The SIA News Roundup is sent out each Friday compiling relevant clips from the week. You can sign up to receive the SIA News Roundup here.
The SIA News Roundup is sent out each Friday compiling relevant clips from the week. You can sign up to receive the SIA News Roundup here.
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INDUSTRY/MARKETRaytheon to Develop Next-Gen Semiconductors The Defense Post The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has awarded Raytheon a three-year contract to develop ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors utilizing diamond and aluminum nitride technology. Ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor materials provide higher power and thermal management in sensors and other electronic applications, enabling operation at higher temperatures and in more extreme environments.
DigiTimes Asia In late September, the Biden administration reached an agreement with the Indian government to establish a semiconductor manufacturing plant in India. This facility is set to produce infrared, gallium nitride, and silicon carbide (SiC) chips. The project is backed by the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), an initiative aimed at supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to bolster the country’s semiconductor industry. Modi has long positioned India as an alternative to China over the past decade. Now, the Indian government is working to build a complete semiconductor value chain, with plans in place to attract more US, European, and Asian semiconductor manufacturers to invest in the country throughout 2024.
US envoy to Japan pushes for Nato-like trade bloc to tackle China’s economic coercion South China Morning Post The United States and its allies should form a coalition that can be a sort of Nato to counter China’s economic coercion with a unified stance, Washington’s envoy to Japan said in an opinion piece published on Wednesday. US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said in an article for The Wall Street Journal that the administration of President Joe Biden has succeeded in expanding multilateral security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region and now is the time to consider adding new economic measures against China. |
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CHINAChina expresses concern over US chip and connected vehicle policies Reuters China’s commerce minister on Tuesday raised “serious concerns” with U.S. Secretary of Commerce over U.S. semiconductor policies towards China and restrictions on Chinese connected vehicles, calling for sanctions against Chinese companies to be lifted. During a call with Gina Raimondo, Wang Wentao emphasised the need to clarify national security boundaries in trade to ensure global supply chain stability and foster bilateral business cooperation.
China puts provisional tariffs on European brandy after EU OKs duties on Chinese EVs Associated Press Chinese drinkers may pay more for Remy Martin and other European brandies after the government announced on Tuesday provisional tariffs of 30.6% to 39% on those liquors, four days after a majority of European Union countries approved duties on electric vehicles made in China. The tit-for-tat move potentially gives Chinese negotiators leverage in talks with the EU on reducing or eliminating the tariffs of up to 35.3% on Chinese EVs, which would take effect at the end of this month. |
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TRADESingapore, South Korea to deepen AI, start-up cooperation as strategic partners South China Morning Post South Korea and Singapore have agreed to embark on a strategic partnership next year, marking the 50th anniversary of their establishment of diplomatic relations, the city state’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Tuesday. The two nations signed an extradition treaty and will look to deepen cooperation in fields such as artificial intelligence, defence and climate change, as well as upgrade their free trade pact.
Politico The days when Emmanuel Macron could stop a trade deal with a text message might be over. After a quarter of a century of on-off talks, an accord between the European Union and South America’s Mercosur bloc is once again within reach. And this time the French president, its strongest opponent, may have lost his de facto power of veto on trade after a string of political and electoral setbacks eroded his clout in Brussels. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYAI predicts optical properties to speed up the discovery of energy and quantum materials Pys.org Researchers from Tohoku University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have unveiled a new AI tool for high-quality optical spectra with the same accuracy as quantum simulations, but working a million times faster, potentially accelerating the development of photovoltaic and quantum materials. Understanding the optical properties of materials is essential for developing optoelectronic devices, such as LEDs, solar cells, photodetectors, and photonic integrated circuits. These devices are pivotal in the semiconductor industry’s current resurgence.
Novel technique for observing atomic-level changes could unlock potential of quantum materials Phys.org A research team led by the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has devised a unique method to observe changes in materials at the atomic level. The technique opens new avenues for understanding and developing advanced materials for quantum computing and electronics. The paper is published in the journal Science Advances. The new technique, called the Rapid Object Detection and Action System, or RODAS, combines imaging, spectroscopy and microscopy methods to capture the properties of fleeting atomic structures as they form, providing unprecedented insights into how material properties evolve at the smallest scales. |
SIA NEWSGlobal Semiconductor Sales Increase 20.6% Year-to-Year in August Press Release “The global semiconductor market continued to grow substantially in August, hitting its highest-ever sales total for the month of August, and month-to-month sales increased for the fifth consecutive month,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO. “Year-to-year sales increased by the largest percentage since April 2022, driven by a 43.9% year-to-year sales increase into the Americas, and month-to-month sales were up across all regions for the first time since October 2023.”
National Semiconductor Technology Center Opens for Membership Blog Today marks a significant milestone in the CHIPS for America initiative: the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) is officially open for membership |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETUS to award up to $100 million to boost use of AI for semiconductor materials Reuters The U.S. Commerce Department said Wednesday it plans to award $100 million to boost the use of artificial intelligence in developing new sustainable semiconductor materials. The department, which is overseeing $52.7 billion in U.S. chips manufacturing and research grants, plans to award $100 million to help universities, national laboratories and the private sector develop AI-powered autonomous experimentation for sustainable semiconductor manufacturing.
Tom’s Hardware Some of the biggest chip makers across the globe say they do not expect any disruption from the temporary closures of the quartz mines critical for semiconductor manufacturing due to Hurricane Helene. Sibelco North America and The Quartz Corporation are the two quartz mine operators in the area devastated by the hurricane. In the meantime, most semiconductor companies have a stockpile of silicon wafers, so even if supplies are disrupted for a few weeks to a few months, we won’t run out of chips. |
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CHINAUS-China talks helping avoid Chinese retaliation against tariff hikes-Treasury official Reuters China has not retaliated against U.S. tariff increases on Chinese imports partly because of continued dialogue between the world’s two largest economies, the U.S. Treasury’s top economic diplomat said in an interview aired on Tuesday. Jay Shambaugh, Treasury undersecretary for international affairs, told the Marketplace public radio program that Chinese economic officials came away from recent meetings with U.S. counterparts with a “more nuanced understanding” of the Biden administration’s decision to impose steep tariff hikes on EVs, lithium-ion batteries, semiconductors, solar cells, steel and aluminum and other strategic goods.
US-India chips deal opens up new front in tech war vs China South China Morning Post India and the United States have struck a pivotal semiconductor manufacturing deal, in a move that promises to enhance collaboration on sensitive military technology and redefine the South Asian nation’s position in the global chip supply chain. During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington earlier this month, he and US President Joe Biden finalised the agreement to establish a semiconductor fabrication plant in Kolkata. The facility in the eastern Indian city will focus on defence equipment, telecommunications, and renewable energy, as detailed in an Indo-US joint fact sheet. |
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TRADEIndia, US sign pact to cooperate on critical battery mineral supply chains Reuters Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo signed an agreement on Thursday to cooperate on strengthening supply chains in the two countries for lithium, cobalt and other critical minerals used in electric vehicles and clean energy applications. The Commerce Department said in a statement that the memorandum of understanding (MOU), signed during Goyal’s visit to Washington, was aimed at building resilience in the sector for each country.
EU betting on India and Vietnam for chips Politico EU Hoping to diversify supply chains and be less dependent on semiconductor chips from either China or Taiwan, Western countries are counting on others in the Indo-Pacific to turn themselves into major manufacturers. As part of its efforts, last year the EU signed a memorandum of understanding with India for joint ventures and technology partnerships. The bloc is trying to enhance cooperation with Vietnam in a similar manner and presented its new European Chips Act and the European Critical Raw Materials Act in meetings with the country’s officials last year. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYNew materials and techniques show promise for microelectronics and quantum technologies Phys.org As phones and computers shrink in size, our need for data storage and transfer is growing. Electronic devices have been powered by semiconductors for decades, but as the push to miniaturize continues, there’s a limit to how small semiconductors can be made. The next generation of handheld devices requires a novel solution. Spintronics, or spin electronics, is a revolutionary new field in condensed-matter physics that can increase the memory and logic processing capability of nano-electronic devices while reducing power consumption and production costs. This is accomplished by using inexpensive materials and the magnetic properties of an electron’s spin to perform memory and logic functions instead of using the flow of electron charge used in typical electronics.
Engineers create a chip-based tractor beam for biological particles Phys.org MIT researchers have developed a miniature, chip-based “tractor beam,” like the one that captures the Millennium Falcon in the film “Star Wars,” that could someday help biologists and clinicians study DNA, classify cells, and investigate the mechanisms of disease. The research appears in Nature Communications. Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, the device uses a beam of light emitted by a silicon-photonics chip to manipulate particles millimeters away from the chip surface. The light can penetrate the glass cover slips that protect samples used in biological experiments, enabling cells to remain in a sterile environment. |
SIA NEWSSIA Applauds Finalization of First CHIPS Award for Polar Semiconductor Press Release “We applaud Polar Semiconductor and the U.S. Department of Commerce for working diligently to finalize this agreement, which represents a key milestone in the implementation of the historic CHIPS and Science Act. We are encouraged by the progress being made to get critical CHIPS awards out the door and directed to projects promoting U.S.-based semiconductor production and innovation. And we hope today’s final award is the first of many more to come over the next weeks and months. We look forward to continuing to work with leaders in industry and government to ensure the CHIPS Act delivers maximum benefits for America’s economic and national security.”
SIA Urges House Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Streamline Environmental Review of CHIPS Projects Press release “The CHIPS and Science Act is on track to reinvigorate domestic semiconductor manufacturing and innovation. CHIPS has sparked $450 billion in private investments in the U.S., and America’s semiconductor manufacturing capacity is projected to triple by 2032 due largely to the dozens of new semiconductor projects across America incentivized by CHIPS. The Building Chips in America Act will help ensure these new facilities get up and running in an expeditious and environmentally responsible way, which will help maximize the CHIPS Act’s positive impact on America’s economy, national security, and supply chain resilience. We applaud the leadership of the legislation’s bipartisan sponsors and urge House members to pass the bill and send it to the president’s desk to be signed into law.” |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETCHIPS Act credits should be expanded to include chip design: SIA report Manufacturing Dive The CHIPS and Science Act’s manufacturing incentives should be extended beyond 2026 and expanded to include chip design if the country is to support the continued domestic growth of the sector, the Semiconductor Industry Association stated in its 2024 state of the industry report. The report highlighted that the CHIPS legislation will grow the U.S.’s share of advanced chip manufacturing to 28% of global capacity by 2032. The report also predicts the U.S. will capture 28% of total global capital expenditures from now until 2032. By comparison, in the absence of the CHIPS Act, the report estimates the U.S. would have captured only 9% of global capex in that time.
Biden breaks with environmentalists, House Dems on chip bill Politico Breaking with environmental groups and despite objections from House Democratic leaders, President Joe Biden plans to sign a new bill that weakens some environmental requirements on federally funded microchip projects. In a statement, Semiconductor Industry Association spokesperson Dan Rosso said the chip sector “is a global leader in promoting environmental sustainability and worker safety, and the industry is committed to continuous improvement of our processes.” Rosso said modern chip facilities “feature advanced fabrication techniques and stringent safety standards and emissions controls. The result was the Building Chips in America Act, a bill designed to lift or lessen many of NEPA’s requirements on new CHIPS projects. The Senate unanimously passed it in December, and on Monday, GOP House leadership abruptly forced a suspension vote on the bill, clearing the two-thirds threshold with help from Democrats — including many whose states are slated for major chip manufacturing projects.
Modi meets top US tech leaders amid semiconductor push BBC Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged top tech companies in the US to explore India as a destination for manufacturing and innovation. He met CEOs of tech companies in New York a day after attending the annual meeting of Quad countries, which also includes the US, Australia and Japan. India has been positioning itself as an alternative to China to attract global firms looking at diversifying their supply chains. |
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CHINAChina’s top chip equipment maker sees two US executives step aside amid tech war tensions South China Morning Post Two executives with US citizenship at Chinese chip gear maker Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment (AMEC) have stepped down from their positions, as trade tensions between the US and China continue to escalate. Ni Tuqiang and Yang Wei, both US citizens, are no longer “core technical personnel” at AMEC, which is widely seen as China’s best hope to produce advanced etching and deposition tools to cut reliance on foreign suppliers, for “personal reasons”, but the two remain employees of the company, Shanghai-listed AMEC said in a regulatory filing last week.
US to ban Chinese tech in cars BBC The US is planning to ban certain hardware and software made in China and Russia from cars, trucks and buses in the US due to security risks. Officials said they were worried that the technology in question, used for autonomous driving and to connect cars to other networks, could allow enemies to “remotely manipulate cars on American roads”. |
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TRADEBiden meets Vietnam leader to counter Hanoi’s ties with China and Russia Reuters U.S. President Joe Biden met Vietnam’s president To Lam for talks on Wednesday, aiming to deepen relations with the Southeast Asian country and manufacturing hub and counter its ties with China and Russia. Biden and Lam, the ruling Communist Party chief making his first visit to the U.S. as president, met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. A senior U.S. official said they discussed how to accelerate a strategic partnership agreed last year.
Emmanuel Macron’s lonely battle to defend the EU-Canada trade deal Politico French President Emmanuel Macron’s latest visit to Canada might give him a first taste of his new normal. During his trip to Montreal and Ottawa on the heels of the United Nations General Assembly, Macron is expected to devote time to defending the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the European Union and Canada. Though the chapters of CETA on the free trade of goods provisionally entered into force in 2017, some national parliaments of EU countries still have to ratify it and, at least on paper, can block its further implementation. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYReal-Time TEM Reveals Unexpected Behavior in Spintronic MTJs AZoNano Researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have conducted a new study that sheds light on how next-generation electronics, such as computer memory components, malfunction or deteriorate over time. Gaining insight into the causes of deterioration could enhance the effectiveness of data storage solutions. The study is highlighted on the cover of ACS Nano, a peer-reviewed scientific publication.
