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Monday 11 May 2026
For India's chip dream, Lam Research points beyond fabs
As India's semiconductor ambitions move from policy announcements to execution, Lam Research sees the country's opportunity extending beyond fabs to the less visible ecosystem that will determine whether it can become a meaningful part of the global chip manufacturing supply chain.
Monday 11 May 2026
Analysis: Intel's Apple deal boosts CEO Tan's turnaround, but hard part still lies ahead

Intel's reported preliminary agreement to manufacture some chips for Apple devices would mark a major validation point for CEO Lip-Bu Tan's effort to rebuild the US chipmaker's foundry business. It would not, however, resolve the deeper manufacturing, cost, and organizational challenges still standing between Intel and a full-scale comeback.

Monday 11 May 2026
Samsung strike talks resumed with US$29 billion on the line
Samsung Electronics' labor and management have returned to the negotiating table under South Korean government mediation, as the company faces a planned general strike and a widening dispute over how profits from its semiconductor rebound should be shared.
Monday 11 May 2026
AMD's 2nm defection to Samsung dents TSMC's AI grip
The AI semiconductor supply chain is showing unexpected signs of a shift, with TSMC's long-held dominance in the foundry market beginning to loosen. US chipmakers are increasingly engaging with Samsung Electronics and Intel as alternative suppliers, and AMD has already handed its 2nm order to Samsung.
Monday 11 May 2026
DIGITIMES Insight: MediaTek denies Intel link as TSMC's packaging lead faces new test

DIGITIMES senior analyst Luke Lin said Warren Buffett's investment in Apple should be viewed not simply as a stock trade, but as a bet on the company and its leadership under CEO Tim Cook.

Monday 11 May 2026
Tesla AI5 ignites Samsung-LG race for ABF substrates, robot parts

LG Innotek is seeking to enter Tesla's AI semiconductor supply chain by targeting ABF-based FC-BGA substrate orders for the automaker's AI4 chips, intensifying its competition with Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) across both autonomous driving and humanoid robotics hardware.

Monday 11 May 2026
OpenAI and chipmakers roll out MRC to prevent AI training slowdowns
OpenAI said it has partnered with chipmakers and cloud providers — including AMD, Broadcom, Intel, Microsoft, and Nvidia — to develop a new networking protocol aimed at improving the performance and reliability of large-scale AI training systems.
Monday 11 May 2026
Chinese semiconductor suppliers expand SEA presence at SEMICON SEA 2026
At SEMICON Southeast Asia 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, China's semiconductor equipment makers are steadily "infiltrating" the Southeast Asian market, extending from back-end packaging and testing into front-end processes while setting up subsidiaries in Singapore and Malaysia and using localized branding to break through. The shift is reshaping the competitive landscape at the region's annual semiconductor showcase.
Monday 11 May 2026
ASE, Wus to jointly build Kaohsiung advanced packaging plant by 2029
Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) and PCB manufacturer Wus Printed Circuit are teaming up to build a new packaging facility in southern Taiwan, as the world's largest chip assembler moves to expand capacity ahead of surging AI-driven demand. The plant, to be located in the Kaohsiung Nanzih Technology Industrial Park, is scheduled to open in September 2029.
Monday 11 May 2026
AI boom drives Taiwan's semiconductor testing industry into record expansion

To secure a foothold in the booming market for advanced AI chip packaging and testing, Taiwan's outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) industry is entering what executives and analysts describe as an unprecedented expansion cycle. Industry observers estimate that combined capital expenditures by Taiwanese OSAT providers could surge to a record NT$400 billion (approx. US$12.7 billion) in 2026, driven by an aggressive race to expand high-end production capacity.

Monday 11 May 2026
Weekly news roundup: Taiwan freezes trading in MediaTek; 2D NAND shortage spirals
Below are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from the week of May 4-10, 2026:
Monday 11 May 2026
Taiwan chip testing firm sheds power unit, pivots to AI validation as margins recover
Taiwan-based electronics verification and analysis specialist Integrated Service Technology (iST) posted weaker first-quarter revenue and an operating loss amid a major operational restructuring, but said the transition has laid the groundwork for a sharper focus on higher-margin AI-related validation and analysis services.
Monday 11 May 2026
Samsung eyes Exynos 2700 as test for chip-unit recovery
Samsung Electronics is looking to the tentatively named Exynos 2700 application processor (AP) as a key test for its non-memory semiconductor recovery, with the chip's adoption rate and performance in the Galaxy S27 series expected to shape the outlook for its System LSI and foundry businesses.
Monday 11 May 2026
India roundup: India accelerates semiconductor and display ambitions with new approvals, AI infrastructure expansion

India is advancing its electronics and semiconductor manufacturing strategy through new approvals for semiconductor and Mini/Micro LED projects, while companies including Tata Electronics and Yotta Data Services expand investments tied to chips, AI infrastructure, and data centers. The developments reflect India's broader push to become a larger global sourcing base for semiconductors, displays, automotive electronics, and AI-related manufacturing amid ongoing supply chain diversification.

