As global competition in the semiconductor industry intensifies, the focus is no longer limited to technology and production capacity. Protection of data, intellectual property, and supply chains has become an equally critical battleground

Nvidia has recently signaled to Samsung Electronics that it hopes to secure early deliveries of sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory, known as HBM4. At the same time, as memory makers devote an increasing share of capacity to HBM production, shortages of conventional memory chips have begun to emerge, strengthening suppliers' bargaining power across the industry

In a moment that blurred the lines between corporate diplomacy and fan-like devotion, TSMC CEO C.C. Wei turned a high-stakes semiconductor summit into a personal tribute on February 5, 2026

CATL and Changan Automobile, on February 5, 2026, launched the world's first mass-produced sodium-ion battery EV. According to IT Home and The Beijing News, brands including Avatr, Deepal, Qiyuan, and UNI will gradually adopt CATL's sodium-ion batteries, marking the technology's commercial rollout

SiTime said it will acquire assets related to Renesas Electronics' timing business in a transaction valued at about US$3 billion, as the Japanese chipmaker narrows its focus on embedded computing while retaining an equity stake in the US precision timing company

Driven by expanding AI servers, data centers, and new energy applications, third-generation semiconductor gallium nitride (GaN) is moving from niche technology toward mainstream power device solutions

TSMC has formulated a plan to mass-produce advanced 3nm chips in Kumamoto Prefecture, marking an unprecedented move within Japan. The company has notified the Japanese government of this initiative, with estimated equipment investment reaching US$17 billion

Infineon's decision to accelerate investment to expand AI power capacity is set to lift fiscal 2026 capital spending and intensify fab loading management, even as the company maintains a cautious view of a gradual, uneven recovery in automotive and industrial demand

Supply chain sources said teams linked to Tesla and SpaceX recently made low-profile visits to multiple Chinese solar firms, reviewing equipment, silicon wafers, cells, and modules, with a focus on next-generation technologies including heterojunction technology (HJT) and high-efficiency perovskite cells

The US move to lower reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods to 18% is reshaping Taiwan manufacturers' India strategies, creating fresh opportunities in localization and import substitution while highlighting persistent risks tied to supply chain gaps, currency volatility, and execution challenges for Taiwanese IC and electronics suppliers

SK Hynix is accelerating production of 1b DRAM for high-bandwidth memory as quality testing of Nvidia's next-generation HBM4 nears its final stage, according to Korean media and industry sources

Record demand for artificial intelligence applications propelled Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to milestone financial results in 2025. On January 29, 2026, the two South Korean memory giants held rare, nearly simultaneous earnings calls to signal their respective positions in the race for the next generation of high-bandwidth memory

Officials from Taiwan's Ministry of Finance are attending the 2026 APEC Finance and Central Bank Deputies' Meeting (FCBDM) in Shanghai from February 4-5, just after opposition Kuomintang (KMT) leaders led business representatives to Beijing for a cross-strait exchange forum on February 3. Some argue that Taiwan should not deepen ties solely with the US to avoid losing economic resilience, emphasizing the need to maintain trade and investment relations with China

As Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics prepare for 2026, both South Korean technology leaders are sharpening their competitive edge by embedding artificial intelligence (AI) across displays and home appliances. Beyond hardware upgrades, their strategies increasingly rely on subscription and leasing models, platform ecosystems, and an expanded Micro RGB TV lineup, signaling a shift toward service-oriented growth and deeper customer engagement