LG Electronics Inc.'s Indian unit is preparing to launch its long-awaited initial public offering on October 7, 2025, targeting a valuation of up to INR774 billion (US$8.7 billion), Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter
US sanctions are taking a toll on one of China's top chipmakers, Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC), as its share of the global NAND flash memory market has slipped below 5%
China has officially introduced its K-visa, a new immigration pathway aimed at attracting foreign STEM graduates, just as the US sharply raised H-1B visa fees to US$100,000 per applicant. The move, effective October 1, underscores Beijing's effort to draw global technology talent amid intensifying US-China competition in innovation and geopolitics
The global race in third-generation semiconductors is intensifying, with larger silicon carbide (SiC) wafers seen as critical to cutting costs and enhancing power device performance. While global leaders remain centered on 6-inch and 8-inch wafers, Chinese firms are rapidly advancing 12-inch SiC development to secure an early lead in the materials race
Samsung Electronics has reportedly appointed Rajesh Krishnan as the new head of Samsung Semiconductor India Research (SSIR), signaling a strategic push to strengthen local R&D leadership while accelerating its expansion in the Indian semiconductor market, according to The Seoul Economy Daily
Ajit Manocha, president and CEO of Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI), underscored Taiwan's role as a central innovation hub in the global semiconductor ecosystem
SK Telecom (SKT) has established an internal independent company, AI CIC, to consolidate and expand its AI business, accelerating AI innovation. The company plans to invest KRW5 trillion (US$3.5 billion) over the next five years, aiming for AI revenue of KRW5 trillion by 2030
Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxi service, gaining traction in China, is fast-tracking expansion abroad with Southeast Asia and Australia as its next targets. Halton Niu, GM of Overseas Business at Baidu's Intelligent Driving Group, said the company is in talks with governments in Southeast Asia and Australia to explore pilots and service launches. Baidu is also in discussions with regulators in the Middle East and Europe. In Dubai, Apollo Go has already obtained 50 autonomous test permits, expanding its fleet to 100 vehicles
Huawei is set to expand Ascend AI chip output, seizing on Nvidia's shrinking position in China as US export curbs and Beijing's security mandates squeeze the American company's market access. According to Bloomberg, Huawei plans to produce about 600,000 Ascend 910C chips in 2026 — more than twice its 2025 volume — with total Ascend output climbing to 1.6 million dies, a sign that Huawei and partner SMIC are alleviating capacity constraints
BOE Technology, a major Apple display panel supplier, has established a wholly owned subsidiary to expand into robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) software. Sina and ICsmart, citing Qichacha data, reported that BOE's new subsidiary, Beijing BOE Robot, was registered with CNY200 million (approx. US$28 million) in capital to focus on industrial robots and AI software. The company has already assembled a specialized robotics team to drive research, development, and manufacturing
China's PCB industry has, in recent years, been entangled in a vicious price war, leading many local PCB manufacturers to collapse under the pressure of internal cutthroat competition. This underlying issue is now spreading upstream to the copper-clad laminate (CCL) supply chain
Compal Electronics' PCB subsidiary, Allied Circuit Co., Ltd. (ACCL), has announced a joint venture with Japan's Meiko to establish a high-layer count (HLC) printed circuit board plant in Vietnam. The new entity, tentatively named AlliedCircuitMeikoVietnam, will set up operations within Meiko's new factory complex in Hoa Binh Province, northern Vietnam
SmartSoC Solutions has entered a strategic partnership with South Korea's DB HiTek to strengthen access to specialty foundry services for India's semiconductor ecosystem. Under the agreement, SmartSoC will act as DB HiTek's design partner in India, promoting its foundry capabilities, facilitating technical engagement, and serving as a local interface for Indian customers
Networking and server PCB giant GCE announced plans to expand its Thailand facility with a US$40 million investment to boost ASIC server production capacity by the second half of 2026. This move comes as ASIC server customer orders ramp up, pushing Taiwan and China plants to full capacity and driving strong revenue growth expected in the third quarter of 2025
US-based foundry GlobalFoundries (GF) has faced numerous challenges in its China strategy, from halting investment in a 12-inch fab in Chengdu to shifting toward mature process partnerships. The company recently announced the opening of a new office in Beijing, signaling its commitment to navigating US-China tech tensions and domestic competition while deepening its presence in the Chinese semiconductor market
