking notice. Backed by TSMC's NT$53 trillion (US$1.67 trillion) market capitalization and a surge in AI-driven investment, the island's semiconductor industry now anchors global supply chains, capital flows, and financial stability in ways few anticipated. But as that concentration deepens, so do the questions: can Taiwan's tech-heavy economy absorb geopolitical shocks, monetary shifts, and energy risks without dragging global markets with it?
Wednesday 15 April 2026
China chip tool imports shift to Southeast Asia as US tightens export controls

China's imports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment from Southeast Asia surged in 2025, surpassing direct shipments from the US, according to a Nikkei Asia analysis, as Washington moves to tighten export controls on advanced chipmaking tools.

Wednesday 15 April 2026
Samsung tipped to lead global chip profits as AI elevates memory, veteran exec predicts
Yoon-woo Lee, a semiconductor expert and former vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, believes Samsung may become the world's most profitable company by 2027–2028, driven by structural changes in the semiconductor value chain brought on by the rapid expansion of AI.
Wednesday 15 April 2026
Taiwan races to shore up energy security as US shutters Strait of Hormuz
Following the US decision to block Iranian ports after failed negotiations led by Vice President JD Vance in Pakistan, tensions in the Middle East have escalated. Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) Vice Minister Chien-Hsin Lai stated that, with 60% of Taiwan's crude oil imports coming from the US, diversifying import sources and adopting renewable energy options, advanced energy storage technologies, and deeper energy-saving measures are essential to bolstering Taiwan's energy resilience.
Wednesday 15 April 2026
Global semiconductor equipment sales hit record US$135B in 2025 as AI-driven investment surges

Global semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales reached a record US$135.1 billion in 2025, rising 15% from US$117.1 billion in 2024, according to the latest data from SEMI. The growth reflects sustained industry investment in advanced logic, memory, and AI-driven capacity expansion, underscoring the accelerating buildout of semiconductor infrastructure worldwide.

Tuesday 14 April 2026
Samsung begins P4 equipment orders as 1c DRAM investment enters execution

Samsung Electronics has begun procuring semiconductor equipment for its P4 facility in Pyeongtaek, marking the transition of its planned 1c nanometer DRAM investment into the execution phase, according to South Korean media reports.

Tuesday 14 April 2026
Samsung Electro-Mechanics reportedly to expand AI packaging with MLCC embedded substrate line in Vietnam
As AI chips demand higher performance and denser integration, advanced packaging and substrate technologies have become critical in the semiconductor race. Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) is reportedly establishing a new production line for multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) embedded semiconductor substrates at its Vietnam facility to strengthen its position in the AI semiconductor supply chain.
Tuesday 14 April 2026
Samsung 2nm yields reportedly remain below mass production threshold

Samsung Electronics is nearing a technical milestone for its 2nm process, but yields are reportedly still below the level required for stable mass production, raising questions about its ability to secure major foundry customers for the next-generation node.

Tuesday 14 April 2026
JCET CEO sees robotics extending automotive semiconductor growth

China's leading OSAT provider JCET has sustained steady growth in automotive electronics, driven by the rapid expansion of new energy vehicles and vehicle intelligence. As cars become more software-defined, semiconductor content and system complexity are rising, while electronic architectures shift from distributed systems toward centralized, platform-based designs.

Tuesday 14 April 2026
JCET advances CPO, glass substrates to capture AI packaging demand
JCET, China's leading outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) provider, is accelerating its push into advanced packaging, sharpening its position in AI servers, data centres, and high-performance computing.
Tuesday 14 April 2026
Samsung Foundry advances space semiconductor chip and technology development
As global companies unveil plans for space AI data centers, South Korean firms are prioritizing space-related technology as a new growth driver. Samsung Electronics' foundry division is reportedly actively developing space semiconductors and related foundry technologies.
Tuesday 14 April 2026
King Yuan Electronics posts record 1Q26 revenue, raises capex to NT$50 billion
Benefiting from continued demand driven by artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing (HPC), and application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), semiconductor testing company King Yuan Electronics (KYEC) reported a strong first quarter of 2026 despite the typical seasonal slowdown.
Monday 13 April 2026
Global chip equipment sales reach record US$135 billion as AI drives investment surge

Worldwide semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales rose 15% to a record US$135.1 billion in 2025 from US$117.1 billion a year earlier, driven by investment in advanced logic, memory, and AI-related capacity expansion, SEMI, the global semiconductor industry association, said.

Monday 13 April 2026
Japan funds AI chip ecosystem around Rapidus

Japan is accelerating efforts to rebuild a domestic advanced semiconductor ecosystem, with Rapidus at the center of a state-backed push spanning 2nm logic, advanced packaging, and AI chip demand creation.