Research explores organic semiconductor materials for sustainable temperature sensors Phys.org New research into organic semiconductor materials, led by the University of St Andrews, paves the way for more sustainable temperature sensors for use in everyday technology. Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials, the so-called third-generation of emitters used in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), have attracted significant attention over the course of the last decades as alternative emitters to noble metal-containing phosphorescent complexes used in commercialized OLEDs like those in mobile phones. However, their use in other organic electronics applications such as sensors, has been much less explored. |
INDUSTRY/MARKETOregon governor uses new land use law to propose rural land for semiconductor facility Associated Press Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek is using a new land use law to propose a rural area for a semiconductor facility, as officials seek to lure more of the multibillion-dollar semiconductor industry to the state. A state law passed last year allowed the governor to designate up to eight sites where city boundaries could be expanded to provide land for microchip companies. A group that supports Oregon’s landmark land use policy, Friends of Smart Growth, said in a news release that it would oppose Kotek’s proposal.
NSF Announces Funding for Future of Semiconductors Competition Projects ExecutiveGov The National Science Foundation is awarding 23 research projects a total of $42.4 million in grants under the second iteration of the Future of Semiconductors competition, or FuSe2. The competition aims to advance semiconductor technology, strengthen the chips industry in the U.S. and support the objectives of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which include ensuring U.S. leadership in microelectronics, the NSF said Monday. The competition was launched in September last year, providing $45.6 million in total funding for 24 projects. |
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CHINAChina calls on US to axe tariff increases on EVs, solar cells and semiconductors South China Morning Post China is “strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed” to Washington’s finalised plans to increase tariffs on a range of key Chinese industries, from electric vehicles and photovoltaic cells to semiconductors. “The United States should immediately correct its wrong practices and cancel all tariff increases on China,” the Ministry of Commerce said over the weekend in response to the US announcement.
EU and China trade negotiators fail to strike deal on electric vehicle imports South China Morning Post The top trade officials from the European Union and China failed to reach a deal on ending a bitter dispute over electric vehicles during talks in Brussels on Thursday. However, the sides committed to intensify talks towards finding a negotiated solution to the quarrel, including taking a “renewed look at price undertakings.” |
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TRADEBritish ministers head to Gulf for talks on new trade deal Reuters Britain’s new trade ministers visited the Gulf region on Monday in a first joint visit for talks on a possible trade deal, the government said. Trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds and minister for trade policy Douglas Alexander will meet their counterparts from the Gulf Cooperation Council, which comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Trade has been a weak point in Britain’s economy in recent years – with business groups pointing to Brexit as one cause.
Trump says he will meet with Indian PM Modi next week Reuters Former U.S. President Donald Trump said at a campaign event on Tuesday that India was a “very big abuser” of the U.S.-India trade relationship and that he will meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week. The Republican candidate for the November presidential election, speaking in Flint, Michigan, gave no details on where they would meet. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYResearchers develop new p-type semiconductor materials for next-gen displays TechXplore A group of Korean researchers have recently succeeded in developing new p-type semiconductor materials and thin-film transistors that will lead the innovation of the semiconductor industry. These new discoveries are expected to be widely utilized to improve the overall performance of next-gen displays and ultra-low power semiconductor devices. The work is published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
Different qubit architecture could enable easier manufacturing of quantum computer building blocks Phys.org Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have shown that a type of qubit whose architecture is more amenable to mass production can perform comparably to qubits currently dominating the field. With a series of mathematical analyses, the scientists have provided a roadmap for simpler qubit fabrication that enables robust and reliable manufacturing of these quantum computer building blocks. This research was conducted as part of the Co-design Center for Quantum Advantage (C2QA), a DOE National Quantum Information Science Research Center led by Brookhaven Lab, and it builds upon years of scientific collaboration focused on improving qubit performance for scalable quantum computers. |
SIA NEWS2024 State of the Industry Report Underscores Opportunities and Challenges for U.S. Chip Industry Blog The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) released its annual State of the Industry Report today. The report highlights opportunities for continued growth and innovation across the semiconductor industry and notes current and upcoming challenges to the industry’s sustained success. Last year, industry global sales reached $527 billion and nearly 1 trillion semiconductors were sold globally, more than 100 chips for every person on earth. With a cyclical market downturn now over and demand for semiconductors high, estimates from World Semiconductor Trade Statistics project sales to increase to over $600 billion in 2024. |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETGlobal semiconductor sales hit $51.3bn; increasing 18.7% year-over-year Data Center Dynamics Global semiconductor sales have increased by 18.7 percent year-over-year (YoY), during the 12-month period ending July 2024. According to data compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization and reported by the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), the Americas saw the strongest growth in YoY sales, up 40.1 percent during the period. “The global semiconductor market continued to grow substantially on a year-to-year basis in July, and month-to-month sales increased for the fourth consecutive month,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO. “The Americas market experienced particularly strong growth in July, with a year-to-year sales increase of 40.1 percent.”
US spends CHIPS Act cash to explore Indian chipmaking collabs The Register The US has decided to partner with India and its Semiconductor Mission (ISM) to grow and diversify global chip supply chains. The partnership will use funds from the US CHIPS Act’s International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund, which has been allocated $100 million a year until 2027 to foster international partnerships – particularly in regard to semiconductor assembly, testing and packaging capacity. As for China, reports and predictions from the US Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) expect pace of growth in its manufacturing capacity to drop – from 365 percent growth observed between 2012 and 2022 down to 86 percent from 2022 to 2032. |
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CHINATech war: China’s chip industry becomes key breeding ground for unicorns, report says South China Morning Post China’s integrated circuit (IC) industry has minted more unicorns than any other sector in the country in the past three years, despite the growing financing pressure faced by local start-ups, according to a new report. With fundraising becoming more challenging for start-ups across the board, China saw its number of newly funded unicorns – start-ups valued at over US$1 billion – drop from a peak of 192 in 2021 to 137 in 2022, and further to 106 last year, according to the China Unicorn Enterprise Development Tracking Report published on Sunday by Great Wall Strategy Consultants.
In Huawei’s battle against Apple, chips are still a weakness, says analyst CNBC As Huawei tries to upstage Apple’s new iPhone with the launch of its own ‘trifold phone’ on Tuesday, its chip capabilities remain a weakness, despite recent breakthroughs, according to one analyst. Speaking to CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” on Tuesday, Martin Yang, senior analyst of emerging technologies at Oppenheimer & Co., said Huawei’s chip remains two or three years behind the cutting edge. The gap on technology for their systems-on-chip, or SoCs, that merge central processing with cellular connectivity, is “widening because [Huawei] still doesn’t have access to any below 7 nanometer processes,” said Yang.
US locks in steep China tariff hikes, many to start Sept. 27 Reuters The Biden administration on Friday locked in steep tariff hikes on Chinese imports, including a 100% duty on electric vehicles, to strengthen protections for strategic domestic industries from China’s state-driven excess production capacity. The U.S. Trade Representative’s said that many of the tariffs, including a 100% duty on Chinese EVs, 50% on solar cells and 25% on steel, aluminum, EV batteries and key minerals, would go into effect on Sept. 27 The USTR determination, published on Friday but first reviewed by Reuters, showed a 50% duty on Chinese semiconductors, which now include two new categories – polysilicon used in solar panels and silicon wafers – are due to start in 2025. |
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TRADEBiden’s opposition to U.S. Steel takeover could test ties with key ally Japan NBC News U.S. opponents of a Japanese steelmaker’s $14.9 billion bid for U.S. Steel cite concerns about national security and a reluctance to relinquish a storied American company. In Japan, the business community sees election-year politics at play. President Joe Biden is preparing to formally block the proposed takeover of U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel, two people familiar with the matter confirmed to NBC News last week, over what he says are national security concerns. That could complicate efforts to strengthen ties with Japan, a key U.S. ally, in an effort to counter China’s growing influence in the Asia-Pacific and around the world. Washington has also been pushing Tokyo to align itself with U.S. export controls that limit China’s ability to produce advanced semiconductors.
EU-Mercosur trade talks progress on divisive issues, sources say Reuters |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYElectrically modulated light antenna points the way to faster computer chips Phys.org Today’s computers reach their physical limits when it comes to speed. Semiconductor components usually operate at a maximum usable frequency of a few gigahertz—which corresponds to several billion computing operations per second. As a result, modern systems rely on several chips to divide up the computing tasks because the speed of the individual chips cannot be increased any further. However, if light (photons) were used instead of electricity (electrons) in computer chips, they could be up to 1,000 times faster.
Atomic diffusion technique could lead to mass production of metal nanowires Phys.org A group from Nagoya University in Japan has created a new technique for growing the tiny metal nanowires (NWs) that are expected to be used in next-generation electronics. Their results suggest a way to mass produce pure metal NWs, which has until now limited their use. The new technique promises to enhance the efficiency of electronics production, including circuitry, LEDs, and solar cells. The study was published in Science. |
SIA NEWSGlobal Semiconductor Sales Increase 18.7% Year-to-Year in July Press Release “The global semiconductor market continued to grow substantially on a year-to-year basis in July, and month-to-month sales increased for the fourth consecutive month,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO. “The Americas market experienced particularly strong growth in July, with a year-to-year sales increase of 40.1%.”
Greg LaRocca Joins SIA as Director of Industry Research and Economic Policy Press Release “During this highly consequential time for the semiconductor industry, it is critical for SIA to provide accurate data and effective analysis to help guide government policies that will promote growth and innovation in our industry,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO. “With extensive knowledge and experience at the intersection of industry analytics, economics, and government policy, Greg LaRocca will be an outstanding leader of SIA’s research and economic policy efforts, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to the team.” |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETLeaders of India and Singapore sign deal to cooperate on semiconductors Reuters The leaders of India and Singapore on Thursday signed an agreement to partner and cooperate in semiconductors, in a deal aimed at giving Singaporean firms a greater role in supply chains in the Indian market, the two countries said. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Singapore, his fifth overall and first since 2018.
Israel’s Tower Semiconductor, Adani plan $10 bln chip project in India Reuters Israel’s Tower Semiconductor and Adani Group will invest 839.47 billion rupees ($10 billion) for a semiconductor project in India’s western state of Maharashtra, its chief minister said in a post on X on Thursday. India has taken steps to encourage global companies to set up their manufacturing units in the country, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi aiming to make the country a chipmaker for the world despite initial setbacks. |
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CHINAChip war: Taiwan accuses 8 mainland Chinese firms of poaching talent, stealing secrets South China Morning Post Taiwanese authorities have accused eight mainland Chinese tech companies, including chip equipment giant Naura Technology Group, of illegally poaching talent from the island, underscoring growing cross-strait tensions as Beijing doubles down on its semiconductor self-sufficiency drive. The Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau in Taiwan said in a statement published on its website on Wednesday that it raided 30 locations and questioned 65 individuals in four cities, including Taipei and Hsinchu. The agency found that eight mainland companies were suspected of poaching talent and stealing trade secrets in Taiwan, which “seriously affects the competitiveness of Taiwan’s hi-tech industry.”
US tightens export controls on quantum kit and chips for China, Iran, Russia The Register The US has tightened export controls on quantum computing and semiconductor technology to address national defense and foreign policy concerns posed by foes including China, Iran, and Russia. The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) on Thursday published an interim final rule (IFR) in the Federal Register describing the restrictions, which apply worldwide and are intended to fit with similar export restrictions from like-minded governments. |
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TRADEUS, Britain, EU to sign first international AI treaty Reuters The first legally binding international AI treaty will be open for signing on Thursday by the countries that negotiated it, including European Union members, the United States and Britain, the Council of Europe human rights organization said. The AI Convention, which has been in the works for years and was adopted in May after discussions between 57 countries, addresses the risks AI may pose, while promoting responsible innovation.
Don’t expect Britain to copy EU and American tariffs on Chinese cars Politico While its allies slap steep tariffs on Chinese state-subsidized electric vehicles, Britain is sitting tight. The U.S., EU and Canada have put up barriers this summer after multiple probes found Beijing boosted its EV sector with billions in support, threatening homegrown carmakers. But Britain, desperate to decarbonize its economy, thinks it’s found a third way.
Swiss submits India free trade agreement to parliament Reuters The Swiss government has submitted its proposed free trade agreement with India to parliament, it said on Thursday, moving closer to a deal that could open up the world’s most populous country to Swiss exports. The agreement between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) – which has also has Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein as members – is a “significant milestone” in Swiss trade policy, the government said. Under the agreement, India will lift import tariffs on industrial products from the four countries in return for investment of $100 billion over 15 years. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYMetasurfaces: Tiny tech with big potential Phys.org Imagine manipulating light with ultra-thin, flat sheets instead of bulky lenses and mirrors. That’s the promise of metasurfaces, a nanostructure technology that can twist and bend light in ways never before possible. Metasurfaces are artificially engineered surfaces composed of meticulously designed nanostructures, each smaller than the wavelength of light. By controlling the geometry and arrangement of these tiny structures, scientists can create metasurfaces that precisely control the amplitude, phase, and polarization of light waves at the two-dimensional interface. This unprecedented control over light’s properties unlocks a vast array of potential applications previously unattainable with conventional optics.
