Demand for HPC chip analysis and inspection remains robust in the second quarter of 2022, according to industry sources in Taiwan, where major pure-play foundries and OSATs operate their main manufacturing bases, according to industry sources.
The market for AI and HPC chips continues expanding at a modest rate this year despite unfavorable macro conditions, the sources said. These chips demanding sub-7nm process manufacturing and advanced packaging.
Taiwan-based IC analysis and inspection labs including Integrated Service Technology (iST), Material Science Service (MSScorps) and Materials Analysis Technology (MA-tek) continue to enjoy a strong pull-in of orders for HPC chip solutions from the local chip sector, as well as international IDMs, the sources indicated. Demand for materials analysis (MA) and reliability analysis (RA) is being driven by strong demand from advanced foundries and OSATs, while demand for failure analysis (FA) has also been rising from fabless chipmakers.
Taiwan-based IC analysis labs all agree that chip demand for MA services is promising over the next three to five years, the sources noted. For example, foundry giants and their ecosystem partners continue pushing for more advanced processes, which will be a boost to iST and its fellow Taiwan-based peers.
Demand from the third-generation semiconductor sector will play another future driver of Taiwan-based IC analysis labs' MA business growth, the sources indicated.
