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Friday 12 December 2025
Rapidus secures Canon, SoftBank backing for 2nm chip ambitions
Canon has reportedly entered final negotiations to invest in a state-backed chipmaker, while SoftBank prepares to increase its financial support, marking a significant step in Japan's bid to revitalize its semiconductor industry. Kyodo News reported that the funding aims to support mass production of 2nm chips at the Chitose plant in Hokkaido by the second half of fiscal 2027 and establish a foundation for future 1.4nm manufacturing.
Thursday 11 December 2025
China's polysilicon glut triggers US-backed supply chain realignment

China's dominance of the global polysilicon market is forcing the industry into two divergent paths: domestic consolidation to manage a swelling glut, and US-backed overseas production to diversify supply chains. The trend highlights a deepening geopolitical divide over a material essential to both solar manufacturing and high-purity semiconductor applications.

Thursday 11 December 2025
US eases H200 curbs, but China may no longer need the chip, says DIGITIMES analyst
In the latest episode of Tech Insights, DIGITIMES analyst Luke Lin argues that Washington's decision to lift export restrictions on Nvidia's H200 accelerator to China signals a shift toward managing dependency rather than forcing decoupling. Yet he stresses an overlooked reality: China may no longer feel compelled to buy the H200 at all.
Thursday 11 December 2025
South Korea targets new fabs, HBM leadership, fabless revamp in US$468bn chip push
South Korea has unveiled an expansive semiconductor strategy to secure its lead in next-generation memory and revive weaker segments such as logic chips and the domestic fabless sector. President Lee Jae-myung chaired a high-level government meeting with Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and policymakers, underscoring the urgency of reinforcing national competitiveness as global demand for AI semiconductors surges.
Thursday 11 December 2025
Singapore unveils US$28.5 billion tech plan, spotlight on 2026 semiconductor drive

Singapore will invest SGD37 billion (approx. US$28.5 billion) over the next five years under its Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2030 Plan. The funding will support semiconductor development, biopharma research, and talent programs aimed at strengthening the country's position in high-value technology sectors.

Thursday 11 December 2025
India's state-run chip fab upgrade puts public-sector model to the test
India's effort to modernize its state-run Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) is shaping up to be one of the most consequential experiments in the country's semiconductor strategy.
Thursday 11 December 2025
EU court cuts Intel antitrust fine to about EUR237 million
Intel has secured a reduction of nearly EUR140 million (approx. US$163.7 million) in its remaining EU antitrust penalty, though the bloc's second-highest court upheld the finding that the company abused its dominance in the x86 processor market, according to Reuters and Bloomberg.
Thursday 11 December 2025
China weighs Nvidia's H200 amid US export shift and supply constraints
The US government's decision to allow Nvidia to export its H200 AI chips to China has reopened a major channel for American semiconductor revenue, but whether Beijing will embrace the opportunity remains uncertain. In December 2025, President Donald Trump announced that the US would approve sales of Nvidia's H200 to select Chinese customers under a strict licensing system, with a 25% revenue levy imposed on transactions.
Thursday 11 December 2025
Wingtech seeks talks with Nexperia custodians as governance standoff deepens
Wingtech Technology has invited the court-appointed custodians of Nexperia for talks, marking the latest move in a protracted governance battle that has disrupted semiconductor supplies to global automakers.
Thursday 11 December 2025
UMC prepares for a leadership change as veteran chiefs phase out
Following several executives' retirements at TSMC and the company's succession planning, United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) has initiated a leadership transition plan. TS Wu, a Gen-X executive, is reportedly set to take over as president, but UMC's spokesperson has declined to comment on market rumors.
Thursday 11 December 2025
Synopsys confronts a split China market as it pivots to next-gen IP and Nvidia-led AI design
Synopsys is confronting intensified geopolitical and competitive pressure in China while affirming its long-term IP roadmap and deepening ties with Nvidia. The company outlined how US–China tensions, regulatory barriers and execution challenges are weighing on growth, even as it accelerates a strategic pivot toward physics-driven AI design with strong external support.
Thursday 11 December 2025
Synopsys’ 4Q revenue jumps as fiscal 2026 guidance comes in strong
Synopsys reported solid revenue growth in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025, with sales surging nearly 38% year over year, while issuing an upbeat outlook for the first quarter and full year of 2026.
Thursday 11 December 2025
US reportedly reviews TSMC-made Nvidia H200 shipments, weighs 25% duty
US regulators have introduced a new inspection protocol for Nvidia's H200 accelerators destined for China, requiring chips manufactured by TSMC to be shipped to the US for national security review before they can be re-exported. The unusual routing underscores Washington's effort to maintain visibility over advanced computing hardware as global memory shortages threaten to slow new data center deployments through 2027.
Thursday 11 December 2025
Canon and DNP push 1.4nm nanoimprint tech, target 2027 production
Dai Nippon Printing (DNP) said it has developed a nanoimprint template capable of producing 1.4nm chips using only one-tenth of the power required by extreme ultraviolet lithography tools.
Thursday 11 December 2025
UMC launches new Tainan plant to convert chip waste into valuable materials

United Microelectronics (UMC) has opened an NT$1.8 billion (approx. US$58 million) circular economy center at its Tainan campus, launching an in-house facility that will convert semiconductor waste into reusable industrial materials as part of the company's long-term sustainability plan.

