Kaynes SemiCon, a subsidiary of the Indian EMS Kaynes Technology, has entered into a strategic partnership with Recynergy Technology, a Taiwan-based company specializing in semiconductor backend test engineering. This collaboration aims to transfer semiconductor manufacturing technology and supply chain knowledge from Taiwan to India, utilizing the skilled engineering workforce in India to meet local and global semiconductor needs.
Someday soon, plug-in cars may no longer need a plug. Electric car drivers would simply pull into a specialized parking space when it's time to power up, wait for a light on their dashboard to switch on, and then hop out of the car and go about their day.
Thailand will offer new incentives to promote the local production of battery cells and the adoption of new-energy buses and trucks as it seeks to cement its position as a hub for EV manufacturing.
It was previously reported that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman aims to raise US$5-7 trillion to fortify the AI chip supply chain. The venture includes establishing a global network of fabrication plants, sparking intense debates. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and renowned chip architect Jim Keller seem to prioritize the "quality" of chips, emphasizing chip performance over the "quantity" of chip production.
Taiwan-based AcBel Polytech, a power supply manufacturer under the Kinpo Group, announced on February 20 that it reached a critical collaboration agreement with California-based ChargePoint. The pair aims to develop highly efficient EV charging solutions together.
The market often simplifies industry trends by assigning straightforward labels, from past terms like Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IoT) to the current buzz around Artificial Intelligence and AI-powered PCs.
Several Japanese semiconductor equipment manufacturers are witnessing a surge in sales, particularly in equipment catering to generative AI and power semiconductors. Despite a downturn in chip equipment investment for devices like smartphones, these segments drive growth for companies like Canon, Disco, Lasertec, and Advantest.
Ionna, a charging service provider formed by seven leading carmakers, started operation in early February. The company plans to open its first US charging stations this year and expand to Canada later. It aims to deploy at least 30,000 chargers in the future and leverages renewable power to offer EV charging services.
The tech industry's resurgence and restructuring driven by the AI wave have led to a reshuffling of market value rankings among major players like Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, and Google, sparking interest in how business models evolve.
South Korea-based LG Energy Solution has revealed a schedule for the volume production of its 46800 battery, which will likely first support Tesla. Media reported that EV makers Rivian and Mercedes-Benz have also expressed their interest in cylindrical batteries with a 46mm diameter and may partner with LGES.
The Longtan Science Park's third-phase development project, located in Taoyuan, northern Taiwan, intended for TSMC's 1.4nm wafer fab but abandoned for numerous reasons, is now slated for implementation, with potential opportunities for compound semiconductor manufacturers, according to the Hsinchu Science Park Bureau overseeing the park's administration.
Recent findings from a European Union report highlight a significant shift in the global landscape of research and development (R&D) expenditure and scientific output, with China rapidly closing the gap with the EU and the United States. The report reveals that while the EU has experienced slower growth in R&D intensity over the years, China's R&D expenditure has more than doubled since 2000, enabling it to catch up with the EU in this crucial domain.
The venture capital arm of Applied Materials, Applied Ventures, announced an investment in VVDN Technologies for the latter to expand the R&D of the next-generation semiconductor technologies, and electronics products and solutions, reports PR Newswire.
As electric vehicles (EVs) gradually penetrate the nascent Indian market, Volkswagen looks to make inroads by partnering with local manufacturers aspiring for the EV sector and launching its EV portfolio in the country.
It has been nearly three weeks since Apple launched the Vision Pro on February 2. While some users have praised the experience and visual performances, Vision Pro's honeymoon phase appeared to be short as it has been reported that Apple has seen a wave of returns, likely due to the device's comfort levels, the depth of supported applications, and the richness of its content.
In light of the global effort to find alternatives to x86 systems amidst increasing demand, RISC-V systems are emerging as a solution to various challenges. Madhav Rao, senior vice president of engineering at Tessolve, recently told Digitimes Asia there is a strong interest in RISC-V from their customer base.
Following the TSMC decision in August 2023 to set up a fab in Dresden, located in the German state of Saxony, the state has been beefing up efforts to attract more Taiwanese suppliers, especially TSMC suppliers, to set foot in the region and expand the local industrial cluster known as Silicon Saxony. However, Taiwanese suppliers remain cautious amid concerns about labor shortage, worker unions, operation costs, and subsidies.
In a remarkable revelation, clean energy emerged as the powerhouse propelling China's economic growth in 2023, according to a comprehensive analysis by Carbon Brief. The country's massive investments in renewable energy sources like solar and wind power led to strong GDP growth last year, even as the global economy struggled. When considering the production value, clean energy sectors contributed a remarkable CNY 11.4 trillion (approximately US$1.6 trillion) to the Chinese economy in 2023, marking a significant 30% increase compared to the previous year.
Taiwan-based E Ink Holdings (EIH), a provider of e-paper solutions, has launched a recruitment initiative to hire an additional 150 individuals for capacity expansion over the next 2-3 years. This is part of a broader expansion plan that includes increasing production lines and office buildings.
Niche memory IC design house Elite Semiconductor Memory Technology (ESMT) has stated that it is working on new AI product projects that will be a new growth engine, and demand for DDR4 products will increase this year.
China considers the third generation of semiconductors as the dominant industry that can outperform its global competitors. The silicon carbide (SiC) industry achieved significant long-term purchase agreements with several international automotive IDMs in 2023, thanks to government support spanning a decade. China plans to commence a price competition in 2024, as reported by sources within the supply chain.
Taiwan-based Innolux, a technology partner with India-based Vedanta on TFT-LCD panels, said its collaboration with Vedanta will begin mass production of display panels in two years after approval and is likely to reach break-even two years after operation.
Hyundai Motor has made a significant acquisition in a strategic move to bolster its position as a frontrunner in the burgeoning hydrogen energy sector. The South Korean automotive giant has announced its acquisition of Hyundai Mobis' hydrogen fuel cell business, signaling its intent to fortify its foothold in the hydrogen value chain.
Taiwan-based motor driver IC suppliers are seeing a surge in demand for related motor driver chips as the need for heat dissipation in cloud servers and edge IT devices increases.
Chunghwa Precision Test Tech (CHPT), an IC test interface solutions provider, expressed caution about the global semiconductor market this year, predicting that only the top players may perform well, and the rest may find 2024 as difficult as 2023.
As Tata Group is setting up its chipmaking facility, Indian media reported that Tata might try to find a Taiwan-based technology partner, possibly the third Taiwan-India collaboration on semiconductors, if the rumor materializes.
Major Chinese mobile phone manufacturers have announced adjustments to their AI strategies, committing to developing AI-capable smartphones, according to industry sources.
Taiwan's top three IC design firms, MediaTek, Novatek Microelectronics, and Realtek Semiconductor, have vast IP core portfolios to deliver customized chip services. However, with the industry's rising focus on ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) services, it's apparent that the firms' attitudes and strategies differ.
The AI surge is anticipated to substantially boost demand for advanced packaging, which is already in short supply, according to sources at backend houses.
With Windows 12 delayed until 2025, according to supply chain rumors, Microsoft will instead focus on an AI-centric update to Windows 11 in mid-2024. During this year's Computex Taipei, Microsoft will collaborate with Qualcomm and Intel to integrate Windows on Arm efforts and x86 architecture into a new wave of AI PCs.