Intel is reportedly reconsidering its foundry strategy under new CEO Lip-Bu Tan, with plans to shift focus from its 18A (1.8nm-class) process node to the next-generation 14A (1.4nm-class) technology. If implemented, the pivot would mark a significant strategic retreat from the foundry race, potentially leaving Taiwan's TSMC unchallenged in leading-edge nodes for the next several years.
Taiwan's semiconductor and electronics industries are entering a new period of explosive growth, driven by the full-scale rollout of Nvidia's next-generation AI server platform, the GB200, and the scheduled launch of the even more powerful GB300 in the fourth quarter. Combined with expanding shipments of ASICs, the surge in demand is expected to significantly ease pressure from tariffs, currency volatility, and rising manufacturing costs.
Less than a week ahead of the tariff truce deadline, US President Donald Trump announced that the Commerce Department had struck a deal with Vietnam. Under the agreement, Vietnamese exports to the US will be subject to tariffs of 20% to 40%, with the highest rate applying to goods rerouted through Vietnam from third countries.
In the high-stakes world of semiconductors, materials are everything. In South Korea, the issue became a national priority after a 2019 trade dispute with Japan sent shockwaves through its tech sector. In a tit-for-tat diplomatic standoff, Tokyo slapped export restrictions on critical chipmaking materials—photoresists, hydrogen fluoride, and polyimide. With Japanese firms controlling more than 90% of the global supply, the move threatened to derail South Korea's chip production and exposed its deep dependence on foreign suppliers.
Kenmec Mechanical Engineering is using Nvidia's Omniverse platform to transform factory construction, enabling "one-click deployment" that cuts build times by over three months while expanding into humanoid robots and AI server cooling systems.
Tata Semiconductor and Tower Semiconductor have advanced to the financial bidding stage to modernize the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) in Mohali, Mint reports. The shortlisted firms will compete to upgrade the facility's outdated 180nm chip line with advanced equipment and long-term support.
Samsung Electronics has successfully developed its sixth-generation DRAM, known as 1c DRAM, built using a 10nm class process. The product has received internal Production Readiness Approval (PRA), signaling it has met key quality and performance benchmarks and is now in the final phase before mass production. The milestone brings Samsung one step closer to its goal of mass-producing HBM4, or fourth-generation high-bandwidth memory, in the second half of 2025.
On June 26, 2025, US President Donald Trump announced that the US had signed a trade agreement with China on June 25, which was also confirmed by China's Ministry of Commerce. From the talks in Geneva on May 11 to negotiations in London on June 10, followed by Trump's recent announcement, what exactly have the two countries agreed upon?
With the July 9, 2025, deadline for new tariffs fast approaching, trade talks between the US and key partners like Japan, India, and France are showing signs of strain. At the heart of the deadlock lies Washington's increasingly aggressive use of Section 232 tariffs, a tool with far greater bite than traditional reciprocal duties.
According to Computerbase, under the leadership of new CEO Lip-Bu Tan, Intel might no longer push forward with in-house R&D of glass substrates but instead turn to purchasing ready-made solutions from specialized suppliers. This move is expected to help Intel accelerate the launch of viable products while diversifying risks and maintaining flexibility to switch suppliers.
Unlike semiconductor manufacturing processes, time is never an element that filmmakers can control. Since its release over three weeks ago, the documentary 'A Chip Odyssey' has accumulated a box office of NT$12 million (approx. US$410,582). The semiconductor godfather, Morris Chang, even quietly bought tickets and watched alongside regular audience members. Whether the screening period can be extended remains a race against time for director Chu-Chen Hsiao.
The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) approved on July 2, 2025, six investment projects across various science parks in the Hsinchu region, totaling NT$1.83 billion (US$63.3 million). Additionally, five project terminations and nine capital increase cases were filed for record, marking a total of NT$2.77 billion in new capital investment.