Phys.org Researchers from Skoltech, Universitat Politècnica de València, Institute of Spectroscopy of RAS, University of Warsaw, and University of Iceland have demonstrated the spontaneous formation and synchronization of multiple quantum vortices in optically excited semiconductor microcavities. They showed that polariton quantum vortices formed in the neighboring cells of optically generated lattices tend to have an opposite topological vortex charge, i.e., the vortices are “antiferromagnetically coupled.” |
SIA NEWSPress Release “A universally respected leader and visionary in the semiconductor industry, Aart pioneered groundbreaking electronic design automation (EDA) technology, which provides the software tools central to designing chips,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO. “During a career spanning over four decades, Aart has made immeasurable contributions to our industry and has served as a powerful and influential advocate for our priorities. We are thrilled to recognize him with the 2024 Robert N. Noyce Award for his landmark achievements.”
House Lawmakers Take Important Step to Secure U.S. Semiconductor Design Leadership Blog Bipartisan members of the House of Representatives this week moved to bolster U.S. leadership and global competitiveness in semiconductor design by introducing the Semiconductor Technology Advancement and Research (STAR) Act of 2024. The legislation aims to incentivize U.S. chip design by providing a 25% investment tax credit for design activities conducted in the U.S. Reps. Blake Moore (R-UT), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Doris Matsui (D-CA.), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Joe Morelle (D-NY), and Claudia Tenney (R-NY) introduced this important bill, which will help to support advances in chip design and the semiconductor-enabled technologies that drive U.S. economic and technology leadership.
Press Release “For America to lead the world in semiconductor innovation, it must continue to lead in chip design. The STAR Act will help promote this critical part of the semiconductor ecosystem and strengthen America’s economy, national security, and technology leadership. We applaud Reps. Moore, McCaul, Matsui, DelBene, Moolenaar, Khanna, Morelle, and Tenney for introducing this much-needed legislation and urge Congress to approve it.” |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETSynopsys founder Aart de Geus to receive chip industry’s highest honor Venture Beat The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) announced Aart de Geus, Synopsys executive chair and founder, will be the 2024 recipient of SIA’s highest honor, the Robert N. Noyce Award. The chip industry’s trade group gives the Noyce Award, named after Intel’s founding CEO Robert N. Noyce, annually in recognition of a leader who has made outstanding contributions to the semiconductor industry in technology or public policy. The ceremony for de Geus will take place at the SIA Awards Dinner on November 21, 2024, in San Jose, California. |
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CHINAMicrosoft scales back AI partnership with Emirati firm amid concerns over China ties Politico Microsoft is modifying its high-stakes plan to share sensitive AI hardware and intellectual property with Emirati AI firm G42, amid growing concerns about the company’s ties to China, according to one person familiar with the plans and two Congressional aides briefed by Microsoft.
Meloni vows to ‘relaunch’ Italy’s cooperation with China Reuters Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni vowed on Sunday to “relaunch” cooperation with China, signing a three-year action plan during her first official visit to Beijing since taking office. Meloni, who has led a right-wing government since 2022, made the announcement during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, as Rome seeks to improve trade ties with Beijing after it exited President Xi Jinping’s flagship Belt and Road infrastructure investment scheme last year. |
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TRADEUSTR sets timetable to implement Biden’s proposed tariff hikes Supply Chain Dive The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will make its final determination on the Biden administration’s proposed tariff increases on China-made goods later this month, according to a July 30 press release. In May, the Biden administration and USTR unveiled plans to raise Section 301 tariff rates on select goods from China, including electric vehicles, solar cells and semiconductors. Many of the tariff hikes were expected to begin this year, including the rate increase to 100% on electric vehicles. Other tariff rate jumps, including those for semiconductors and natural graphite, would take place over the next two years.
S Africa confident of U.S. trade status despite unease over foreign policy Reuters South Africa’s trade minister said on Tuesday he is confident his country will maintain preferential trade status with the U.S. despite concerns in Washington over its foreign policy including a strong pro-Palestinian stance. South Africa has come under fire by some U.S. lawmakers for its relationship with Russia and its criticism of Israel in the Gaza conflict. It could lose eligibility for AGOA if it were determined to be undermining U.S. foreign policy interests. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYGaN semiconductors ride AI wave into robotics, data centers DigiTimes Asia Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductors, having made a strong debut with fast chargers for consumer electronics, are now finding fresh opportunities in AI servers, data centers, and most recently, robotics. The rapid expansion of generative AI has spotlighted the potential for GaN technology in various robotic applications, from LiDAR sensing systems to motor controllers and battery management systems.
Phys.org Gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors can now be grown without ammonia, a toxic chemical that needs a sophisticated detoxifying system before it can be released into the atmosphere. The new technique is not only more environmentally friendly but also allows for the efficient and high-quality growth of crystals at a lower cost. Scientists can make semiconductors more efficiently with a reduced need for raw materials and power. Researchers from Nagoya University in Japan led the study, which was published in Scientific Reports. |
SIA NEWSSIA Applauds CHIPS Act Incentives for Amkor Facility in Arizona Press Release “Today’s Amkor announcement will strengthen U.S.-based advanced packaging operations—a critical step in the chip production process—while further expanding Arizona’s booming semiconductor ecosystem and bringing more jobs and economic growth to the state. We commend Amkor for investing ambitiously in U.S.-based advanced packaging, which is an area that needs to be strengthened in the U.S. chip ecosystem, and we salute the U.S. Commerce Department for continuing to make impressive headway in getting CHIPS Act incentives out the door in a timely and effective manner. We look forward to continuing to work with leaders in government and industry to ensure the CHIPS Act delivers maximum benefits for America’s economic strength, national security, and supply chain resilience.” |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETCHIPS and Science Act: Breaking down the law’s impact 2 years later Manufacturing Dive It’s been nearly two years since the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act, sweeping legislation that aimed to catapult the nation’s role in the global semiconductor industry. The law, which provides $52 billion in manufacturing and research grants and incentives, as well as a 25% investment tax credit to encourage semiconductor production in the U.S., has already sparked dozens of investments in the domestic semiconductor industry. Over the past nearly two years, 13 companies across 23 projects in 14 states have received CHIPS grants worth about $30 billion in grant awards and up to $25.1 billion in loans, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association.
Can Modi’s US$15.2 billion chip bet turn India into a semiconductor powerhouse? South China Morning Post Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going “all in” in an effort to transform India into a competitive player in the global chip race, but experts warn the country faces a long road ahead before it can establish a self-reliant semiconductor ecosystem on its shores. |
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CHINAHong Kong is global trade hub for world’s most brutal regimes, report says The Guardian Hong Kong has become a global trade hub for “the world’s most brutal regimes”, according to a report examining the city’s role in facilitating the flow of goods to countries under sanctions by the west, including Russia, Iran and North Korea. A report published on Monday by the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, a campaign group, found that between 2021 and 2022, exports of semiconductors from Hong Kong to Russia roughly doubled to $400m (£310m), second only to shipments from mainland China. Semiconductors are vital to Russia’s war effort as they are a component in weaponry such as drones and cruise missiles.
China’s third plenum vows to support ‘capable’ private sector to lead tech innovation South China Morning Post In its quest to break out of tightening containment efforts by the United States, Beijing has vowed to give more room and better resources to the private sector to help China achieve technological breakthroughs. It was one of the measures announced to support the private sector included in the 22,000-word resolution document unveiled on Sunday following the conclusion of the third plenum last week. “[It is necessary] to support capable private enterprises to take the lead in undertaking major national technological research tasks, and further open up major national scientific research infrastructure to private firms,” said the decisions endorsed by the Communist Party’s 20th Central Committee. |
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TRADEEighty nations strike deal over e-commerce, but lack US backing Reuters Around 80 countries reached agreement on Friday on rules governing global digital commerce including recognition of e-signatures and protection against online fraud, but failed to bring the United States on board. After five years of negotiations, coordinators Australia, Japan and Singapore distributed what they called a “stabilised text”, which the European Union hailed as “historic news” and Britain as “groundbreaking”. The United States said that the new text was an important step forward, but that it still fell short and more work was needed, including on wording about exceptions due to essential security interests.
David Lammy arrives in India for trade talks BBC Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy has arrived in India for talks with ministers and business leaders. The visit is being billed as an attempt to reset Britain’s relationship with the country and the Global South. Mr. Lammy has called India “an indispensable partner” in the government’s efforts to grow the economy and tackle climate change. With the country’s economy soon to be the third largest in the world, the new Labour government is eager to secure a free trade agreement. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYImproved GaN-Based Semiconductor Devices for Power Electronics Tech Briefs A study led by Nagoya University in Japan revealed that a simple thermal reaction of gallium nitride (GaN) with metallic magnesium (Mg) results in the formation of a distinctive superlattice structure. This represents the first time researchers have identified the insertion of 2D metal layers into a bulk semiconductor. By carefully observing the materials through various cutting-edge characterization techniques, the researchers uncovered new insights into the process of semiconductor doping and elastic strain engineering. They published their findings in the journal Nature.
Somersaulting spin qubits for universal quantum logic could enhance control in larger arrays Phys.org Researchers at QuTech developed somersaulting spin qubits for universal quantum logic. This achievement may enable efficient control of large semiconductor qubit arrays. The research group published their demonstration of hopping spins in Nature Communications and their work on somersaulting spins in Science. |
SIA NEWSPress Release “We need strong trade and supply chain policies to build bigger markets globally where we can sell the chips we manufacture here at home,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO. “We’re excited to welcome Carrie Esko to SIA’s global policy team. With her experience negotiating with governments around the world on digital trade and tech policy, Carrie will be a powerful advocate for our industry’s interests in Washington and in capitals around the world.”
SIA Applauds CHIPS Act Incentives for GlobalWafers Projects in Texas and Missouri Press Release “The important incentives announced today will help GlobalWafers bring more wafer production, jobs, and innovation to U.S. shores. The vast majority of silicon wafers are manufactured in East Asia, so expanding U.S. production in this sector will strengthen our supply chains. We congratulate GlobalWafers for this milestone investment and commend the U.S. Commerce Department for its continued work to effectively allocate CHIPS funds.” |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETDigiTimes Asia A recent survey reveals that Malaysia’s electrical, electronics, and semiconductor sectors are optimistic about the market in the third quarter of 2024, and are actively recruiting talent. According to The Edge Malaysia and Bernama, the Malaysian Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA) found that 39% of industry players reported better performance in the second quarter compared to the first. During this period, talent shortages were highlighted as a major challenge.
EU and South Korea announce winners of four co-funded semiconductor projects Science | Business The EU and South have selected four semiconductor projects to get total funding of €12 million, following the launch of a joint call in February. Half the money for the three-year projects is coming from the Horizon Europe Chips joint undertaking, and half from the National Research Foundation of Korea. The research will focus on heterogenous integration combining multiple components on one chip, and on neuromorphic chips that are designed to mimic the brain’s ability to adapt and learn, to enable more efficient artificial intelligence systems.
UT’s Texas Institute for Electronics secures $840M to develop semiconductor microsystems Austin American Statesman On Thursday morning, the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency announced that it has selected the Texas Institute for Electronics at the University of Texas as the recipient of $840 million to build a Department of Defense microelectronics manufacturing center. The hope is that this facility will enable the Defense Department to create higher-performance, lower-power, lightweight and compact defense systems. |
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CHINATrump says Taiwan should pay more for defense and dodges questions if he would defend the island Associated Press Former President Donald Trump demanded the self-governed island of Taiwan pay for U.S. protection, dodged the question of whether he would defend the island from Beijing’s military action and accused the island of taking the computer chip industry away from the United States. In the interview, Trump said he didn’t feel “so secure” over the Taiwan Strait, where Beijing has “been very aggressive and got ships all over the place.” He suggested that China could easily take over the island but has not done so because of Taiwan’s prized semiconductor industry, which make the computer chips that power everything from smartphones to cars and satellites.
Italy, Spain back EU duties on China-built EV imports Reuters Italy and Spain are backing European Union tariffs on imports of China-built electric vehicles, government sources said ahead of a Monday midnight deadline for all 27 EU members to take their stand on the matter. The vote is non-binding, but it could influence the final conclusion of the European Commission, which oversees the bloc’s trade policy. It set provisional duties of up to 37.6% on EVs imported from China, ratcheting up tensions with Beijing. |
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TRADEThe U.S. is building a chip packaging supply chain in Latin America Tom’s Hardware To reduce dependency on Asia and package American chips in the Americas, the U.S. government has launched an initiative to boost chip packaging capabilities in Latin America. The U.S. Department of State and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) have launched the CHIPS ITSI Western Hemisphere Semiconductor Initiative to enhance semiconductor assembly, testing, and packaging (ATP) capabilities in key partner countries: Mexico, Panama, and Costa Rica. The program will support public-private partnerships and the adoption of OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) recommendations to develop robust semiconductor ecosystems in the said countries.
New British trade minister hopeful some EU barriers can be removed Reuters Britain’s new trade minister said on Tuesday he was optimistic some trade barriers with the European Union can be removed, but the mechanism to arbitrate any disputes would be subject to negotiation. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYNanoscale trilayer exhibits ultrafast charge transfer in semiconductor materials Phys.org Successfully innovating optoelectronic semiconductor devices depends a lot on moving charges and excitons—electron-hole pairs—in specified directions for the purpose of creating fuels or electricity. In photosynthesis, pigment molecules absorb and transfer solar energy to a reaction center, where the energy is converted and used. As this process occurs, photons generate electron-hole pairs that must be separated to initiate chemical reactions. Deriving inspiration from the natural process of photosynthesis, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) researchers developed a mixed-dimensionality (2D/1D/2D) trilayer of semiconductors to enable exciton dissociation.
