At the 2024 North America Technology Symposium, TSMC demonstrated its latest semiconductor process, advanced packaging, and 3D IC technologies, which will drive the next wave of AI developments with silicon leadership.
AI Expo Taiwan 2024 was opened on April 24, with more than 20,000 people visiting the event on the first day. Jack Sun, who retired as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of TSMC and is currently Dean of the Industry Academia Innovation School (IAIS) of National Yangming-Chiaotung University, revealed a secret about TSMC in his keynote speech.
Although US sanctions have significantly slowed down the development of China's semiconductor industry towards the advanced nodes, it is not the time to be content that China is lagging behind the US in semiconductor technologies.
India-based EMS player Kaynes Semicon believes its OSAT project is expected to be approved and eyes advanced packaging, including Co-Packaged Optics (CPO), to differentiate itself from competitors in Southeast Asia.
At the ITRI Net Zero Day 2024 forum, industry leaders outlined strategies for Taiwan's semiconductor and ICT sectors to drive global sustainability efforts and transition to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Pure-play foundry United Microelectronics (UMC) saw its first-quarter wafer shipments and ASPs come in line with previously announced estimates, with wafer shipments up 4.5% quarter on quarter.
Intel has formed alliances with second-tier foundries including UMC and Tower Semiconductor to reduce costs and optimize production utilization, among other reasons, which may enhance its foundry competitiveness, according to sources at fab toolmakers.
Microsoft touted as the world's largest AI service provider, has reportedly invited several leading figures in the South Korean tech industry to attend a high-level meeting.
With the capacity expansions of its foundry customers and the opening of new facilities, fab toolmaker Marketech International anticipates a sharp increase in revenue next year, reaching a peak of NT$60 billion (US$1.84 billion).
Despite declining performance, Texas Instruments (TI) has announced second-quarter revenue forecasts surpassing expectations. The results indicate an increasing demand for TI's analog semiconductors, marking a potential turnaround after a prolonged slump in the semiconductor industry.
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are accelerating their investment pace in the US, and are collaborating with universities near factory sites to ensure a steady supply of semiconductor talent.
Chang Wah Technology (CWTC), a major supplier of IC lead frames, held its earnings call on April 23 in conjunction with its parent company Chang Wah Electromaterials (CWE), during which CWTC manager Su Shuang-Fu noted that the company is prepared to seize the initiative as the market recovers, as signs of a rebound in demand have been appearing since the second half of 2023.
Key semiconductor material distributor Chang Wah Electromaterials (CWE) has announced new pricing for epoxy molding compounds effective from the third quarter of 2024, due to a weak Japanese Yen.
TSMC continues to beef up its workforce to support the Taiwan-based foundry's fab expansion projects, and its global number of employees will exceed 80,000 by the end of this year, according to industry sources.
Taiwan's PCB and semiconductor equipment manufacturers are poised to enhance their footprint in Southeast Asia by establishing manufacturing operations or bolstering their customer base in the region.
ASML Holding NV is weighing options to expand its presence in the Netherlands after the government committed €2.5 billion ($2.7 billion) to infrastructure and education spending in the region where the company's headquarters are located.
ASML, a Dutch equipment firm with a stranglehold on lithography equipment and a monopoly on high-end extreme ultraviolet (EUV) exposure machines, has become accustomed to having tens of billions of euros in backlog orders. First, due to its limited output growth; second, as long as new wafer fabs are built, purchase from ASML will be required.
In the dynamic realm of AI, TSMC has secured the vast majority of customer orders, and foundry quotes now surpassing US$10,000 per wafer are primarily centered on the lucrative process nodes of 5/4nm, which have hit the sweet spot of profitability. These nodes consistently sustain a 100% capacity utilization rate, yielding considerable profits, according to semiconductor industry insiders.
Taiwan's Hsinchu Science Park (HSP) is set to expand after a new phase of preliminary evaluation was eventually approved by appropriate government bodies.
The US Department of Defense (DoD) has selected Intel Foundry for phase three of its Rapid Assured Microelectronics Prototypes - Commercial (RAMP-C) program.
Although Samsung has been the subject of market rumors regarding Nvidia's placement of its 2.5D packaging orders, industry sources recently said there is no information regarding the timetable for collaboration and the number of orders for certainty. Samsung has declined to comment on market hearsay regarding customers.
Noticeable earthquakes hit Taiwan in the early morning of April 23. Especially at 8:04 a.m., a Richter scale 5.8 earthquake occurred again off Hualian.
