Intel is reportedly preparing large-area AI chip packaging to strengthen its foundry business and challenge TSMC and Samsung Electronics.

Lumotive, a pioneer in programmable optical semiconductor technology, has demonstrated the world's first programmable two-dimensional (2D) photonic beamforming chip. Built on its Light Control Metasurface (LCM) architecture, the chip enables electronic control of light across two dimensions within a single device — a capability long pursued in optical science and widely considered essential for scalable programmable optical systems.

Nvidia's GTC 2026 is well underway, with the event reaching a record scale as among the major annual events in the AI landscape. Despite a packed schedule, CEO Jensen Huang attended the conference's "Taiwan Night" on March 18 (local time) to engage with Taiwanese partners and express his appreciation for their work.

The 2026 Nvidia GTC keynote signaled a clear industry shift toward inference. CEO Jensen Huang declared that "training is just the beginning — inference is the core battleground for AI commercialization." Attendees expected AI agents to dominate the event's agenda.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) is reportedly supplying multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC) for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to the world's largest private aerospace company. According to industry sources, this expansion from the automotive and industrial sectors into aerospace is a significant step for the company, as it demonstrates that its components have gained global recognition for durability and reliability.

As fighting in the Middle East continues, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent shockwaves through global energy and petrochemical markets. The disruption is already rippling across supply chains, prompting manufacturers such as Shin-Etsu Chemical to scale back production of ethylene-based products and raise domestic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) prices in Japan by roughly 20%.

Fitpower officially inaugurated its new office in Puchong Financial Corporate Center (PFCC), Selangor, Malaysia, this week, marking the launch of its Malaysian subsidiary. The move expands Fitipower's global R&D footprint and deepens collaboration within Southeast Asia's semiconductor supply chain.

Driven by the AI dividend and a robust semiconductor market, SK Hynix's average employee annual salary reached KRW185 million (approx. US$124,494) in 2025, up 58.1% year-over-year to set a new high. At the same time, the company also broke records for R&D investment and capital expenditure (capex).

Taiwanese touch chipmaker Elan announced a significant legal victory as the court ruled in its favor in a 2024 patent infringement lawsuit against FocalTech. The court confirmed the validity of Elan's patent and found FocalTech guilty of infringement.

Micron Technology's aggressive increase in capital spending signals that the memory industry is approaching structural limits to supply expansion, as artificial intelligence (AI) demand continues to outpace the rate at which new capacity can be physically constructed.

China's semiconductor materials localisation is shifting into commercial scale, with domestic photoresist suppliers moving from pilot validation to mass supply, marking a turning point in one of the chip industry's most tightly controlled segments.