CONNECT WITH US
Jul 7, 17:23
US ruling confirms Innoscience infringed Infineon's GaN patents, imposes import ban

The US International Trade Commission's final determination against Innoscience has been upheld following the conclusion of the Presidential Review Period, confirming that the Chinese GaN chipmaker infringed a patent held by Germany's Infineon Technologies.

Zhen Ding 2H26 outlook brightens on server and optical demand
Jul 7, 15:30

PCB maker Zhen Ding said June revenue climbed to a fresh 2026 high, extending strong year-over-year growth as demand for AI-related high-end applications continued to build.

As generative AI drives rapid growth in high-performance computing (HPC) demand, the semiconductor industry is shifting from process-node competition to materials competition. Geckos chairman Raymond Shen said that once chip manufacturing advances to 2nm and beyond, improvements in AI computing power are no longer just a chip-design issue, but are increasingly constrained by materials' heat dissipation and high-frequency signal transmission capabilities.

Tokyo Artisan Intelligence said it has finished validating its Sting Ray test chip, a step that could broaden access to lower-power edge AI hardware for industries worldwide. The milestone highlights how startups and foundries are pushing specialized chips that may ease energy pressure from AI, even as they support real-time applications in factories, transport, and infrastructure.

Unimicron Technology has priced a large overseas depositary receipt sale that could affect global investors monitoring Taiwan's electronics supply chain and semiconductor-related financing trends. The deal, which will fund foreign-currency purchases, is expected to reduce interest costs and strengthen the company's balance sheet, with potential benefits for shareholders worldwide.

The planned acquisition of Element Solutions by Solstice Advanced Materials would create a larger supplier serving electronics, data center cooling, and other industrial markets closely watched by customers and investors worldwide. The deal may reshape competition in advanced materials, where demand is rising alongside artificial intelligence infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing, and energy-efficient technologies.

AI server demand is lifting shipments of motor-related power devices at Cystech Electronics, helping the Taiwanese MOSFET and diode designer grow first-half 2026 revenue despite memory shortages weighing on networking products. Wafer foundry and packaging capacity remain tight, with rush orders pushing standard lead times from 180 days to 270 days, according to supply chain sources.

Analog Devices (ADI) has reportedly notified customers of extended delivery lead times for certain products, with lead times now reaching six months. The company has advised customers to place orders at least six months in advance to help secure an adequate chip supply.

Memory contract prices are poised for another sharp rise in the third quarter of 2026, even after several quarters of hikes have already begun to weaken consumer demand. Industry sources said hopes for a clear slowdown have faded, as upstream suppliers have signalled increases of around 30%, with enterprise SSD and server RDIMM prices likely to rise by more than 30%.

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are reportedly accelerating efforts to reduce China's role in their semiconductor supply chains in preparation for the possibility of tighter US export controls. The two companies are said to be restructuring their sourcing of materials, components, and manufacturing equipment that rely heavily on China, while gradually replacing some Chinese-made semiconductor tools with alternatives from South Korea, the US, and other countries.

Memory module maker Transcend Information reported consolidated revenue of NT$5.07 billion (approx. US$138.66 million) for June 2026. Revenue declined 19.5% from the previous month due to customer inventory adjustments at the end of the quarter, but it still surged 381.6% compared with June 2025.

Samsung Electronics' preliminary second-quarter results show operating profit of KRW89.4 trillion (about US$58.4 billion) — a record high that not only dwarfs the company's own year-ago performance but appears to surpass the most recent quarterly profit figures reported by NVIDIA and Apple, making Samsung the world's most profitable technology company for the period.