Darfon is actively expanding into the energy and high-end niche application markets. Its subsidiary focused on new energy solutions, Darfon Energy Tech, announced on January 12, 2026, that its board approved a cash acquisition of up to NT$540 million (approx. US$17.1 million) for 100% equity in Hitron. This move reportedly aims to integrate both companies' power supply technology strengths and further expand their footprint in edge AI, industrial control, and medical application markets.
Ping Ho Environmental Technology said it will move beyond its core wastewater treatment business and invest in recycling waste sulfuric acid from the semiconductor industry into raw materials for green building products. Operations are scheduled to begin in 2026. The company will also continue to cautiously evaluate new development or partnership opportunities in recycling and reuse to expand its circular economy business.
South Korea's exclusive focus on magnetic confinement fusion technology has raised concerns about its position in the evolving global fusion energy landscape, as other advanced countries pursue dual development paths that combine magnetic and laser nuclear fusion. Experts warn that this singular strategy could limit the nation's competitiveness in next-generation energy solutions.
As the Russia-Ukraine war continues into its fourth year, Taiwan is looking to strengthen its partnership with Europe. The government aims to expand cooperation across investment, scientific research, and trade.
The global economic landscape underwent three major transformations in 2025: the Great Rebalancing, the evolution of the AI supercycle, and a US industrial revival driven by national security considerations.
ProLogium Technology, a developer of lithium ceramic solid-state batteries, marked its 20th anniversary at CES 2026 by unveiling its proprietary "Superfluidized All-Inorganic Solid-State Lithium Ceramic Battery" technology. The company also introduced a new generation of electric vehicle (EV) battery modules and outlined plans to extend the platform into applications including electric construction machinery, e-bikes, humanoid robots, and energy storage systems (ESS) for AI data centers.
Artificial intelligence continues to be the central force behind the upcoming productivity revolution. Yet in the US, foundational energy constraints threaten to stall progress. The primary obstacle is not a shortage of semiconductor chips or inadequate computing capacity. It is a more fundamental resource: electricity. Increasing demand from AI data centers (AIDCs) is straining the nation's electric grid. It is testing the limits of social tolerance.
As 2026 begins, DIGITIMES has conducted in-depth analyses of sectors within the electronics industry. The current landscape theme can be described as "one core, two keys, three drivers." The core, semiconductors, has two keys —the satellite industry and memory— and will be driven by three factors: AI servers, defense, and green energy. These areas will be critical to watch in 2026.
2025 proved turbulent for downstream applications and end-user devices. Tariffs and geopolitical tensions dominated the first half, while AI gained momentum later in the year. Global market unpredictability pushed many brands—particularly in China, the epicenter of geopolitical tensions—toward domestic markets and self-sufficiency.
Tatung held an extraordinary shareholders meeting on December 30, where its board was comprehensively reshuffled with nine directors (including three independents), and non-compete restrictions on the newly elected directors were lifted.
Infineon is leveraging its technological strengths to expand into cutting-edge applications in AI data centers and robotics. The company is currently collaborating with Nvidia to develop power systems for next-generation AI racks, featuring direct current (DC) voltages up to 800V.
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