Thursday 11 December 2025
MiTAC expands factories to meet strong AI order demand
Given ODM manufacturers' expansion plans, there are no signs of an AI bubble. MiTAC plans to bring four factories online in 2026. Its new plant at the Linkou headquarters can flexibly adjust production according to its strong customer order demand.
Thursday 11 December 2025
ASML faces scrutiny after report ties customers to China's military suppliers
A Dutch television investigation has raised fresh questions about the reach of ASML's technology inside China. According to a December 9, 2025, report by Nieuwsuur, at least one of ASML's customers is linked to the Chinese military.
Thursday 11 December 2025
Acter Group sees strong order growth as semiconductor and memory expand
Benefiting from solid order momentum across its technology and consumer-related business groups, cleanroom electromechanical integrator Acter Group posted consolidated revenue of NT$3.73 billion (US$119.6 million) in November 2025, up 20% year-over-year. Consolidated revenue for the first 11 months of 2025 reached NT$37.43 billion, up 41% year-over-year, with both setting new historical highs for the same period. Facility engineering projects for clients in semiconductors, electronic components, cloud computing, and general consumer sectors have been steadily recognized according to Acter's schedule. Demand for cleanroom upgrades and retrofits in existing factories continues to climb and increase business.
Wednesday 10 December 2025
Huawei's chip breakthrough prompts US to relax AI export controls
Recent reports suggest one big reason US President Donald Trump has allowed exports of Nvidia's H200 AI chips to China is Huawei's rapid rise in AI computing. Bloomberg cites multiple sources, stating that after White House officials reviewed Huawei's Ascend series chips and its CloudMatrix 384 AI-native cloud infrastructure platform, they concluded that Huawei's overall performance is now approaching Nvidia's advanced Blackwell-based NVL72 platform. This significantly reduces the need for a total ban on AI chip exports to China.
Wednesday 10 December 2025
Nvidia H200 clearance paves the way for HBM3E in China
The Trump administration has authorized exports of Nvidia's H200 artificial intelligence processors to China, a decision that analysts view as a partial concession allowing restricted chip sales while still blocking Chinese access to Nvidia's upcoming Blackwell line.
Wednesday 10 December 2025
China adds local chips to procurement list as US approves Nvidia H200 exports
China has reportedly added domestic artificial intelligence processors to its official government procurement list for the first time, according to the Financial Times. The move signals a major effort to accelerate semiconductor self-reliance even as the US authorizes limited exports of Nvidia's advanced H200 chips to the country. The policy shift raises questions over how China will balance its push for indigenous development with continued demand for high-end US hardware.
Wednesday 10 December 2025
AI demand drives TSMC to third-highest monthly revenue
Benefiting from robust demand for AI chips that offset weakening orders in smartphones and other consumer electronics, TSMC reported consolidated revenue of NT$343.614 billion (US$11.23 billion) in November 2025.
Wednesday 10 December 2025
Budget stall threatens Taiwan's 2026 semiconductor and tech R&D agenda
Taiwan's 2026 central government budget has stalled in the Legislative Yuan amid partisan gridlock and the ruling party's loss of a parliamentary majority, raising concerns over funding for the nation's most critical science and technology programs. Premier Jung-tai Cho urged lawmakers to accelerate the budget review, warning that prolonged delays could disrupt major R&D subsidies, semiconductor
Wednesday 10 December 2025
Scientech posts over NT$10B revenue in 11 months, order visibility extends to 2H26
Advanced packaging equipment and wafer reclaim solutions provider Scientech reported consolidated revenue of NT$958 million (US$30.77 million) in November 2025, up 9% sequentially and 7% year over year. Cumulative consolidated revenue for the first 11 months of 2025 reached NT$10.39 billion, a 17% increase from the same period in 2024, surpassing the NT$10 billion mark for the first time and setting a new annual record ahead of schedule.
Wednesday 10 December 2025
Trump greenlights Nvidia's H200 for China, reshaping AI arms race
The Trump Administration has cleared Nvidia's H200 chips for export to China, imposing a 25% revenue share and restricting sales to "approved customers". Even with those limits, the move marks the most significant loosening of US semiconductor export controls since 2022.