Sunday 10 May 2026
AI demand fills Vanguard's Singapore fab ahead of schedule
Vanguard International Semiconductor said AI-driven demand has largely offset geopolitical and macroeconomic headwinds and will be the dominant force shaping semiconductor industry conditions in 2026. The wafer foundry said AI infrastructure buildout has crowded available capacity, pushed prices higher and accelerated customer orders for its Singapore 12-inch fab, with sampling now slated for July 2026.
Sunday 10 May 2026
Taiwan's IntelliEPI warns of severe indium phosphide supply shortage
As AI data centers demand ever-faster networking speeds and more advanced optical interconnects, one of the semiconductor industry's lesser-known materials is emerging as a major constraint.
Saturday 9 May 2026
What's driving the TSMC-Sony AI sensor JV?
TSMC and Sony Semiconductor Solutions signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding on May 8 to establish a joint venture developing and manufacturing next-generation AI image sensors, targeting automotive, robotics and advanced smartphone camera markets. The planned venture will be headquartered at Sony's new facility in Kōshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, with Sony holding a majority stake and operational control.
Saturday 9 May 2026
Power chip shortages deepen as AI server demand and GaN battles escalate

Global power semiconductor suppliers are entering a new upcycle marked by tightening supply, rising prices, and intensifying technology competition, fueled by accelerating investment in AI infrastructure and electric vehicles.

Saturday 9 May 2026
Global semiconductor market faces shortages as AI demand strains supply chains

Since the second half of 2025, the global semiconductor industry has been squeezed by a rare convergence of forces: surging artificial intelligence (AI) demand, escalating geopolitical fragmentation, and persistent supply chain constraints. The result, industry executives say, is a form of "silicon inflation" and a structural shortage cycle that extends far beyond a typical downturn.

Friday 8 May 2026
US president considers inviting Nvidia and other CEOs to China trade talks
CEOs from Nvidia and other American tech companies are among those that the US government plans to invite to join President Donald Trump's visit to China next week. Along with the trade negotiations, the US leader has also sought to frame the summit as a type of high-level trade delegation, although the White House is reportedly considering inviting only a small number of executives.
Friday 8 May 2026
TSMC reports record April sales as AI chip demand puts Asia supply in focus
TSMC said on May 8 that revenue for the first four months of 2026 rose 29.9% from a year earlier, offering a further sign of the strength of the world's largest contract chipmaker as investors focus on AI-related demand and capacity constraints across the semiconductor supply chain.
Friday 8 May 2026
Novatek raises margin outlook on stronger product mix and early shipments
Novatek Microelectronics, one of Taiwan's leading display driver IC (DDI) makers, said revenue in the first quarter of 2026 was supported by growth in system-on-chip (SoC) and large-size display driver products, which offset weakness in the smartphone segment.
Friday 8 May 2026
TSMC reportedly pushes CoPoS exclusivity to lock in next-gen packaging lead
TSMC is accelerating the expansion of its CoWoS advanced packaging capacity while pushing ahead with the more technically demanding panel-level packaging technology CoPoS, aiming to widen its lead over rivals in the AI semiconductor race. Industry sources said TSMC has imposed strict confidentiality controls across the CoPoS supply chain, requiring Taiwan-based equipment and materials partners to sign agreements that prevent technology leakage and limit supply to TSMC for several years after mass production begins.
Friday 8 May 2026
Sony, TSMC form Japanese joint venture to push image sensors into automotive and robotics
TSMC and Sony Semiconductor Solutions have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to establish a joint venture (JV) for next-generation image sensor development and manufacturing, with Sony holding the majority and controlling interest.
Friday 8 May 2026
Inside Nvidia's high-stakes bet on next-generation AI cooling

One of the most closely watched developments in the AI server industry in recent weeks has been reported changes to the cooling architecture of Nvidia's next-generation Vera Rubin platform, a shift that has already triggered sharp swings among related suppliers in Taiwan's equity market.