Ant Group is ramping up investments in China's semiconductor industry, targeting several domestic chip startups. After securing dominance in payments and fintech, the company is shifting into computing hardware, betting on design-focused firms that align with Beijing's push for technology self-reliance. Analysts see the move as both a nod to China's AI localization campaign and a bid to find new growth engines after Ant's aborted IPO

Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) is developing a continuous zoom camera module that maintains image clarity across varying telephoto magnifications, reportedly aiming to meet demands from Chinese smartphone manufacturers. Unlike fixed focal length folded zooms, this technology allows smooth optical zoom but poses challenges in module thickness and lens alignment

South Korea plans to more than double its display research budget to counter China's growing dominance, as industry data indicate China could control up to 75% of global panel production capacity by 2028

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are reportedly pushing back plans to phase out DDR4 DRAM, extending production until 2026 after prices for the older chips surged past next-generation DDR5. Both companies declined to comment on the reports

China's drive to localize artificial intelligence chips briefly sparked speculation that Cambricon Technologies would gain ground and that Alibaba might join the race with its own processors. Those rumors, however, quickly lost momentum

Aoi Electronics, a Japanese outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) provider, has purchased Sharp's factory in Taki, Mie Prefecture, and will convert the site into a new production base for data center and advanced packaging applications

Hyundai Motor Group recently participated in the 16th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM16), emphasizing the necessity of establishing a hydrogen energy ecosystem and reinforcing its position as a global leader in the hydrogen sector. However, with South Korea's hydrogen budget reduced for two consecutive years and infrastructure investment still insufficient, how businesses and the government overcome these challenges has become a focal point

For Apple CEO Tim Cook, returning to the White House in early August 2025 and announcing a US$600 billion investment plan over the next four years was a strategic move that pleased President Donald Trump. Trump responded by stating that any production or factory commitments made in the US would qualify for tariff exemptions, temporarily easing Apple's larger crisis

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has launched a public call for proposals to fund domestic chipmakers as part of a revised Information Processing Promotion Act. The initiative, which began on September 3, 2024, seeks to support Rapidus in its effort to bring cutting-edge semiconductors into mass production

Samsung Electronics' foundry business is showing early signs of a turnaround as it attempts to reclaim market share from its dominant rival, TSMC. Industry insiders indicate that Qualcomm may reconsider Samsung as a key chip supplier if the South Korean company successfully enters mass production on its advanced 2 nm process node

China's push to localize its memory supply chain is gathering momentum. YMTC has begun trial production at its first fully localized NAND flash fab, while market chatter indicates the company is now quietly investing in DRAM. The move underscores YMTC's ambition to extend beyond NAND dominance, using its patented Xtacking technology to break into DRAM and challenge the world's top three players

Fujifilm Electronic Materials is considering a significant investment in India as part of its strategy to expand in the fast-growing semiconductor sector, according to a report by the Times of India

In the second quarter of 2025, Southeast Asia's electric vehicle (EV) sales grew 102% year-over-year, driven by affordable battery electric vehicles, rising consumer awareness, government subsidies, and local production expansion. Chinese and Vietnamese brands like BYD and VinFast have become central forces, reshaping the regional EV ecosystem

At the 13th China Semiconductor Equipment, Core Components and Materials Expo (CSEAC 2025) in Wuxi, Chinese equipment maker SiCarrier returned with another high-profile showcase. The firm exhibited images and scale models of semiconductor process tools, continuing the publicity blitz it began at SEMICON China earlier this year. But industry skepticism persists over whether its touted technological advances are genuine

The US Department of Commerce announced on August 29, 2025, that it will revoke the "Validated End-User" (VEU) status previously granted to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix for their semiconductor factories in China. Starting January 2026, South Korean companies will need to apply for case-by-case approval to introduce American equipment into their Chinese production lines