Rapidus, Japan's state-backed chipmaker, has developed a prototype glass interposer for artificial intelligence chips. The company says the technology could lower production costs and strengthen its challenge to industry leader TSMC as Japan pushes to rebuild its advanced semiconductor base.

Semiconductor test equipment supplier Advantest and Tokyo Seimitsu have announced a joint plan to co-develop a next-generation die-level prober for high-performance computing components.

MSScorps signaled a business recovery on Wednesday following a midyear lull, citing surging demand for angstrom-era semiconductor manufacturing and silicon photonics as key drivers for growth heading into 2026. The Taiwan-based materials analysis firm reported record November 2025 sales after overcoming third-quarter delays caused by strategic adjustments at major foundry and equipment clients.

Facing intensifying competition in the traditional LED lighting market, Incheon-based Korea Lighting is repositioning itself as a supplier of bio-optical semiconductor solutions, targeting high-value applications across healthcare, hygiene, beauty, and agriculture.

Based on estimates from third-party market research firms, small- and medium-sized panel maker HannStar Display stated that the 2026 panel market is expected to be relatively stable, with annual growth of around 2–3% and no major fluctuations. However, recent sharp increases in memory prices and tight supply have crowded out resources across the broader electronics industry, which could further affect panel demand, especially in notebooks and smartphones.

Automotive-grade thin-film resistor maker Viking Tech held an in-person investor conference, where VP Shun-he Li reported that demand for ultra-low-resistance alloy resistors continues to increase. The company has recently secured a major order from China's second-largest on-board charger (OBC) supplier. The order volume is expected to contribute around NT$60-70 million (approx. US$1.9-2.2 million) in revenue, with gross margins higher than those of general resistor products. With this contribution, the share of automotive electronics revenue in 2026 is expected to rise from the current 53% to 55-57%, remaining the company's largest revenue segment.

SK Hynix has secured approval for an additional KRW500 billion (US$340 million) in low-interest financing from the state-run Korea Development Bank. The funds will be used to increase investments in semiconductor equipment, highlighting the growing competition to expand high bandwidth memory capacity for artificial intelligence chips.

Viking Tech, a leading automotive-grade thin-film resistor manufacturer, announced it will increase prices for its thin-film inductors by 10% to 40% starting in the first quarter of 2026, adding it to the list of passive component makers implementing price hikes. The move follows rising costs of precious metals and signs of recovering demand in the artificial intelligence (AI) and networking markets.

In a strategic move to bolster Taiwan's semiconductor talent pipeline and advanced research capabilities, Topco Scientific Co. (TSC) announced on December 16, 2025, a deep industry-academia collaboration with the College of Semiconductor Research at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU).

Intel is reportedly seeking to acquire SambaNova, a prominent AI inference chip specialist. The deal has a high probability of closing, primarily due to a significant governance alignment: Intel's current CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, also serves as SambaNova's Executive Chairman.