Spanish semiconductor metrology startup Wooptix, whose technology originated in astronomical observation, is accelerating efforts to enter the supply chains of leading semiconductor foundries.
Tesla's dealings with Samsung and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) are highlighting tensions between chip designers and foundries as demand for AI processors accelerates. Allegations by an engineer, which neither Tesla nor Samsung has confirmed, include pricing pressure, requests for sensitive information, and the recruitment of Samsung employees for Tesla's Terafab project.
Surging AI-driven chip demand has extended order visibility for Zeiss, a key supplier of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography optics. Christoph Hensche, president of Zeiss Semiconductor Manufacturing Optics (SMO), told DIGITIMES in an exclusive interview that demand for 2026 and 2027 is already clearly defined, with production capacity at Zeiss and some other manufacturers fully booked for the coming years.
SK Hynix is strengthening its metrology and inspection (MI) capabilities as the transition toward 3D DRAM architectures and increasingly complex NAND stacking creates new challenges for conventional semiconductor inspection technologies.
AI-driven memory demand is growing exponentially, pushing the industry into a structural supply shortage. As supply tightens and contract prices surge in 2026, major AI companies and cloud service providers (CSPs) are increasingly signing long-term agreements (LTAs) lasting three to five years with memory manufacturers to secure supply and manage soaring costs.
China's leading DRAM manufacturer, ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), expects to report net profit of CNY131 billion to CNY132.5 billion (≈ US$19.58 billion to US$19.8 billion) for the first nine months of 2026, reversing a year-earlier loss as surging AI computing demand fuels memory chip shortages and higher prices.
South Korean semiconductor equipment maker Hanmi Semiconductor showcased its high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and AI chip packaging equipment at SEDEX 2026, including the TC Bonder 4 for HBM4 production and the Wide TC Bonder, scheduled for launch in 2027. The company also introduced five 2.5D packaging systems designed to accommodate increasingly large AI chip packages.
South Korean ASIC design solutions provider ASICLAND showcased its proprietary AxHub AI chip design and verification platform at SEDEX 2026 as it seeks to accelerate custom chip development and strengthen its advanced process and packaging capabilities through its Taiwan R&D center. Memory controller projects remain its primary revenue source, supporting its expansion into AI chip mass production and overseas markets.
Malaysia's push to move from assembling chips to owning the designs behind them has reached the point where it must find buyers. On October 16, the government unveiled six semiconductor innovations developed by local companies, putting their combined sales potential at MYR300 million (approximately US$73.5 million), while Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said winning customers and passing industry qualification were still ahead.
Micron is developing a memory architecture for humanoid robots, joining Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix in efforts to serve AI systems that must process sensor data while operating within battery power limits. The companies are pursuing both memory designs and storage products for robots and autonomous vehicles.
Infineon Technologies has lined up 8-inch silicon carbide (SiC) wafers from Wolfspeed under an expanded and extended long-term supply agreement. The deal gives the German chipmaker another source of the larger substrates it needs to convert its SiC fabs. It gives the US materials supplier a commitment from a top-tier customer about a year after its financial restructuring.
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