AI method radically speeds predictions of materials’ thermal properties Phys.org It is estimated that about 70% of the energy generated worldwide ends up as waste heat. If scientists could better predict how heat moves through semiconductors and insulators, they could design more efficient power generation systems. However, the thermal properties of materials can be exceedingly difficult to model. A team of researchers from MIT and elsewhere tackled this challenge by rethinking the problem from the ground up. The result of their work is a new machine-learning framework that can predict phonon dispersion relations up to 1,000 times faster than other AI-based techniques, with comparable or even better accuracy. Compared to more traditional, non-AI-based approaches, it could be 1 million times faster. |
SIA NEWSGlobal Semiconductor Industry Announces Phaseout of Intentional Uses of PFOA Blog The World Semiconductor Council (WSC) announced last month that it successfully completed the phase-out of intentional uses of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts, and PFOA-related compounds in photolithography or etch processes. Therefore, the WSC reported to the United Nations Stockholm Convention Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POP-RC) that, as of 2023, the semiconductor industry no longer has a need for exemptions from restrictions. “Intentional use” means a substance is used deliberately for a specific function or to achieve a specific characteristic.
Global Semiconductor Sales Increase 19.3% Year-to-Year in May Press Release “The global semiconductor market has grown on a year-to-year basis during each month of 2024, and year-to-year sales in May increased by the largest percentage since April 2022,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO. “The Americas market experienced particularly strong growth, with a year-to-year sales increase of 43.6%.” |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETWhite House to open $1.6B CHIPS-funded R&D competition Manufacturing Dive The Department of Commerce will open a research and development competition — offering up to $1.6 billion in CHIPS and Science Act funding — to establish and spur domestic capacity for semiconductor advanced packaging, the agency announced Tuesday. The notice mentioned an increased need to improve semiconductor advanced packaging.
Texas governor pursues Japan, Taiwan, South Korea chip investments Nikkei Asia Texas looks to work with U.S. partners including Japan, South Korea and Taiwan in semiconductors as the country races against China in the technology, Gov. Greg Abbott told Nikkei. “It is essential that the leading countries of the world partner together to achieve the future of semiconductors,” he said. “And there are allies like Japan that work with us on that while we are racing against adversaries like China.”
UAE and Saudi Arabia leverage Chinese capabilities to realize AI and semiconductor dreams DigiTimes Asia Various Chinese media outlets have reported that the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority of the United Arab Emirates has researched more than 30 A-share publicly listed companies in China. These include wafer manufacturer Sai Micro Electronics, SiC substrate maker SICC, and IC design IP company VeriSilicon, to explore investment, merger and acquisition, and technology collaboration opportunities. |
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CHINAGlobal Times China’s semiconductor sales jumped 24.2 percent year-on-year in May, according to data from the US-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). Chinese experts said on Monday that the data again show that China has formed a mature chip processing industry based on the country’s huge demand from the downstream industry.
Tom’s Hardware Tens of thousands of China-based semiconductor companies have recently gone out of business, and numerous IPO processes have been halted or terminated. As a result, Chinese authorities are said to now encourage mergers and acquisitions (M&As) rather than initial public offerings (IPOs) to build stronger companies. The aim is to concentrate resources on technological advancements into larger entities, thus building strong companies rather than a huge number of weak companies. |
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TRADENew British Prime Minister Starmer seeks to improve on ‘botched’ trade deal with European Union Associated Press British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is seeking to reset relations at home and abroad. During a visit Sunday to Edinburgh, that he billed as an “immediate reset” with the regional governments of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, Starmer said he would also seek to improve the U.K.’s “botched” trade deal with the European Union.
How a Trump election victory could ruffle Latin American markets Reuters The possibility of former President Donald Trump winning back the White House in November has investors preparing for various scenarios, with “America’s backyard” high on the list of markets to look out for. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYTom’s Hardware Researchers at the U.S Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) are developing the next generation of chips that will be smaller, thinner, and more efficient. The research team, led by Shoaib Khalid, is investigating the use of transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) to replace silicon in processors.
Study reveals surprisingly simple method for determining exchange energy in 2D materials Phys.org Researchers from the University of Basel have looked at how the ferromagnetic properties of electrons in the two-dimensional semiconductor molybdenum disulfide can be better understood. They revealed a surprisingly simple way of measuring the energy needed to flip an electron spin. Ferromagnetism is an important physical phenomenon that plays a key role in many technologies. It is well-known that metals such as iron, cobalt and nickel are magnetic at room temperature because their electron spins are aligned in parallel—and it is only at very high temperatures that these materials lose their magnetic properties. |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETLawmakers look to amend CHIPS Act to cover manufacturing gear NextGov The CHIPS Act was passed in 2022 to spur development of the pandemic-hit semiconductor supply chain. The bill contained $280 billion in research and development funding and manufacturing support for U.S. companies to reduce reliance on foreign manufacturers. Currently, Taiwan, China and Japan dominate the chip manufacturing industry, with the U.S. having just 10% of the global market, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association. Leaders on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee introduced legislation on Tuesday to amend the CHIPS and Science Act to prevent American businesses from obtaining semiconductor manufacturing equipment from China and other adversarial nations. Introduced by Reps. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., and Frank Lucas, R-Okla., the Chip Equipment Quality, Usefulness, and Integrity Protection Act of 2024 builds on the Biden administration’s efforts to spur a strong domestic semiconductor manufacturing sector. Sens. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., are sponsoring the legislation in the Senate.
UK aims for semiconductor leadership with Taiwanese partnership at Semi-Impact forum Digitimes Asia Top advisors and industry leaders shaping the UK’s semiconductor strategy joined forces with Taiwanese semiconductor veterans at the Semi Impact Forum to share their visions for transforming the UK into a chip-enabled science and technology powerhouse. The UK’s semiconductor strategy, published in March 2023, aims to leverage strengths in R&D, design, IP, and compound semiconductors to become a leading presence over the next two decades. The government plans to inject £200 million into the sector by 2025, with a commitment to invest up to £1 billion (US$ 1.27 billion) over the next decade, guided by an advisory panel comprising industry, academia, and government voices. |
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CHINAUS industry groups seek hearing, more on Biden’s China tariff hike Reuters A wide swath of pro-trade American business groups has asked the Biden administration for another month to comment on plans to impose steeper tariffs on Chinese imports of electric vehicles, batteries, solar products and other goods, effectively delaying the Aug. 1 start date for many of the duties. Among the groups signing the letter were the Semiconductor Industry Association, the Information Technology Industry Council, the American Chemistry Council, the Beer institute, the National Retail Federation, the Halloween and Costume Association and the American Trucking Association.
Major Chinese semiconductor company goes bankrupt — 23 others recently withdrew IPO applications Tom’s Hardware China’s semiconductor industry is facing a resurgence of unfinished projects as smaller companies go bankrupt, reports the China Times. Recent insolvencies, such as that of Shanghai Wusheng Semiconductor, have raised concerns about widespread closures. Additionally, the market has seen 23 semiconductor companies withdraw their IPO applications since last year, which reflects growing investor caution.
Tech war: Chinese chip makers ramp up capacity amid fears of more US sanctions South China Morning Post Chinese foundries, such as Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) and Hua Hong Semiconductor Group, are ramping up capacity amid fears of more US tech sanctions, according to an industry report. The investment pace has already triggered overcapacity concerns, with Washington firing the first salvo. The Biden administration will apply tariffs to US$18 billion worth of Chinese imports, including a 50 per cent hike on semiconductor imports from China starting next year, to protect the local US chip industry. |
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TRADEAssociated Press India and the United States on Monday pledged to boost defense and technology cooperation and remove long-standing barriers to bilateral strategic trade, following a meeting between the national security advisers of both countries. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is on a two-day visit to the Indian capital, New Delhi, the first from a high-ranking U.S. official since Prime Minister Narendra Modi secured a third straight term in India’s general election earlier this month. Sullivan met with his counterpart, Ajit Doval, to discuss progress on the Initiative on Critical Emerging Technologies, which the two countries launched in 2022.
Europe gives China a taste of its own trade medicine Politico Over the past years, EU trade policy has traditionally focused on building protective fortress walls, and last week’s decision to impose punitive tariffs on Chinese electric cars initially looked like another example of the classic defensive playbook in Brussels. In a remarkable turn of events, however, the EU is now considering a next step that invites China’s electric vehicle (EV) makers inside the walls. The big idea is to use the tariff threat to force Chinese carmakers to come to Europe to form joint ventures and share technology with their EU counterparts, according to conversations with four diplomats and two senior officials.
Labour would try to improve UK’s post-Brexit trade deal with EU, says Reeves The Guardian Labour would try to improve elements of the UK’s trade deal with the EU, Rachel Reeves has indicated, saying also that most financial services companies have “not regarded Brexit as being a great opportunity for their businesses”. While Labour remains committed to not making any major changes to Brexit, the shadow chancellor’s comments show that the party could nonetheless make more policy moves on EU trade links than previously believed. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYResearchers develop platform to probe, control qubits in silicon for quantum networks Phys.org The quantum internet would be a lot easier to build if we could use existing telecommunications technologies and infrastructure. Over the past few years, researchers have discovered defects in silicon—a ubiquitous semiconductor material—that could be used to send and store quantum information over widely used telecommunications wavelengths. Could these defects in silicon be the best choice among all the promising candidates to host qubits for quantum communications? “It’s still a Wild West out there,” said Evelyn Hu, the Tarr-Coyne Professor of Applied Physics and of Electrical Engineering at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). Now, Hu and a team of researchers have developed a platform to probe, interact with and control these potentially powerful quantum systems. The device uses a simple electric diode, one of the most common components in semiconductor chips, to manipulate qubits inside a commercial silicon wafer.
Next-generation NASA technologies tested in flight Phys.org Teams of NASA researchers put their next-generation technologies to the microgravity test in a series of parabolic flights that aim to advance innovations supporting the agency’s space exploration goals. These parabolic flights provide a gateway to weightlessness, allowing research teams to interact with their hardware in reduced gravity conditions for intervals of approximately 22 seconds. The flights, which ran from February to April, took place aboard Zero Gravity Corporation’s G-FORCE ONE aircraft and helped to advance several promising space technologies. |
INDUSTRY/MARKETPreventing another chip shortage on G7 summit agenda The Register More than three years after the pandemic crippled semiconductor supply chains, it seems G7 nations are getting ready to do something to prevent future disruptions. According to a draft statement seen by Bloomberg, the Group of Seven plan to establish a group dedicated to semiconductor supply chains when its members meet in Fasano, Italy later this week.
Reuters The U.S. Commerce Department said on Tuesday it planned to award Rocket Lab (RKLB.O), opens new tab $23.9 million to dramatically boost the production of compound semiconductors used in satellites and spacecraft. The award for Rocket Lab unit SolAero Technologies Corp “would help create a more robust and resilient supply of space-grade solar cells that power spacecrafts and satellites”, the department said, adding it would “increase Rocket Lab’s compound semiconductor production by 50% within the next three years.”
German next-generation chip firm bags $274 million in funding as Europe ramps up semiconductor push CNBC Black Semiconductor, a startup aiming to create next-generation chip technology, said on Wednesday that it raised 254.4 million euros (US$274 million), mainly from the German government, in a further sign that Europe is ramping up its push in the critical components. |
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CHINATom’s Hardware China’s semiconductor exports are growing, but today’s success might not be the clear victory that state media makes it out to be. Industry analysts believe that China’s chip sector may be reaching overcapacity and that supply will dwarf demand in the coming months. That could mean we see predictions of a price war and a chip glut spurred by China’s overproduction of domestically produced mature node process nodes come to fruition.
Tom’s Hardware The U.S. government is said to be considering further restrictions on China’s access to cutting-edge semiconductor technology. Now, people familiar with the matter say the Biden administration wants to further restrict the gate-all-around (GAA) transistor technology used to manufacture leading-edge chips. The administration is also considering limits on high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which is critical for AI accelerators.
Tom’s Hardware A high-ranking Huawei executive has reportedly made a rare admission that China’s ambitious semiconductor efforts may have peaked. On June 9, during the Mobile Computility Network Conference in Suzhou, China, Huawei’s Cloud Services CEO Zhang Ping’an voiced concerns about China’s inability to source 3.5nm chips because of U.S. sanctions. |
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TRADEUS expands Russia sanctions, targets chips sent via China Reuters The United States on Wednesday dramatically broadened sanctions on Russia, including by targeting China-based companies selling semiconductors to Moscow, as part of an effort to undercut the Russian military machine waging war on Ukraine.
Europe wants affordable electric vehicles from China. But not at the cost of its own auto industry Associated Press The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, said the preliminary results of its ongoing investigation into Chinese EV subsidies show that the country’s battery electric vehicle “value chain” benefits from “unfair subsidization” that hurts EU rivals. It plans to impose provisional tariffs of up to 38.1% on electric vehicles shipped from China. That’s on top of the 10% duties for all imported EVs.
