Global Mixed-mode Technology (GMT), a supplier of power management IC (PMIC), has expanded into non-consumer electronics to avoid competition in mass-market applications.
AI, biomedicine, quantum computing, innovative semiconductor materials, and advanced semiconductor manufacturing are shaping up as pivotal areas for Taiwan's future research and development, with profound implications for defense and industry applications. This critical juncture was highlighted by Professor Chuu Chih-sung's groundbreaking creation of the world's smallest quantum computer at National Tsing Hua University's Department of Physics and Center for Quantum Technology.
CETC Chips Technology has disclosed that its BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (DBS) SoCs have been adopted by China's top-5 handset vendors for multiple midrange to high-end smartphone models.
Weltrend Semiconductor, a specialist in USB power delivery (PD) controller chips, anticipates strong AI server demand to drive its shipment performance in the fourth quarter of 2024.
According to sources at IC design houses, China's subsidies aimed at boosting replacement demand have managed to generate short lead-time orders for household appliance applications.
TSMC has reportedly notified Chinese customers that shipments of AI-related chips made with 7nm or below processes will be halted. Additionally, any AI chip projects initiated after November 11 must be approved by the US Department of Commerce and other relevant agencies.
Himax Technologies exceeded third-quarter 2024 expectations, fueled by strong automotive IC revenue from Chinese orders. Despite a revenue decline and lower gross margin, the company remains optimistic about growth in the automotive, AI, WLO, and OLED sectors amid market uncertainties.
According to Nikkei, Rohm's performance for the first half of fiscal year 2024 (April to September 2024) has significantly underperformed expectations, resulting in a loss. A key factor behind this downturn is weak demand for automotive power semiconductors, driven by unfavorable conditions among its automotive clients.
Tessolve, an India-based semiconductor engineering firm owned by Hero, the world's largest two-wheeler brand, has acquired German-based IC design house Dream Chip Technologies. This acquisition marks a significant step in India's efforts to expand its in-house semiconductor capabilities in both design and production.
During a visit to India, a senior Singapore government official confirmed ongoing discussions with India's Tata Group regarding semiconductor development cooperation. This initiative aligns with India's broader strategy to forge international partnerships to strengthen its semiconductor ecosystem.
Semiconductor Week in Review (Nov 3 - 9): The semiconductor industry faces a transformative moment as TSMC readies its Arizona fab's politically-charged December opening and Intel's covert Taiwan visit reveals its deepening dependence on TSMC's advanced nodes.
The resilience of Taiwan's semiconductor industry remains unwavering, even as the US undergoes political transition. This perspective was shared by Etron Technology Chairman Nicky Lu and Pegatron Chairman T.H. Tung at the Global Views Leaders Forum on November 7, where they discussed industrial landscape changes following the recent US presidential election.
Forcelead Technology, an automotive display driver IC (DDI) subsidiary of Sitronix, recently highlighted its strategic focus on automotive DDIs and display driver ASICs for consumer electronics at an investor conference. The company's products primarily serve both original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and aftermarket segments, with a particular emphasis on mobile devices in the repair market.
Image sensor specialist PixArt Imaging exceeded its third-quarter revenue expectations, with growth rates roughly similar across its product lineup. The company's gross margin fell in line with predictions, sliding slightly from the previous quarter due to changes in the product mix.
Japan's Leading-edge Semiconductor Technology Center (LSTC) has forged a strategic partnership with Canadian chip designer Tenstorrent to train up to 200 Japanese engineers in the US over the next five years. These engineers will participate directly in Tenstorrent's RISC-V AI chip development projects.
The Snapdragon Summit 2024, held October 21-23, placed Qualcomm's Oryon CPU and AI advancements at the center of its product showcase. Amid mixed reactions to Qualcomm's chip announcements, "Oryon CPU development" and "AI capabilities" have emerged as the foundation of the company's 2024 product portfolio, reflecting Qualcomm's strategic shift. In this article, DIGITIMES examines Qualcomm's recent advancements and strategies across semiconductors, AI, smartphones, PCs, and automotive platforms amid a flurry of market rumors.
Egis Technology (EgisTec), recently transformed into the ASIC business, has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with South Korean chip design company Asicland. The two companies will collaborate on developing AI high-performance computing (HPC) server chiplet designs, encompassing CPU Die, AI Die, IO Die, IP licensing, advanced CoWoS packaging development, and various other technologies.
China's semiconductor industry faces escalating challenges as operational shutdowns, salary delays, and management disruptions become increasingly common. The recent wave of closures and layoffs among Chinese IC startups in 2024 highlights the deteriorating climate for tech innovation in the country.
Novatek posted strong revenue growth in the third quarter of 2024, fueled by high inventory demand for mobile OLED DDIs. However, gross margin slipped from the previous quarter, mainly due to price adjustments for specific chips, rising gold costs, and lower non-recurring engineering (NRE) revenue.
Donald Trump's potential return to the White House has done little to dispel Beijing's anxiety about the direction of US policies concerning China. The next Trump administration's policies are likely to follow the country's mainstream opinion that favors an even higher and wider trade barrier against China.
The US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced on November 1 that GlobalFoundries (GF), a US semiconductor foundry, has been fined US$500,000 for violating sanctions by shipping chips to SJ Semiconductor (SJS), located in Jiangyin, China.
IC distributor WT Microelectronics (WT Micro) has reported that its revenue for the first three quarters of 2024 surpassed that of the entire year 2023. However, the company is expressing caution regarding its sales outlook for 2024, estimating a sequential decline of over 10%.
NexChip and Samsung Foundry have emerged as the dominant players in the display driver IC (DDIC) market for the third quarter of 2024, according to the latest insights from Omdia's Display Driver IC Market Tracker. NexChip has captured the largest market share in the large-area display and LCD driver IC segments, while Samsung Foundry leads the AMOLED DDIC market.
