Due to low production efficiency and intense price competition, major panel makers like AUO, Innolux, and LG Display are selling older LCD factories. Semiconductor companies such as TSMC, Micron, ASE, and SK Hynix have shown strong interest in acquiring these high-spec cleanroom facilities to accelerate expansion amid rising AI demand
The European Commission plans to unveil its "localization ratio" policy by late February 2026 to shape Europe's manufacturing sovereignty. Yet Stellantis's abrupt halt to construction of ACC's lithium battery gigafactories in Germany and Italy has injected immediate uncertainty into that agenda
Minister of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Cheng-wen Wu has recently sparked a firestorm across Taiwan's academic community. His blunt critique of long-standing structural problems—punctuated by provocative phrases such as "very shameful" and "despised"—quickly ignited debate over whether Taiwan's research system has become overly dependent on metrics, entrenched in factionalism, and driven by incentives that prioritize quantity over meaningful impact
Rare earth metals are essential to modern industry and defense. They are found in high-performance motors, precision weapon guidance systems, and a range of green energy technologies. Yet the global rare earth supply chain has long suffered severe imbalances
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced the merger of xAI and SpaceX, creating a new entity valued at an astonishing US$1.25 trillion. However, some have raised concerns that this bold strategic move may prove to be a financial yoke on SpaceX, especially since, from a technical standpoint, it makes more sense to merge xAI with Tesla than with SpaceX
As global supply chains shift from globalization toward regionalization and the "China plus one" strategy persists, Singapore's role in Southeast Asia has undergone a fundamental transformation. Once primarily a transshipment hub for trade, the city-state has evolved into a regional coordination and compliance center. Observations indicate that Taiwanese and Chinese companies are now utilizing Singapore to pursue distinctly different strategic approaches
China's largest contract chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) reported a resilient fourth quarter and record full-year results for 2025, supported by accelerating domestic chip localization and sustained demand for mature-node capacity
America's largest technology companies — including Google, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft — have begun disclosing their capital spending plans for 2026. The numbers reveal an investment surge driven by the rapid expansion of generative artificial intelligence. Combined capital expenditures by the group are now estimated to reach between US$600 billion and US$630 billion. This far exceeds market expectations and rivals the annual gross domestic product of many mid-sized nations
Qun Ge, global senior vice president and chairman and president of Synopsys China, is set to depart. The move appears routine. But it points to deeper structural shifts in the global EDA industry's China market
Intel's 14A process node has become a focal point for the semiconductor industry, with market observers viewing it as a critical test of the company's manufacturing resurgence strategy. The advanced node has attracted significant attention amid speculation that major customers like Apple and Nvidia could adopt it for high-volume production. However, recent developments suggest these optimistic timelines may need recalibration
Power semiconductor maker Panjit International is positioning itself to capitalize on the booming demand from AI data centers, targeting fast growth in AI, cooling, and power supply markets. The company expects shipments of its hot-swap products to surge in 2026, with AI-related products accounting for up to 15% of sales this year. Currently, Panjit has secured design wins with two major cloud service providers (CSPs), and is seeking to win orders from additional customers while laying out plans for next-generation hot-swap technology
China-based foundry SMIC will release fourth-quarter 2025 results on February 10 and hold its first 2026 investor briefing on February 11. Market focus is expected to center on its advanced packaging push, which is shifting from a supporting function toward a core manufacturing strategy
Despite possessing a land area roughly one-fiftieth the size of Taiwan, Singapore has established itself as one of the most closely watched economies and supply chain hubs in Asia. This ascent is the result of a long-term strategy to internationalize its education system and labor force
Liquid cooling adoption has been led by Nvidia servers, with ASIC servers now accelerating the shift. DIGITIMES Research estimates liquid cooling will account for 50% of AI server thermal solutions in 2026, driven largely by ASIC platforms. Industry sources said cooling suppliers are not only targeting Nvidia GPU systems but are increasingly competing for ASIC server orders due to higher margins