Explainer: From trade to climate, five takeaways from the EU election Reuters The European Parliament took a shift to the right after a four-day election concluded on Sunday, with more eurosceptic nationalists and fewer mainstream liberals and Greens. The European Parliament’s principle role in EU trade policy is in approving free trade agreements before they can enter force. It is not directly involved in trade defense, such as the imposition of tariffs. The European Commission and some EU leaders argue that the bloc needs more trade agreements with reliable partners to make up for lost business with Russia and to reduce dependence on China. A number of trade agreements are still waiting for approval, such as with Mexico and the South American bloc Mercosur, while the European Commission is also seeking to strike deals with the likes of Australia. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYPhys.org A study led by Nagoya University in Japan revealed that a simple thermal reaction of gallium nitride (GaN) with metallic magnesium (Mg) results in the formation of a distinctive superlattice structure. This represents the first time researchers have identified the insertion of 2D metal layers into a bulk semiconductor. By carefully observing the materials through various cutting-edge characterization techniques, the researchers uncovered new insights into the process of semiconductor doping and elastic strain engineering.
Phys.org When compressed, nanoribbons of titanium and sulfur can change properties dramatically, turning into materials with the ability to conduct electricity without losing energy, according to a study published in the journal Nano Letters. The authors have made the discovery during their painstaking search for new materials that can transmit electricity without loss of energy, a hot topic that has for long haunted the scientific community. |
SIA NEWSPress Release “The global semiconductor industry posted double-digit sales increases on a year-to-year basis during each month of 2024, and worldwide sales in April increased on a month-to-month basis for the first time this year, indicating positive market momentum as we approach the middle of the year,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO. “Additionally, the latest industry forecast projects strong annual growth in 2024, led by sales to the Americas market, which is expected to grow by more than 25% this year.” |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETWhere the CHIPS Act money has gone The Verge Since the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act last August, eight companies have already received more than half of the planned government direct funding. These companies have collectively received $29.34 billion in funding through the CHIPS Act for semiconductor factories across the country. The law, a $280 billion package to support innovation in the US, includes $52 billion in subsidies for semiconductor manufacturing and was passed last year.
Japan considers new legislation to back advanced chipmaking Reuters Japan plans to look into legislation to support the commercial production of advanced semiconductors, a draft of this year’s long-term economic policy plan seen by Reuters shows. The long-term roadmap, which is crafted each year as a key document highlighting the administration’s policy priorities, is expected to be finalized around June 21.
Malaysia’s chip industry falls in crosshairs of US sanctions on Russia Al Jazeera The United States’ efforts to cripple Russia’s war machine in Ukraine have ensnared an unlikely target far from Moscow: Malaysia’s multibillion-dollar semiconductor industry. Malaysian semiconductor maker Jatronics SDN BHD is among nearly 300 entities that Washington slapped with US sanctions last month over their alleged links to Russia’s military suppliers.
Michigan puts $10M toward developing semiconductor workforce The Detroit News Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Michigan is putting $10 million into the state’s initiative with private industry and educational institutions to develop a pipeline of skilled students and workers to advance semiconductor technology for the auto industry.The initiative, the Michigan Semiconductor Talent and Technology for Automotive Research or MSTAR, is rolling out a portfolio of innovation projects as it intends to pursue federal funding, according to Whitmer’s office. |
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CHINABiden’s science adviser explains the new hard line on China Washington Post Early in her career, Arati Prabhakar led the development of a self-piloting ship for a secretive U.S. military research agency. Now she’s the White House’s top technology official — the first to hail from a defense background since the Cold War and a representative of Washington’s new hard-line consensus on China. “We had an oversimplified model for a long time, for a number of decades,” Prabhakar said in an interview with The Washington Post. “That oversimplified model was that markets and globalization would solve all the problems.”
US-backed funding rounds in China fall to lowest in a decade S&P Global The value and volume of US venture capital-backed funding rounds in mainland China companies plunged in 2023, hitting the lowest level since 2013 as US investment restrictions, geopolitical tensions and reshoring policies give investors pause. Venture funding, which typically targets technology startups, has been impacted by US restrictions on outbound investment in China’s technology sector, including specific semiconductors, quantum computing and artificial intelligence technologies, citing national security concerns.
South China Morning Post A Huawei patent has raised questions about how far it can push existing DUV chip-making equipment using a technique to help it advance despite US sanctions. Huawei’s 7-nm chips in its Mate 60 and Pura 70 smartphones has resulted in closer scrutiny of the sanctioned firm’s advances in semiconductors. |
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TRADEBipartisan support for Taiwan gives hope for free trade deal, U.S. business group says Reuters The high level of bipartisan political support for Taiwan in the United States gives hope eventually a free trade deal could be signed, especially given progress on current talks, the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan’s chairman said on Thursday. Taiwan, a major semiconductor producer, has long campaigned for such a deal, in what would be a strong show of support for the Chinese-claimed island in the face of unrelenting diplomatic and military pressure from Beijing. It says it is a reliable partner for the United States with shared democratic values.
Inside UK Labour’s push for a US special relationship — even with Trump Politico If, as polls predict, Keir Starmer becomes prime minister in the U.K’s general election due on July 4, he’ll likely find himself sitting next to Joe Biden within days. NATO’s 75th anniversary summit would afford Labour’s leader the opportunity to enjoy the high-profile handshake with the U.S. president he pitched for — in vain — during his four long years in opposition. That would be Starmer’s first step in a new “special relationship” with his U.S. counterparts — a task made trickier by the dramatic developments of recent days. While it remains unclear if Biden or now convicted felon Donald Trump will be in the White House next year, the Labour leader will walk a diplomatic tightrope. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYEFC’s Innovative Neon Gas Recycling System Advances Sustainability in Semiconductor Manufacturing American Chemistry The semiconductor industry relies heavily on semiconductor-grade neon as a buffer gas in its ultraviolet lasers, which are crucial for chip fabrication. Neon helps to transfer energy more effectively within the laser, improving its overall efficiency and performance. However, this use of neon has traditionally faced several sustainability challenges, as the supply of high-purity neon is highly vulnerable to global shortages, and its cryogenic distillation from liquid air is energy-intensive with a large carbon footprint. As a leading supplier of electronic specialty gases, EFC Gases & Advanced Materials has developed an innovative Neon Gas Recycling System that addresses these sustainability challenges. The system captures the spent neon gas from the laser exhausts that are typically vented into the atmosphere. The gas is then reconditioned for use in a new laser gas mix. By recycling this valuable resource, this approach can offer stable neon availability and supply chain continuity, helping to enable better planning and efficiency for businesses.
Researchers develop PFAS-free polymer membranes for semiconductor processing Phys.org Due to their stability and resistance to water and grease, PFAS chemicals (short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are used in a wide range industries, but they are harmful to health and the environment. Membranes containing PFAS are used in many semiconductor manufacturing processes, for example. Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP have now developed a sustainable alternative in the form of an innovative, PFAS-free membrane. The chemically stable, highly permeable polymer membrane has a pore diameter of approximately 7 nanometers and enables filtration of the smallest particulate contaminants. The membrane can be customized to meet specific needs, which makes it easy to integrate the new process into existing systems.
Phys.org Researchers have for the first time observed a time crystal on a microscale semiconductor chip oscillating at a rate of several billion times per second, unveiling exceptionally high non-linear dynamics in the GHz range. The results of the experiment, published in Science, establish a firm connection between formerly uncorrelated areas of non-linear exciton-polariton dynamics and coherent optomechanics at GHz frequencies, say researchers from the Paul-Drude-Institute for Solid State Electronics (PDI) in Berlin, Germany, and the Argentina-based Centro Atómico Bariloche and Instituto Balseiro (CAB-IB). |
SIA NEWSSIA Applauds CHIPS Act Incentives for Absolics Project in Georgia Press Release “As the first proposed CHIPS Act incentives that will support the production of a material critical to the semiconductor supply chain, the Absolics announcement marks an important milestone in the implementation of this landmark law. By incentivizing dozens of U.S.-based semiconductor projects—totaling nearly $450 billion in company investments—CHIPS is on track to deliver a huge return on investment and significant benefits to America’s economy, national security, and supply chain resilience. We congratulate Absolics for this important, job-creating investment in Georgia and commend the Commerce Department for continuing to make progress in getting CHIPS funding out the door and directed to important projects throughout the semiconductor ecosystem.” |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETMalaysia targets over $100 bln in semiconductor industry investment Reuters Malaysia is targeting at least 500 billion ringgit ($107 billion) in investment for its semiconductor industry, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday, as the Southeast Asian country looks to position itself as a global manufacturing hub.
Japan to tie chip, machine tool subsidies to tech leak safeguards Nikkei Asia Japan will require companies in critical sectors including chips and machine tools to take steps to prevent cross-border technology leaks in order to qualify for government aid, Nikkei has learned. The planned tech transfer rules will apply to five areas: semiconductors, advanced electronic components, batteries, aircraft components, and machine tools and industrial robots. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will issue revised guidance on these areas, part of 12 critical materials Japan designated under a 2022 economic security law. |
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CHINAChina cashes in banking chips for tech drive Reuters China is roping in financial blue-chips in a renewed push to achieve technological self-sufficiency. Six of the country’s biggest lenders have invested in Beijing’s third and largest semiconductor fund, marking a new and riskier phase in China’s industrial ambitions.Known as the “Big Fund”, the China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund this week launched a 344 billion yuan ($47.5 billion) investment vehicle worth more than its two predecessors combined.
China’s premier hails ‘new beginning’ with US-allied South Korea, Japan Reuters Chinese Premier Li Qiang praised what he called a restart in relations with Japan and South Korea as he met their leaders for the first three-way talks in four years on Monday, agreeing to revive trade and security dialogues hampered by global tensions.
Tom’s Hardware When Huawei and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Co. (SMIC) patented self-aligned quadruple patterning (SAQP) lithography methods to produce advanced microchips earlier this year, most assumed the companies were working on building chips using their 5nm-class fabrication process. Apparently, that’s not the limit of their plans, as Huawei is now looking forward to using quadruple patterning for 3nm-class manufacturing technology as well.
European G7 ministers warn over China trade war risks Reuters European finance ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy democracies called on Friday for the G7 to stay united in the face of China’s “unfair” industrial policies and warned of the risks of a trade war after U.S. tariff hikes against Beijing. On the first day of a meeting of G7 finance chiefs in the northern Italian town of Stresa, ministers from Germany, France and hosts Italy all called for a common front against China’s growing export strength. |
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TRADEEurope is turning to the right: Here’s how that will impact trade policy Politico According to POLITICO’s Poll of Polls, the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), the far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) and other parties at that end of the spectrum are on course to win 166 of the 720 seats in next month’s European election — giving them critical mass in the policy debate. Trade policy falls under the remit of the European Commission, and lawmakers often have limited say on the end result. But they do have the power to slow the ratification of trade deals, can be tough negotiators on policies, and are capable of influencing public opinion.
Semiconductor Agreement at Japan-US Summit The Diplomat The summit meeting between Japan and the United States early last month produced agreements in a number of areas, including closer command and control in the defense field and cooperation in space development. Especially noteworthy at the recent summit were the references to “current-generation and mature-node (legacy) semiconductors.” The semiconductor export restrictions on China imposed by the United States in October 2022 mainly target advanced semiconductors (14-16 nanometer nodes), and aim to prevent China from using cutting-edge chips to develop the field of AI, as there is a risk of diversion to military AI. However, the future Japan-U.S. agenda will focus on legacy semiconductors, not advanced semiconductors.
China gears up to make a deal with Europe as EV tariffs loom Reuters The European Commission’s expected move to hike tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles is set to kick off a round of talks that Chinese executives hope will soften the blow for the world’s biggest EV industry. The provisional tariffs, expected to be announced by June 5, will be a sticker shock representing billions of dollars in new costs for Chinese electric car makers. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYResearch team demonstrates modular, scalable hardware architecture for a quantum computer Phys.org Quantum computers hold the promise of being able to quickly solve extremely complex problems that might take the world’s most powerful supercomputer decades to crack. But achieving that performance involves building a system with millions of interconnected building blocks called qubits. Making and controlling so many qubits in a hardware architecture is an enormous challenge that scientists around the world are striving to meet. Toward this goal, researchers at MIT and MITRE have demonstrated a scalable, modular hardware platform that integrates thousands of interconnected qubits onto a customized integrated circuit. This “quantum-system-on-chip” (QSoC) architecture enables the researchers to precisely tune and control a dense array of qubits. Multiple chips could be connected using optical networking to create a large-scale quantum communication network.
Phys.org Graphene has been called “the wonder material of the 21st century.” Since its discovery in 2004, the material—a single layer of carbon atoms—has been touted for its host of unique properties, which include ultra-high electrical conductivity and remarkable tensile strength. It has the potential to transform electronics, energy storage, sensors, biomedical devices, and more. But graphene has had a dirty little secret: it’s dirty. Now, engineers at Columbia University and colleagues at the University of Montreal and the National Institute of Standards and Technology are poised to clean things up with an oxygen-free chemical vapor deposition (OF-CVD) method that can create high-quality graphene samples at scale.
