Amid growing concerns over semiconductor supply chain resilience and geopolitical tensions, industry speculation has emerged about potential consolidation in the global foundry sector. Nikkei Asia recently reported that Taiwan's United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) and US-based GlobalFoundries are considering a merger that would significantly expand their combined presence across Asia, the US, and Europe. Such a move would potentially strengthen US access to legacy chips – critical components in numerous industries – amid increasing concerns over Taiwan Strait tensions.

Chinese distributors of Nvidia's H20 GPU are facing severe supply constraints as demand surges for AI computing power in the market. According to a notice from Chinese tech firm H3C to its customers on March 25, international supply chain uncertainties have nearly depleted current inventory, with the next shipment expected mid-April.

The memory market has shown signs of stabilization after a notable downturn, with recent price increases indicating a positive shift. This transition comes in the wake of manufacturers announcing impending price hikes, resulting in a rebound in spot market quotes for DRAM and NAND Flash products over the past month.

Vivo, China's top smartphone brand from 2021 to 2024, is making a surprising pivot into the home robotics market. While global tech giants double down on electric vehicles (EVs) amid a saturated smartphone landscape, Vivo is betting its future on consumer-grade robots for personal and household use.

The demand for humanoid robots is on the rise, driven in part by the optimism of industry leaders such as Nvidia. However, the practicality of adopting a humanoid form for robots remains a critical topic of discussion. Recent insights from Marc Raibert, founder of Boston Dynamics, shed light on various aspects of this burgeoning trend during an interview with DIGITIMES.

At the 2025 ZGC Forum in Beijing, held from March 27 to 31, artificial intelligence (AI) dominated the agenda. At the event's flagship "Future AI Pioneer Forum," 01.AI CEO and Sinovation Ventures founder Kai-Fu Lee shared his perspective on the trajectory of generative AI in China.

In late March, Google announced its lightweight Pixel 9a model, but reports suggest that some component issues have delayed its release schedule. Google has confirmed that one of the "passive components" did not meet its quality standards, causing the delay. It is understood that the new device has yet to reach consumers, and units from various warehouses must be sent back to the factory. An estimated 400,000 to 500,000 Pixel 9a units will require rework.

The demand for telecom chips is one of the relatively stable applications driving recovery momentum in 2025. So far, Taiwanese chip manufacturers maintain a positive outlook for the market conditions in 2025, particularly due to the apparent upgrade demands for telecom specifications in Europe and the US.

Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD has reported first-quarter sales exceeding one million new energy vehicles (NEVs), marking a nearly 60% increase year-on-year.

US President Donald Trump's aggressive tariff policy has struck the global economy like a machine gun blast. His 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, coupled with uncertainties surrounding the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), have already sent shockwaves through the automotive industry.

In a remarkable power shift over the past decade, Xiaomi has transformed from an industry underdog to a dominant force. While CEO Lei Jun once waited hours to secure Samsung display panels, Samsung's chairman now visits Xiaomi's electric vehicle (EV) factory. Similarly, Xiaomi has surpassed Chinese home appliance giant Gree in revenue and market value, with its ecosystem strategy proving superior to Gree's single-product focus in today's digital economy.

Global trade tensions are escalating as US President Donald Trump implements widespread tariffs in his second term, while the European Union's ambitious carbon border tax faces a potential one-year delay, further complicating the outlook for international carbon markets.

Foxconn is broadening its third-party environmental, social, and governance audit program to nine facilities across China, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, and Mexico in 2024, as the iPhone assembler strengthens its sustainability efforts globally.

As global demand for energy continues to surge while supply remains unstable, energy storage systems (ESS) have become a critical pillar in the future of energy infrastructure. For industry players, the key challenge is how to leverage innovation to enhance storage efficiency and reliability.

Taiwan's drone industry is undergoing a critical transformation, with Geosat Aerospace & Technology at the forefront. Yung-Lan Yeh, a manager at Geosat, recently highlighted two pivotal challenges in drone development during an interview with DIGITIMES: structural supply chain issues and the fundamental importance of power systems. Yeh emphasized that drones must be developed from an aerospace perspective and warned that without mastering power systems, Taiwan risks falling behind, as even minor imbalances in components like propeller blades could lead to catastrophic failures.

Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (AIDC) is entering a pivotal transformation phase, extending its global footprint beyond its recent Malaysian partnership to establish operations in the United States. The company will integrate biotechnological medical products from Malaysia's Zongheng Group at a new US production facility.

Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (AIDC) will conclude its "National Defense Self-Sufficiency" initiative in 2026, with Chairman Kai-Hung Hu warning of challenges ahead despite expectations of improved performance in 2025 compared to 2024.

LCD TV panel prices are losing steam following a brief rally that began in late 2024, initially fueled by front-loaded orders. Rising inflation concerns and renewed tariff threats from US President Donald Trump are dampening global trade confidence, prompting consumers to pull back. At the same time, China's trade-in policy is losing momentum, softening demand. As a result, both panel makers and TV brands are slowing their purchasing pace.

While LCD television panel demand falters, IT panel manufacturers maintain optimism fueled by anticipated device replacement trends. Monitor panel markets showed strong March 2025 demand against tight supply conditions, according to industry research firm Sigmaintell.

Corning, a well-established US manufacturer known for its expertise in glass substrates, has launched a new product called Gorilla Glass Ceramic. This innovative glass-ceramic material is both transparent and highly durable, specifically designed to enhance the resilience of mobile devices significantly.