DIGITIMES Asia

Amid the ongoing technology war between the US and #China, the intensification of the "de-Chinafication" effect is apparent. MCU suppliers state that Chinese-listed #MCU companies are now consolidating their presence in the European and American markets by establishing new overseas companies in Southeast Asia with non-Chinese investment backgrounds. These new entities aim to offer services ranging from design to sales, eliminating Chinese associations to comply with regulations and cater to European and American clients. #Singapore has become the preferred location for Chinese companies to establish these new ventures. https://lnkd.in/gej9FdFz

Equipment makers have seen the visibility of TSMC's order extended to 2025, and #Intel and #OSATs have also placed orders, according to industry sources in Taiwan. TSMC has greatly extended its footprint in the #AI sector, albeit #CoWoS's production capacity is still limited, sources said. TSMC has expanded its production expansion plan in response to increased demand from customers such as #Nvidia and the need to reduce order risks through diversification. The quantity of equipment orders being released is gradually increasing, and more Taiwanese equipment suppliers are joining the #foundry's #supplychain, the sources indicated. https://lnkd.in/gRE4YYUF

Amid the competition between Cholesterol Liquid Crystal Display (#ChLCD) and Electrophoretic Display (#EPD) in the e-paper display market, AU Optronics (AUO) is betting on both technologies, eyeing potential markets for its solutions. AUO holds stakes in Iris Optronics, a ChLCD supplier, and signed an MoU with E-Ink Holdings (EIH), an EPD giant, to develop large-size color #epaper displays on April 23. AUO CEO Frank Ko highlighted AUO's collaborative approach with both technologies, emphasizing a solutions-oriented perspective. Due to a wider operating temperature range, AUO sees potential for ChLCD products in outdoor advertising and automotive applications. https://lnkd.in/gRawr8as

STMicroelectronics is making significant progress towards its ambitious #sustainability targets. According to its latest sustainability report, the European chipmaker reported using 71% #renewable electricity in 2023, marking an increase from 62% the previous year. The shift to greener power sources helped ST avoid 636,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions. ST has pledged to become carbon neutral for direct emissions (Scopes 1 and 2) and some indirect emissions (part of Scope 3) by 2027. As part of that goal, it aims to source 100% renewable electricity by 2027 through power purchase agreements and green energy installations. https://lnkd.in/g_ibkgWZ

With a retail price of US$3,500, it may be difficult for the Apple #VisionPro to dominate the consumer market. However, three months after its launch, it has become the key to unlocking optimized workflows for many businesses. Several innovative commercial use cases have confirmed Vision Pro's significant impact on the corporate market. #VR #AR https://lnkd.in/gtyvN64K

At an earnings call on Thursday, Renesas Electronics CEO Hidetoshi Shibata said the company's financial performance will likely hit the bottom in the first or second quarter of 2024, as mentioned previously. He said the automotive segment is not showing robust growth but will grow steadily in the long term. As demand for battery #EVs slows, some carmakers have put more effort into #hybrid EV development. Shibata said Renesas has witnessed the trend, which will have a positive implication on the company's financial performance. The transition is also expected to benefit some Japanese customers, including automotive tier-1 suppliers struggling to destock their inventories. #automotive #semiconductor https://lnkd.in/ggc37V63

"... A blockade of #Taiwan could result in a shortage of materials for semiconductors and its effect on fab operations, difficulty of exporting chips, and damaged or destroyed fabs. With Taiwan's dominant semiconductor prowess, disruption due to armed conflict could devastate the world by setting technology back 20 years," says DIGITIMES Research analyst Eric Chen. "Taiwan's #semiconductor industry is crucial globally, not just for the US." The significance of Taiwan's semiconductor prowess transcends mere industrial development; it has become a matter of national security for multiple nations, especially amid escalating geopolitical tensions. https://lnkd.in/guuGQ7QX

At the 2024 North America Technology Symposium, TSMC demonstrated its latest semiconductor process, advanced packaging, and 3D IC technologies, which will drive the next wave of #AI developments with silicon leadership. Among these is the TSMC A16 technology, which combines leading #nanosheet transistors with an innovative backside power rail solution for 2026 production, yielding dramatically higher logic density and performance. TSMC also introduced its System-on-Wafer (TSMC-SoW) technology, an innovative solution that brings revolutionary performance to the wafer level while addressing future AI requirements for hyperscaler #datacenters. https://lnkd.in/gf5GEY3r

Curated news of #AI Expo 2024, hosted by DIGITIMES Asia, AI Foundation (AIF), and IC Broadcasting. The event takes place at the Taipei Expo Park from April 24 to 26. (Continue to update) #Semiconductor #TSMC #Qualcomm #Microsoft #AMS https://lnkd.in/gNhEU-nF

#Geopolitics #ChipWar