Phys.org In our communication-centered society, Moore’s law sets a high expectation for the increasing rate of the packing density of Si-based transistors. This drives the search for thickness-scalable high dielectric constant (high k) gate layers. Current material candidates, from simple binary oxides to complex polar oxides, all have failed to solve the “polarizability-scalability-insulation robustness” trilemma, hence contributing to the sum total of issues threatening the continuation of the Moore’s law. A team of material scientists led by Jun Ouyang from Qilu University of Technology in Jinan, China recently proposed a solution to this trilemma on gate layers, which is an ultrathin film of a ferroelectric oxide in its superparaelectric (SPE) state. |
SIA NEWSSIA Outlines Industry Recommendations for the National Semiconductor Technology Center Blog Post SIA released a set of recommendations to promote the success of the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC), a critical public-private research consortium established by the CHIPS and Science Act. SIA’s recommendations synthesize the most up-to-date industry consensus and priorities. The CHIPS & Science Act included the most significant federal investment ever made in chip research and development (R&D), committing a substantial $13 billion across the Departments of Commerce and Defense. The cornerstone of the CHIPS R&D program is the NSTC, a more than $5 billion initiative tasked to “conduct research and prototyping of advanced semiconductor technology and grow the domestic semiconductor workforce to strengthen the economic competitiveness and security of the domestic supply chain” (15 U.S.C. § 4656(c)(1). |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETUS government to give $75 million to South Korean company for Georgia computer chip part factory Atlanta Journal-Constitution The federal government will spend $75 million to help build a factory making glass parts for computer chips in Covington, Georgia. The U.S. Department of Commerce announced the investment Thursday in Absolics, part of South Korea’s SK Group.
New semiconductor institute to oversee UK computer chip sector The Independent An independent institute to oversee national strategy on expanding the UK’s semiconductor industry is to be created, the Government has announced. The UK Semiconductor Institute will bring together the Government, university researchers and the private sector to oversee growth in the computer chip sector, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said. |
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CHINASouth China Morning Post Hong Kong lawmakers have approved HK$2.84 billion (US$364 million) in funding for the government to set up a research centre focused on developing semiconductors to boost strategic parts of the economy amid an escalating US-China tech war.
Top China chipmakers SMIC and CXMT push to scrap foreign inputs Nikkei Asia China’s top chipmakers are pushing hard to localize the supply of key chip materials and chemicals to counter U.S. export controls, sources with direct knowledge of these efforts told Nikkei Asia. |
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TRADELabour MPs discussed US/ UK Brexit trade deal with Trump allies The Independent Speculation is mounting that Labour is paving the way to open UK/ US trade talks with a Donald Trump administration if he wins back the White House just as Sir Keir Starmer enters Downing Street. The Independent has learnt that senior Labour MPs including shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock and shadow exports minister Tan Dhesi were guests at the rightwing Heritage Foundation in Washington DC this week.
Britain’s political turmoil upends promised trade deal with India South China Morning Post An ambitious trade deal between India and Britain is likely to be delayed until a general election is held to form a new UK government, observers say, amid political uncertainty after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suffered a string of defeats in local polls. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYThe tunable coupling of two distant superconducting spin qubits Phys.org
Using DNA origami, researchers create diamond lattice for future semiconductors of visible light Phys.org For research teams, the manufacture of artificial photonic crystals for visible light wavelengths has been a major challenge and motivation ever since they were predicted by theorists more than 35 years ago. “Photonic crystals have a versatile range of applications. They have been employed to develop more efficient solar cells, innovative optical waveguides, and materials for quantum communication. However, they have been very laborious to manufacture,” explains Dr. Gregor Posnjak. A Collaborative Force: Unveiling CXL’s Potential with Intel and UIUC |
SIA NEWSSIA Applauds CHIPS Act Incentives for Polar Semiconductor’s Manufacturing Operations in Minnesota Press Release “Today’s announcement will help Polar Semiconductor expand and innovate its production capabilities, enabling the company to better supply crucial U.S. industries like automotive, aerospace, defense, and medical devices. These incentives will continue to advance the critical priorities of the CHIPS and Science Act, bringing more semiconductor production, jobs, and innovation to U.S. shores. We commend Polar for its significant U.S.-based investments and applaud the U.S. Commerce Department for working to keep the CHIPS Act on track for success. We look forward to continuing to work with leaders in government and industry to ensure the CHIPS Act continues to reinvigorate U.S. chip manufacturing and research and development.” |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETBig Tech Companies Were Investors in Smaller AI Labs. Now They’re Rivals Time Amazon and Microsoft have, so far, stood slightly apart from the artificial intelligence arms race. While Google and Meta made developing their own AI models a top priority, Microsoft and Amazon have invested in smaller technology companies, in return receiving access to those companies’ AI models that they then incorporated into their products and services.
India’s Zoho plans $700 mln foray into chipmaking Reuters Indian software firm Zoho is planning a foray into chipmaking and seeking incentives from the federal government, two sources with direct knowledge of the proposal said, with one of them pegging the investment plan at $700 million.
South Korea prepares support package worth over $7 billion for chip industry Reuters South Korea is readying plans for a support package for chip investments and research worth more than 10 trillion won ($7.30 billion), the finance minister said on Sunday, after setting its sights on winning a “war” in the semiconductor industry. |
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CHINABiden sharply hikes US tariffs on an array of Chinese imports Reuters U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday unveiled steep tariff increases on an array of Chinese imports including electric vehicle (EV) batteries, computer chips and medical products, risking an election-year standoff with Beijing as he woos American voters who give his economic policies low marks.
China asks carmakers to use up to 25% local chips by 2025 Nikkei Asia China is urging the country’s top automakers to source up to a quarter of their chips locally by 2025 as the world’s biggest car market looks to build a competitive and self-reliant semiconductor supply chain amid escalating tensions with the U.S.
Chinese firms make headway in producing high bandwidth memory for AI chipsets Reuters Two Chinese chipmakers are in the early stages of producing high bandwidth memory (HBM) semiconductors used in artificial intelligence chipsets, according to sources and documents.
China-Gulf free trade talks stall on Saudi industrial agenda, sources say Reuters Negotiations between China and an Arab bloc for a free trade agreement have stalled over concerns by Saudi Arabia that cheap Chinese imports could undermine its ambitions to transform the kingdom into an industrial powerhouse, sources say. |
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TRADETaiwan is selling more to the US than China in major shift away from Beijing Associated Press Whether it’s tapioca balls or computer chips, Taiwan is stretching toward the United States and away from China — the world’s No. 2 economy that threatens to take the democratically ruled island by force if necessary.
India inks 10-year deal to operate Iran’s Chabahar port Reuters India signed a 10-year contract with Iran on Monday to develop and operate the Iranian port of Chabahar, the Narendra Modi-led government said, strengthening relations with a strategic Middle Eastern nation.
How Brexit (and Donald Trump) brought Britain and Japan together Politico Japan, on the very frontline of that struggle and nervous at America’s flirtations with isolationism — and in particular, the possible return of Donald Trump to the White House — has welcomed British overtures with open arms. Japan now has its own “free and open Indo-Pacific vision,” a formal strategy of coordinating with fellow democracies to keep neighboring autocrats in check. Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Secretary Maki Kobayashi said “the whole atmosphere” in the world, with anti-democratic leaders seeking to tip the balance of power in their favor, had driven Britain and Japan together. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYResearchers make a surprising discovery: Magnetism in a common material for microelectronics Phys.org Nickel monosilicide (NiSi) is widely used to connect transistors in semiconductor circuits. Earlier theoretical calculations had incorrectly predicted that NiSi was not magnetic. As a result, researchers had never fully explored magnetism in NiSi. Recently, however, scientists used neutron scattering to identify an elusive form of magnetic order in NiSi. The research is published in the journal Advanced Materials.
Physicists create optical component for 6G Phys.org A joint team of physicists from Skoltech, MIPT, and ITMO developed an optical component that helps manage the properties of a terahertz beam and split it into several channels. The new device can be used as a modulator and generator of terahertz vortex beams in medicine, 6G communications, and microscopy. The paper appears in the journal Advanced Optical Materials. |
SIA NEWSPress Release The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), in partnership with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), today released a report on the global chip supply chain that projects the United States will triple its domestic semiconductor manufacturing capacity from 2022—when the CHIPS and Science Act (CHIPS) was enacted—to 2032. The projected 203% growth is the largest projected percent increase in the world over that time.
Press Release “First-quarter global semiconductor sales were significantly higher than the total from the first quarter of last year, but sales slipped somewhat on a month-to-month and quarter-to-quarter basis, reflecting normal seasonal trends,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO. “The market is expected to continue to grow during the remainder of the year, with double-digit annual growth projected for 2024.” |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETBillions in Chips Grants Are Expected to Fuel Industry Growth, Report Finds New York Times (login required) The United States will triple its domestic chip manufacturing capacity by 2032, the largest increase in the world, according to a report released on Wednesday by the Semiconductor Industry Association and the Boston Consulting Group. As a result, America’s share of world chip manufacturing is expected to rise for the first time in decades, to 14 percent by 2032, up from about 10 percent today.
US to Triple Chipmaking Capacity by 2032, Industry Group Says Bloomberg (login required) “We’ve always said that the Chips Act was a strong first step, but we’re going to need more to get to the promised land,” SIA Chief Executive Officer John Neuffer said in an interview. “Our industry fully understands that we have an over-concentration of manufacturing in East Asia.”
The great American innovation engine is firing again Financial Times (login required) “The idea that 75 to 85 per cent of our chips were being made in east Asia was unsustainable,” John Neuffer, the president of the Semiconductor Industry Association, tells me. “We are spreading the peanut butter more broadly.” Chip lobby hands Washington its report card Politico (login required)
Yahoo Finance “It’s going to take us years to climb back,” John Neuffer, president and CEO of SIA, said to Yahoo Finance. “But with the CHIPS Act and with all these private sector investments, we absolutely turned the corner and are heading now in the right direction.”
U.S. to triple overall chip production by 2032, but still remain world’s fifth-largest supplier Tom’s Hardware The United States is on track to triple its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities by 2032, due to the CHIPS and Science Act, a new report released by the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) reveals. China will make just 2% of most advanced chips by 2032, report says Nikkei Asia (login required) The country could be producing 28% of chips below the 10-nanometer level by then, while China is expected to make only 2% of the most advanced chips, according to a report released Wednesday by the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
The U.S. will triple its chip manufacturing in less than a decade, report says Quartz The U.S. is expected to increase domestic semiconductor manufacturing capacity by 203% by 2032, a decade after the establishment of the CHIPS and Science Act, according to a new report from the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The projected rate of growth is “the largest projected percent increase in the world” over that time, according to the SIA. By comparison, the U.S.’s chip manufacturing capacity only grew 11% between 2012 and 2022, the report said — the smallest growth among major chip-producing regions.
John Neuffer highlights CHIPS Act’s positive impact on U.S. TVBS The U.S. government-backed CHIPS and Science Act aims to incentivize and attract more semiconductor manufacturers domestically. John Neuffer, CEO of the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), is optimistic about the act, noting “early returns of nearly half a trillion dollars in commitments by the private sector are in play.”
Biden admin to fund $285M in development of digital twin semiconductors The Hill The Biden administration will grant roughly $285 million in funding from the CHIPS for America Program for development and research of digital twins in the semiconductor industry, the Commerce Department and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced Monday.
Tata reportedly progressing rapidly in semiconductor manufacturing Digitimes Tata Electronics reportedly shipped packaged chip samples to potential customers in several countries. It is in the final stages of tape-out for chips in 28-65nm, indicating the progress the Indian national champion and front-runner in India’s chipmaking indigenization made since its chip ambition. |
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CHINAThe US-China Chip Contest Is Entering a New Phase Bloomberg The Chips and Science Act, backed by more than $100 billion in grants, loans and guarantees for semiconductor firms to build plants in America, unleashed an avalanche of investment that will help reverse a downward trend of domestic chip production, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association. But America isn’t alone in building out its chip capacity: China is constructing about 30 new facilities for parts of the supply chain, more than in the US, the Washington-based lobby group said Wednesday.
Exclusive: US eyes curbs on China’s access to AI software behind apps like ChatGPT Reuters The Biden administration is poised to open up a new front in its effort to safeguard U.S. AI from China and Russia with preliminary plans to place guardrails around the most advanced AI Models, the core software of artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT, sources said.
China and EU-candidate Serbia sign an agreement to build a ‘shared future’ Associated Press China and European Union candidate Serbia signed an agreement on Wednesday to build a “shared future,” making the Balkan country the first in Europe to agree on such a document with Beijing.
French and Chinese firms ink deals on sidelines of Xi’s Paris visit Reuters French and Chinese companies signed on Monday deals ranging from energy, finance and transport on the sidelines of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the French capital. |
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TRADEThe tariff fight that could swing the election Politico Since he ran for president in 2020, President Joe Biden and his team have promised to rethink the tariffs that his predecessor imposed on China. Now, after years of debate and delay, they may have little choice but to double down on Trump’s approach.
US overtakes China as Germany’s top trading partner Reuters The United States overtook China as Germany’s most important trading partner in the first quarter of this year, according to Reuters’ calculations based on official data from the German statistics office. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYNew super-pure silicon chip opens path to powerful quantum computers Phys.org Researchers at the Universities of Melbourne and Manchester have invented a breakthrough technique for manufacturing highly purified silicon that brings powerful quantum computers a big step closer. The new technique to engineer ultra-pure silicon makes it the perfect material to make quantum computers at scale and with high accuracy, the researchers say.
