The 2026 International Symposium on VLSI Technology, Systems and Applications (VLSI TSA) kicked off on April 14, gathering over 800 semiconductor professionals worldwide. The conference focused on next-generation core areas including GenAI inference acceleration, wafer-level computing, and terahertz wireless communication, while also delving into quantum computer system architectures and extending the reach of semiconductors to AI-driven cardiac analysis and other smart healthcare applications.
The surge in AI data center demand is rapidly accelerating the need for high-speed data transmission, prompting LED manufacturers to target opportunities in optical communications. best-Epitaxy Manufacturing's (bEMC) CEO Evan Wu said the company has focused on data transmission since its inception and recently began proof-of-concept (POC) testing with a leading cloud service provider (CSP). Their short-distance Micro LED transmission currently reaches speeds of 4Gbps, aiming to achieve 8Gbps per chip in 2026.
Samsung Display has crossed a key inflection point in the premium monitor market, with cumulative QD-OLED panel shipments exceeding 5 million units by March 2026.
Front-loaded orders, fewer February working days, and a low base lifted Taiwanese panel makers' March revenue. In the first quarter of 2026, Innolux, GiantPlus, and Hannstar Display all posted year-over-year growth, while AUO lagged.
TCL Electronics Holdings Ltd. is considering selling a stake in its Indian television manufacturing unit to local investors as part of efforts to expand its business in the country, according to people familiar with the matter, as cited by Bloomberg.
Below are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from the week of April 6-April 13, 2026:
BOE former chairman Wang Dongsheng once predicted that panel production lines below Generation 7.5 would eventually be phased out following the end of the industry's oligopolistic phase. Yet Taiwan's leading panel makers are taking a more nuanced path. While capacity reductions continue, both AUO and Innolux reject a blanket shutdown approach, opting instead for selective and strategic adjustments.
Ennostar Inc. chairman Paul Peng said the company has emerged from a multi-year restructuring phase and is now entering a period of acceleration, with a net cash, debt-free balance sheet that leaves it "light and agile." As higher-end products gain share, revenue composition is shifting from volume-driven growth to value-driven expansion. Its three core strategic segments are moving into execution, with operations expected to improve gradually in 2026 and a long-term focus on stable, sustainable profitability.
Taiwanese display driver IC (DDI) leader Novatek Microelectronics reported March 2026 revenue of NT$8.47 billion (approx. US$266.32 million), up 19.9% from February but down 9.6% from the same period a year earlier. The company's total revenue for the first quarter of 2026 reached NT$23.15 billion, rising 1.4% sequentially and falling 14.6% year over year.
Rising geopolitical risks and surging raw-material prices are prompting panel makers to accelerate purchasing and adjust their strategies, supporting short-term demand but creating uncertainty for the second half of 2026. Taiwan's Innolux and AUO told attendees that pre-orders, inflation expectations, and energy risks are reshaping supply chains and product focus across markets.
E Ink Holdings will forgo Touch Taiwan in 2026 to showcase at COMPUTEX, ceding a higher-profile presence at the domestic show to cholesteric liquid crystal e-paper maker IRIS Optronics. This move may reshape buyer attention and partnership dynamics in the e-paper sector. The decision reflects E Ink's focus on large-size electrophoretic products and international buyers.
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