The U.S. government announced plans to invest up to $300 million in three advanced semiconductor packaging research projects located in Georgia, California, and Arizona. These projects aim to develop cutting-edge technologies in advanced substrates, a critical component in the semiconductor supply chain that supports industries like artificial intelligence (AI), next-generation wireless communication, and energy-efficient electronics.

Finesse Technology, a subsidiary of Highlight Technology Corp, specializes in semiconductor ozone supply systems, remote plasma sources (RPS), RF power systems, and technical maintenance services. These solutions are integral to critical semiconductor manufacturing processes, including chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD).

"The supreme quality of leadership is integrity." —Dwight D. Eisenhower.

"To each, there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing." —Winston Churchill.

Niche multi-layer ceramic capacitor firm Holy Stone Enterprise points to uncertain demand in the industrial control market for 2025, in contrast with the automotive sector, which will see clear demand next year, even though inventory checks have continued into the fourth quarter of 2024. In addition, power supply-related demand for AI servers is expected to grow as well.

IQE, a British manufacturer of compound semiconductor wafers and materials solutions, will proceed with its plan to list its Taiwan subsidiary in 2025, despite considering a potential sale of the local operations, according to an unnamed executive.

SSD sales have been buoyed by specifications upgrades, according to industry sources, while DRAM module sales have exhibited signs of weakness. In 2024, they predict that SSD sales will surpass those of DRAM modules.

IC distributor Edom Technology projects that current trends will extend into 2025, with AI remaining the industry's core focus. The company is actively monitoring infrastructure developments in network communications while deepening its collaboration with Nvidia to expand its presence in industrial control and healthcare applications.

Chinese government subsidies successfully drove electronics sales during Single's Day shopping events, according to sources at IC design houses. However, concerns have emerged that this may have only accelerated consumer spending, potentially weakening demand in the first half of 2025.

China's Single's Day shopping season expanded to a full month this year. While overall sales momentum appeared lackluster amid reports of discount exploitation and high return rates, the electronics sector showed strong performance, driven by government trade-in subsidies and promotional campaigns for new devices.

Reports from Kyodo and Nikkei indicate that the Japanese government intends to invest around JPY200 billion (approx. US$1.3 billion) in Rapidus during the fiscal year 2025, spanning from April 2025 to March 2026. This investment aims to bolster the development of advanced semiconductor mass production capabilities in Japan. Additionally, by providing government support, the initiative seeks to encourage private-sector financing and investments in Rapidus.