Experiment opens door for millions of qubits on one chip Phys.org Researchers from the University of Basel and the NCCR SPIN have achieved the first controllable interaction between two hole spin qubits in a conventional silicon transistor. The breakthrough opens up the possibility of integrating millions of these qubits on a single chip using mature manufacturing processes. |
SIA NEWSFueling U.S. Semiconductor Competitiveness: Open Markets Abroad Blog Post To maintain U.S. semiconductor leadership, the United States needs a robust trade policy to complement efforts to run faster here at home. That was the main message of public comments SIA submitted on April 22 in response to the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) request for information on how trade policy can strengthen U.S. supply chain resilience. |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETItaly Plans to Invest About €10 Billion in Chips, Minister Urso Says BNN Bloomberg The Italian government is planning to invest around €10 billion in the semiconductor industry throughout the year, news agency Ansa reported, citing Industry Minister Adolfo Urso. Economic Times In a serious attempt to make up for lost time in semiconductor manufacturing, the Indian government has started working on a huge new package over and above the Rs 76,000-crore incentives already given out, ToI reported on April 29. South China Morning Post Microsoft will invest US$2.2 billion in Malaysia to develop cloud technology and artificial intelligence, in the company’s biggest investment in the country unveiled on Thursday by the chief executive of the world’s largest company during his whirlwind tour of Southeast Asia. |
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CHINAChina passes tariff law amid tensions with trading partners Reuters China passed a law on Friday strengthening its trade defence capabilities as the United States and the European Union take aim at Beijing over excess industrial capacity. The Tariff Law, approved by China’s top legislature after three rounds of deliberations going back to 2022, signals to China’s biggest trade partners its ability to hit back should they impose tariffs on exports of the world’s No.2 economy. South China Morning Post King Yuan Electronics Co, one of the world’s largest chip testing and packaging services firms, has divested its entire stake in a Suzhou subsidiary. ‘The board of directors has made a decision to withdraw from [mainland] China’s semiconductor manufacturing business,’ KYEC said. U.S. ‘firm’ steps in when China is seen as a bully, not a partner Bloomberg (Syndicated by the Japan Times) A key outcome from that episode was the creation of a team inside the U.S. State Department to help when Beijing responds to political disputes with economic and trade weapons — what the U.S. and its allies call economic coercion. Demand for that help has been strong, according to the U.S. official in charge of the program. |
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TRADESouth Korea discusses joining part of AUKUS pact with US, UK and Australia Reuters South Korea has held talks about joining part of the AUKUS defence deal between the U.S., Britain and Australia, Defence Minister Shin Won-sik said on Wednesday, only weeks after the pact said it would consider including Japan. US, Taiwan to resume trade talks in Taipei starting on Monday Reuters The U.S. and Taiwan will hold another round of negotiations toward their “21st Century” trade agreement starting on Monday in Taipei, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office said on Friday. The talks, led by USTR and the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States, are expected to discuss more complicated areas in their negotiating mandate that were not already agreed on previous negotiating rounds, including agriculture, labor, digital trade, environment, and state-owned enterprises. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYGood vibrations: Low-energy lasers induce atomic excitation in semiconductor materials Phys.org Semiconductors are a cornerstone of next-generation technology, so a new method to excite atoms in semiconductor materials is likely to excite a broad range of researchers and industries as well. By leveraging intense and broad-band ultrafast terahertz pulses, scientists from Yokohama National University and their colleagues at the California Institute of Technology have demonstrated atomic excitation in a two-dimensional semiconductor material, advancing the development of electronic devices. Semiconductor substrate behaves ‘like the tail wagging the dog’, say scientists Physics World The substrates on which semiconductor chip are grown usually get ignored, but they may be more important than we think. This is the finding of researchers in the US and Germany, who used high-energy X-rays to study titanium dioxide – a common substrate for insulator-to-metal semiconductors. The discovery that this material is far more than just a passive platform could help scientists develop next-generation electronics. |
SIA NEWSSIA Commends CHIPS Act Incentives for Micron’s Manufacturing Projects in New York and Idaho Press Release The significant semiconductor manufacturing incentives announced today will help boost domestic semiconductor production and innovation, create jobs, make U.S. supply chains more resilient, and bolster America’s economic and national security. We salute Micron for its ambitious investments in the U.S. and applaud the Commerce Department for the tremendous progress made in advancing the CHIPS Act’s landmark manufacturing incentives and R&D investments. We look forward to continuing to work with government and industry leaders to ensure the CHIPS Act remains on course to expeditiously strengthen U.S. chip production, supply chain resilience, and innovation. |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETMalaysia plans Southeast Asia’s largest integrated circuit design park Reuters Malaysia plans to build Southeast Asia’s largest integrated circuit design park and will offer incentives including tax breaks, subsidies and visa exemption fees to attract global tech companies and investors, the government said on Monday.
Emphasise domestic IP, photomask subsidy for semiconductors: ICEA The Hindu Semiconductor design initiatives have to be encouraged with improved domestic fundraising opportunities and incentives for using domestically registered intellectual property (IP), the India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA) said in a report released Thursday. As China’s semiconductor industry faces hesitant investors due to geopolitical tensions, the report says, India must seize the strategic opportunity that semiconductors present.
Google, Others Sign Pledge to Increase Energy Efficiency of US Semiconductor Sector Executive Gov The Department of Energy has named new organizations that have committed to advancing the energy efficiency of the U.S. semiconductor industry to increase economic competitiveness and strengthen domestic supply chains. |
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CHINAUS is reviewing risks of China’s use of RISC-V chip technology Reuters The U.S. Department of Commerce is reviewing the national security implications of China’s work in open-source RISC-V chip technology, according to a letter sent to U.S. lawmakers. RISC-V, pronounced “risk five,” competes with proprietary technology from British semiconductor and software design company Arm Holdings. It can be used as a key part of anything from a smartphone chip to advanced processors for artificial intelligence.
China moves to boost foreign investment in domestic tech companies Reuters China published measures on Friday aimed at promoting overseas investment in its technology sector, in a latest bid to attract foreign investors amid signs some are considering shifting away from the world’s second-largest economy.
Japan is poised to fill an EV gap left by China The Japan Times Now is a good time for established Japanese car companies to seize the opportunity to expand in North America to meet electric-vehicle demand. |
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TRADEJoe Biden won’t do a trade deal with Britain, says Liz Truss Politico A comprehensive deal with the U.S. was held up as a key benefit of Brexit, but has proven elusive under two presidents and a succession of British prime ministers — including Truss, who took a fresh swipe at the incumbent U.S. president Monday. Truss told the Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington D.C.: “There will not be a U.S.-U.K. trade deal under Joe Biden. That is absolutely clear.” Trump 2.0: How US allies are preparing for a second term Reuters Germany is waging a charm offensive inside the Republican Party. Japan is lining up its own Trump whisperer. Mexican government officials are talking to Camp Trump. And Australia is busy making laws to help Trump-proof its U.S. defense ties.
Tiny piece of technology emerges as a source of U.S. tensions with China, Russia CBS News Semiconductors have emerged as a key battleground between the U.S. and Russia and the growing Cold War between the U.S. and China. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYBioelectronic chip detects vitamins C and D in saliva in under 20 minutes Phys.org Researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil have developed a bioelectronic chip that simultaneously detects vitamins C and D in body fluids. It is flexible and easy to see and can be adapted for use in a wearable device to assist with a personalized diet. Details are described in an article published in ACS Applied Nano Materials.
Study shows ultra-thin two-dimensional materials can rotate the polarization of visible light Phys.org In a recent study, German and Indian physicists have shown that ultra-thin two-dimensional materials such as tungsten diselenide can rotate the polarization of visible light by several degrees at certain wavelengths under small magnetic fields suitable for use on chips. The scientists from the University of Münster, Germany, and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Pune, India, have published their findings in the journal Nature Communications.
Chinese Scientists Report New Quantum Light Source Is A Step Toward More Efficient Quantum Chips The Quantum Insider Researchers in China have recently reported on the development of a quantum light source using a common semiconductor that they say marks an important advance towards constructing a functional quantum chip. According to the South China Morning Post, the team used gallium nitride (GaN), a material traditionally employed in blue light-emitting diodes, to create what could be a critical component for quantum computation. |
SIA NEWSAaron Woolf, Dylan Peterson Join SIA Team Press Release The semiconductor industry is leading the charge toward greater innovation and productivity across the globe, and sound government policies are essential to promoting the continued strength of our sector,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO. “With extensive experience convening key actors in industry and government to solve pressing policy challenges, Aaron Woolf will be an outstanding advocate for the semiconductor industry’s global policy and economic security priorities. With a strong background at the intersection of communications and public policy, Dylan Peterson will play a valuable role in helping to get our message out to government leaders and the public. We are pleased to welcome them to the SIA team and look forward to their contributions on behalf of our industry.
SIA Applauds CHIPS Act Incentives for Samsung Manufacturing Projects in Texas Prese Release Today’s announcement will help Samsung bring more semiconductor production, innovation, and jobs to U.S. shores, reinforcing America’s economy, competitiveness, and critical chip supply chains. We applaud Samsung for investing boldly in U.S.-based manufacturing and salute the U.S. Commerce Department for making significant headway in implementing the CHIPS Act’s manufacturing incentives and R&D programs. We look forward to continuing to work with leaders in government and industry to ensure the CHIPS Act remains on track to help reinvigorate U.S. chip manufacturing and research for many years to come. |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETFuture Semiconductor Workforce: SIA’s Detailed Policy Guide ElecroPages In response to the looming workforce challenge, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has crafted a Workforce Policy Blueprint, a strategic document aimed at guiding policymakers on how to nurture and expand the semiconductor workforce effectively.
How UT and Austin Community College are helping tackle semiconductor workforce needs Austin American-Statesman By 2030, the nation’s semiconductor workforce is projected to grow by 115,000 jobs, according to a July 2023 study by economic research consulting group Oxford Economics. It estimated that 58% of new jobs won’t be filled if degree completion rates stay the same — including technicians, computer scientists and engineers.
South China Morning Post A Taiwanese business leader with a strong background in the semiconductor industry will become the island’s next economic affairs minister, in which role he is expected to continue the strategy of reducing economic reliance on the Chinese mainland. |
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CHINAChina’s semiconductor output jumps 40% in first quarter amid growing dominance in legacy chips South China Morning Post China’s total integrated circuit (IC) output surged 40 per cent to 98.1 billion units in the first quarter, a sign that the country is expanding its production of older-generation chips while being constrained by US trade restrictions on advanced chip-making equipment.
Tech war: China pushes forward self-reliance campaign amid unrelenting US sanctions South China Morning Post China is making steady progress in developing home-grown chips and operating systems to reduce its reliance on foreign technologies amid US sanctions, according to local industry experts.
Malaysia is unfazed by China, U.S. semiconductor competition, minister says NBC Philadelphia Malaysia appears to be benefitting from U.S.-China trade tensions, which has prompted companies to diversify their semiconductor operations. The country is now focused on shifting away from the back end of the chip supply chain production and moving up the value chain. |
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TRADEUS trade chief Tai says taking ‘serious look’ at tools to deal with China Reuters U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai will tell lawmakers on Tuesday that the Biden administration is “taking a serious look” at U.S. trade defense tools to deal with threats posed by China’s trade and economic policies, including a review of Trump-era tariffs on Chinese imports.
US and EU eye new sanctions on Iran after attack on Israel BBC The United States and the European Union say they are looking at imposing further sanctions on Iran, after its attack on Israel at the weekend. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she expected to take action “in the coming days”, while EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc was working on it.
US, Japan, South Korea Finance Chiefs to Meet In Security Push Bloomberg The US, Japan and South Korea will hold the first meeting of financial chiefs on Wednesday in Washington, part of the coordinated efforts among the three allies to counter geopolitical and economic security threats. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYScientists Discover “Surprising” Hidden Activity of Semiconductor Material SciTechDaily New research indicates that materials traditionally ignored in the design of computer chips are crucial for processing information. This breakthrough could pave the way for quicker and more efficient electronics. Using advanced imaging techniques, an international team led by Penn State researchers found that the material that a semiconductor chip device is built on, called the substrate, responds to changes in electricity much like the semiconductor on top of it.
Development of organic semiconductors featuring ultrafast electrons Phys.Org Scientists have created conducting two-dimensional polymers exhibiting electron mobility comparable to graphene. Their research has been featured in the online edition of Chem. |
SIA NEWSSIA Releases Policy Blueprint to Build the Future Semiconductor Workforce Blog Post As America grows its domestic semiconductor ecosystem and reinforces its global technological leadership, a highly skilled workforce will ultimately determine our ability to compete and to fulfill the goals set by Congress and the Administration in the CHIPS and Science Act. Unfortunately, the U.S. faces a shortfall in the supply of skilled workers that the semiconductor industry and the broader economy will need over the next decade. SIA’s new Workforce Policy Blueprint, released today, addresses this challenge head on by proposing actionable legislative recommendations for policymakers that would help ensure the American semiconductor workforce is the best educated and trained in the world.
SIA Applauds CHIPS Act Incentives for TSMC’s Advanced Manufacturing Operations in Arizona Press Release “Today’s TSMC announcement is a big win for America’s economy, supply chain resilience, and the advanced chip manufacturing ecosystem. The new TSMC facilities—sparked by the CHIPS and Science Act—will spur job creation and economic growth in Arizona while also broadening the state’s already substantial semiconductor footprint. We commend TSMC for its ambitious investments in the U.S. and applaud the Commerce Department for continuing to make progress in implementing the CHIPS Act’s landmark manufacturing incentives and R&D investments. CHIPS remains on track for great success, and we look forward to continuing to work with leaders in government and industry to ensure it delivers maximum benefits to America’s economic and technological leadership.” |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETJapan outspends U.S., Germany on chip subsidies as share of GDP Nikkei Asia Japan is proportionately spending more heavily to support its semiconductor sector than the U.S. and other major Western nations are on theirs, data presented at a key government panel here Tuesday shows.
