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Wednesday 4 February 2026
Samsung Electro-Mechanics poised to enter Nvidia NVSwitch substrate supply chain

Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) has secured its first supply role with Nvidia, the world's leading GPU manufacturer, to provide high-end flip chip ball grid array (FC-BGA) substrates for NVSwitch systems. According to South Korea's Seoul Economic Daily, the agreement marks the company's first engagement as a supplier of these specific components to Nvidia

Wednesday 4 February 2026
Aito's surge lifts Seres to front of China's EV race

After Huawei transferred the "Aito" brand and related patents to Seres for CNY2.5 billion (approx. US$359 million), Seres has rapidly consolidated its position in China's fast-growing new-energy vehicle (NEV) market. While Huawei no longer owns the brand, it continues to provide Seres with technical and marketing support, including smart cockpit systems and advanced driver-assistance technologies

Wednesday 4 February 2026
China leads the humanoid robot supply chain, with 2026 sales forecast to jump
Morgan Stanley is bullish on China's humanoid robot market, forecasting sales to surge 133% year-over-year to 28,000 units in 2026. As supply-chain costs decline and mass production accelerates, humanoid robots are expected to gain initial traction in industrial applications before expanding into consumer markets over the next decade
Wednesday 4 February 2026
South Korea tops China, Taiwan in Micro LED, but supply chain dependence looms
South Korean panel makers are about one to two years ahead of competitors in China and Taiwan in Micro LED driving and assembly technologies, according to analysts. However, the country remains heavily reliant on overseas suppliers for chips and backplanes, making supply-chain independence an increasingly pressing issue
Wednesday 4 February 2026
South Korean startup Mippia tackles music copyright and plagiarism risks in AI
As generative AI enters the creative process and music material becomes easier to use, the music industry faces escalating copyright and plagiarism challenges. South Korean startup Mippia focuses on music IP protection, combining AI expertise with a deep understanding of music production to offer quantifiable, explainable detection tools that reduce disputes over plagiarism and clarify responsibilities for AI-generated content
Tuesday 3 February 2026
Huawei-linked Hubble invests in automotive chipmaker Norelsys pre-IPO

Norelsys (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. has begun IPO counseling after filing registration for listing guidance with the Tianjin branch of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, according to regulatory disclosures

Tuesday 3 February 2026
Shanghai fast-tracks 'Oriental IC Port,' adds fourth-gen semiconductors to roadmap

China is pushing ahead with its semiconductor materials strategy. Shanghai, one of the country's leading cities, has included brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) and fourth-generation semiconductors among its priority future industries, signaling early preparation for a new materials era beyond third-generation semiconductors

Tuesday 3 February 2026
ByteDance reportedly eyes 2Q26 launch for new Doubao phone with dual-track partnerships
Tencent CEO Pony Ma sharply criticized the Doubao phone as "extremely unsafe and irresponsible" at the company's year-end meeting in late January 2026. However, recent reports from China's supply chain reveal that ByteDance launched the official version project of its Doubao phone assistant at the end of 2025, aiming to release a next-generation model in the second quarter of 2026
Tuesday 3 February 2026
Japan's TDK leans on premium batteries while rare earth supply risks deepen
Despite delivering solid earnings, Japan's TDK Corporation warned that China's tighter rare earth export controls are heightening supply chain risks, placing growing procurement pressure on manufacturers dependent on critical minerals and pushing geopolitical tensions into the electronic materials sector
Tuesday 3 February 2026
China bans hidden EV door handles, forcing industry-wide redesigns

China has stepped up electric vehicle safety regulation, with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology approving a new mandatory national standard, Technical Requirements for Automobile Door Handle Safety (GB 48001-2026). The rules require all EVs sold in China to feature independently operable mechanical door-opening mechanisms on both the inside and outside, banning designs that rely entirely on electronic systems or concealed handles

Tuesday 3 February 2026
US Judge dismisses Samsung FRAND lawsuit, strengthening ZTE's global hold
The ZTE Corporation has scored a major win in its global patent dispute with Samsung Electronics after a US federal judge dismissed Samsung's FRAND contract and antitrust lawsuit, shifting legal leverage toward the Chinese telecom equipment maker
Tuesday 3 February 2026
Univacco Technology to launch Vietnam factory, targets global market competitiveness
Vacuum coating film maker Univacco Technology plans to begin mass production at its new Vietnam facility in the first half of 2027. The overseas factory is designed to take advantage of tariff benefits, lower manufacturing costs, and an ample labor supply, supporting the company's efforts to strengthen competitiveness in international markets
Tuesday 3 February 2026
iPhone gains in China squeeze MediaTek, Qualcomm revenues
Last week, Apple released its latest financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, with the iPhone 17 series continuing to post strong sales. Overall, iPhone shipments grew 23% year over year, with particularly standout performance in the Chinese market. Apple CEO Tim Cook said the number of users switching from Android to Apple far exceeded expectations. Considering that China's overall smartphone market did not actually grow in the previous quarter, this implies a relative decline in market share for other Chinese smartphone brands. This undoubtedly adds revenue pressure for other SoC vendors such as MediaTek and Qualcomm
Tuesday 3 February 2026
China's AI competition heats up: ByteDance and Alibaba ready new flagship models
ByteDance and Alibaba are intensifying their battle for AI dominance in China with planned releases of new flagship models around the 2026 Lunar New Year. This competition marks one of the most significant tech rivalries in the country's booming AI sector
Tuesday 3 February 2026
India's smartphone market posts mixed growth in 2025, premium segment drives value gains
India's smartphone market experienced a mixed trajectory in 2025, according to Counterpoint Research. The year began on a softer note, weighed down by elevated inventory and a slow product launch calendar. Momentum picked up in the second quarter, driven by fresh device launches, aggressive promotions, and festive-season channel stocking, pushing third-quarter shipments to a record quarterly value. Shipments slowed again in the fourth quarter as brands focused on inventory correction and managed rising component costs. Overall, the market grew 1% year-on-year in volume but posted a stronger 8% year-on-year growth in value, reflecting sustained premiumization