Japan seeks investment in AI, semiconductors from American companies CNN Once seen as America’s greatest economic challenger, Japan is now looking to team up with the world’s biggest economy by appealing directly to US executives to invest in the Asian country’s emerging tech sectors including artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors and clean energy. |
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CHINAVisits from Japanese and Filipino leaders highlight Biden’s efforts to blunt China’s aggression CNN “There’s a loose collaboration on the supply chains,” said John Neuffer, president of the Semiconductor Industry Association. “But there’s really, in the last couple years, been a stepped-up effort on export controls.”
US, EU eye Chinese legacy chips in renewed semiconductor accord Reuters The United States and the European Union committed to extend by three years their cooperation on identifying disruptions in the semiconductor sector, with a particular emphasis on mainstream “legacy” chips from China.
China central bank to set up $70 billion tech re-lending programme Reuters China’s central bank will set up a 500 billion yuan ($70 billion) re-lending programme to support the country’s science and technology sectors, according to a statement released on Sunday. |
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TRADEUK trade deal would be a ‘priority’ for Trump’s second term, claims ex-adviser Politico Once coveted as the biggest post-Brexit prize, a U.K.-U.S. trade deal has eluded Joe Biden, Donald Trump — and multiple British prime ministers. Yet if Trump wins a second term this fall, securing the vaunted deal will be “a priority” for his administration, Robert Greenway — former deputy assistant to the president on Trump’s National Security Council — tells POLITICO’s Power Play podcast.
Europe’s Share of Global Exports Is Shrinking Bloomberg Economic security and trade competitiveness are emerging as the European Union’s top priorities for policymakers after elections in June across the 27-nation bloc.
Biden’s Trade Moves Raise Tensions Abroad but Draw Cheers in Swing States NYT President Biden has intensified efforts to shield American industries from foreign competition in an election year, as he courts blue-collar workers and attempts to avoid being outflanked on trade by his Republican rival, former President Donald J. Trump. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYDefect removal of 2D semiconductor crystals: Trapping oxygen molecules offers greater control Phys.org A study of oxygen molecules interacting with atomically thin layers of materials being developed as new generations of semiconductors could significantly improve control over the fabrication and applications of these two-dimensional (2D) materials.
Giant Faraday rotation in atomically thin semiconductors Nature Faraday rotation is a fundamental effect in the magneto-optical response of solids, liquids and gases. Materials with a large Verdet constant find applications in optical modulators, sensors and non-reciprocal devices, such as optical isolators.
Better Biosensors Just Need a Touch of Cheap Plastic IEEE Spectrum Organic semiconductors are versatile materials used in many flexible displays and sensors. The materials, which are typically made of conducting carbon-based polymers, can bend and fold, but they tend to degrade quickly compared to traditional electronics. |
INDUSTRY/MARKETEarly STEM Education Key To Growing Future Chip Workforce Semiconductor Engineering A key factor in building a domestic workforce for the chip industry is attracting kids to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects at a younger age. That way they are more likely to follow through and attain the skills and degrees needed to enter the semiconductor job market.
How We’ll Reach a 1 Trillion Transistor GPU > Advances in semiconductors are feeding the AI boom IEEE Spectrum In 1997 the IBM Deep Blue supercomputer defeated world chess champion Garry Kasparov. It was a groundbreaking demonstration of supercomputer technology and a first glimpse into how high-performance computing might one day overtake human-level intelligence. In the 10 years that followed, we began to use artificial intelligence for many practical tasks, such as facial recognition, language translation, and recommending movies and merchandise. |
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CHINASCMP Shanghai, mainland China’s commercial and financial hub, plans to set up a 100 billion yuan (US$13.8 billion) fund of funds focusing on key technology sectors to fire up the local economy, which is lagging behind the rest of the country.
US urges allies to bar firms from servicing key chipmaking tools for China Reuters The United States is asking allies to stop domestic companies from servicing certain chipmaking tools for Chinese customers, a U.S. commerce department official said on Wednesday, as it ramps up efforts to hobble China’s chipmaking capabilities. |
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TRADEWith Right Policies, India can Expand Role in Global Semiconductor Value Chains EE Times India “This is an exciting moment in history for the semiconductor industry and for strategic cooperation between the U.S. and India,” said John Neuffer, SIA President and CEO. “India is already an important link in the global semiconductor supply chain and has the opportunity to expand its role in our sector. While global competition for semiconductor investment is fierce, India’s value proposition is strong, and I’m confident it can grow even stronger with the right mix of government policies.”
US, Mexico to partner on semiconductor supply chain development Reuters The United States will partner with Mexico to explore semiconductor supply chain opportunities, the State Department said on Thursday, as the Biden administration pushes to reduce reliance on China and Taiwan for the technology. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYScientists develop ultra-thin semiconductor fibers that turn fabrics into wearable electronics Phys.Org To create reliably functioning semiconductor fibers, they must be flexible and without defects for stable signal transmission. However, existing manufacturing methods cause stress and instability, leading to cracks and deformities in the semiconductor cores, negatively impacting their performance and limiting their development.
Atomic-scale semiconductor process technology and clean hydrogen technology join hands Phys.Org Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are widely used for energy storage, transportation, and various applications, employing solid electrolytes such as ceramics. The efficiency of these cells relies on the performance and stability of their electrodes. |
SIA NEWSSIA Applauds CHIPS Act Incentives for Intel Projects Press Release The CHIPS and Science Act incentives announced today will create jobs, boost U.S. and local economies, and make America stronger, safer, and more technologically advanced. CHIPS was enacted to incentivize companies in the semiconductor ecosystem to build, grow, hire, and innovate in the U.S., and that’s exactly what they’re doing. We congratulate Intel for investing boldly in these projects and applaud the Commerce Department for working diligently to advance the CHIPS Act’s manufacturing incentives and R&D investments. SIA looks forward to continuing to work with leaders in Washington to ensure this historic initiative is implemented successfully and expeditiously, which will help strengthen U.S. chip production, innovation, and supply chain resilience well into the future.
AI, Auto, Industrial Markets Spurred Rebound in Chip Demand During Second Half of 2023 SIA Blog Semiconductors are the key enabling technology that helps promote innovation in a broad range of products across virtually all segments of our economy. After reaching a record total of $574.1 billion in chip sales in 2022, the chip industry experienced an 8.2% decline in global revenue to $526.9 billion in 2023 due to normal market cyclicality. By the second half of last year, however, the industry experienced consistent month-to-month and year-to-year increases in sales, signaling the start of the current cycle. |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETIntel clinches nearly $20 billion in awards from Biden to boost US chip output Reuters The CHIPS Act’s goal is to reduce reliance on China and Taiwan, as the share of global semiconductor manufacturing capacity in the U.S. has fallen from 37% in 1990 to 12% in 2020, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association.
Automotive industry set to propel semiconductor demand, says SIA The Edge Malaysia The automotive industry will continue to be an important sector propelling semiconductor demand through the decade, according to the US-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).
The Global Effort to Make an American Microchip NYT One 2020 study by the Boston Consulting Group and the Semiconductor Industry Association estimated that an infusion of $50 billion would increase the American share of manufacturing to 13 or 14 percent by 2030, helping the United States to hold on to at least a portion of the global market. Without the funding, the U.S. share would fall to 10 percent, the study said.
Governor Names Inaugural Members of Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium Committee at UTD Dallas Innovates The inaugural members of the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium Executive Committee have been named by Gov. Greg Abbott at an announcement event at the University of Texas at Dallas. |
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CHINAChina’s SMIC may have violated US export curbs to make Huawei chip, official says Reuters The Biden administration said China’s top chipmaker SMIC (0981.HK), opens new tab might have violated U.S. export rules to produce a chip to power Huawei’s Mate 60 Pro phone, but is still evaluating the situation, a senior Commerce Department official stated during a congressional hearing on Thursday.
China chip expo shows investment buildup amid plans for huge new fund Nikkei Asia China is expanding semiconductor supply chain investments to sustain double-digit growth in homegrown chip production capacity, focusing on mature technology while eyeing a massive new national fund to support further advances.
At major China chip fair, firms ramp up call to buy domestic Reuters Chinese semiconductor-related companies pulled out all the stops at one of the country’s largest chip-sector fairs this week to pitch domestic buying, echoing Beijing’s call to galvanize support for an industry facing growing geopolitical strains. |
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TRADEUK-India trade deal talks put on ice until end of spring Financial Times Talks on a UK-India trade deal, originally scheduled to conclude before Diwali in October 2022, have been put on ice until after India’s general election later this spring following the failed final efforts to find a breakthrough. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYSpectroscopy and theory shed light on excitons in semiconductors Phsy.org From solar panels on our roofs to the new OLED TV screens, many everyday electronic devices simply wouldn’t work without the interaction between light and the materials that make up semiconductors. A new category of semiconductors is based on organic molecules, which largely consist of carbon, such as buckminsterfullerene.
Neuralink’s Brain Chip Is Running in a Human. Your Skull Is Safe, for Now CNET Back in January, the Elon Musk-led Neuralink implanted its brain chip, named Telepathy, in a human for the first time. It was an early stage of a six-year study and just one step on a very long path to making the technology safe and useful.
Squeezing Ultra-Precise Optical Timing Onto a Chip IEEE Spectrum Exquisite timing is essential to many important technologies, including GPS navigation and radar. Optical approaches provide the most precise and stable timing signals, but they require bulky equipment that makes them impractical in many situations. |
INDUSTRY/MARKETTo lead on AI, US needs to lead on computer chips, commerce secretary says ABC News Artificial Intelligence will be the “defining technology of our generation,” when it comes to the future of technology, but specifically the advancement of semiconductors in the United States, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Monday.
Chips firms seek double $28 bln US subsidies available, Commerce Dept says Reuters U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on Monday most chips companies seeking government subsidies will get significantly less than they have sought, since the government received requests for more than double the $28 billion it plans to award.
India gives green light to chip plants worth $15.2 bln Reuters India gave the go-ahead to construction of three semiconductor plants worth 1.26 trillion rupees ($15.2 billion) by firms including Tata Group and CG Power on Thursday, as the country pursues its goal of becoming an electronics powerhouse.
Hyundai launches initiative to enhance domestic semiconductor production DigiTimes Asia Hyundai Motor initiated a plan to boost its domestic semiconductor production and reduce its reliance on imported semiconductors, targeting over 90% of its vehicle requirements. |
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CHINAChina’s Rush to Dominate A.I. Comes With a Twist: It Depends on U.S. Technology NYT The Chinese firm, 01.AI, was only eight months old but had deep-pocketed backers and a $1 billion valuation and was founded by a well-known investor and technologist, Kai-Fu Lee. In interviews, Mr. Lee presented his A.I. system as an alternative to options like Meta’s generative A.I. model, called LLaMA. There was just one twist: Some of the technology in 01.AI’s system came from LLaMA. Mr. Lee’s start-up then built on Meta’s technology, training its system with new data to make it more powerful.
China to increase protections against hacking for key industries Reuters China’s ministry of industry and information technology (MIIT) unveiled a plan on Monday that aims to improve data security in China’s industrial sector and effectively contain “major risks” by the end of 2026.
US, allies set out 6G principles as tech rivalry with China heats up SCMP The United States and nine other nations have backed a set of principles to advance 6G technology, as the race heats up with China to develop the next-generation wireless networks. |
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WORKFORCEDutch seek to lure South Korean semiconductor talent with university programme Reuters A group of 60 top students from South Korean technical universities on Friday completed the first “Future Chips Academy” in Eindhoven, intended in part to help attract much-needed foreign semiconductor engineering talent.
Cloud companies recruiting semiconductor talent; increased opportunities for India and Taiwan DigitTimes Asia In recent years, major US-based cloud companies have initiated projects to develop chips in-house. Besides outsourcing to external IC design houses, internal demand for semiconductor talent is also increasing. Many related job openings have been posted for their headquarters, in India, and Taiwan. India has become a recruiting hotspot for Microsoft, Google, and Meta. |
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TRADEWTO talks deadline extended again with talks deadlocked Reuters Negotiations at the World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting in Abu Dhabi on Thursday were extended for another day, with the WTO saying the closing session had been delayed, and no immediate sign of breakthroughs in talks to set new global commerce rules.
US trade chief: ‘Complex trade-offs’ needed at WTO talks Reuters U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said on Friday breakthroughs were still possible in overnight negotiations at the World Trade Organization, but “complex trade-offs” would be needed even for less difficult topics such as fishing.
The EU’s trade deal with Latin America hangs by a thread. Here’s how to save it. Politico The European Union and the South American bloc of Mercosur countries have been discussing one of the world’s largest trade deals since 1999 — yet negotiators continue to insist that success is just around the corner. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGY2.5D Integration: Big Chip Or Small PCB? Semiconductor Engineering Defining whether a 2.5D device is a printed circuit board shrunk down to fit into a package, or is a chip that extends beyond the limits of a single die, may seem like hair-splitting semantics, but it can have significant consequences for the overall success of a design.
Thinking Big: From Chips To Systems Semiconductor Engineering Semiconductor Engineering sat down with Aart de Geus, executive chair and founder of Synopsys, to talk about the shift from chips to systems, next-generation transistors, and what’s required to build multi-die devices in the context of rapid change and other systems. |
INDUSTRY/MARKETOne Reason the U.S. Can’t Quit China? Chips. NYT John Neuffer, the president of the Semiconductor Industry Association, which represents the chip industry, said in a statement that the ongoing escalation of controls posed a significant risk to the global competitiveness of the U.S. industry. “China is the world’s largest market for semiconductors, and our companies simply need to do business there to continue to grow, innovate and stay ahead of global competitors,” he said. “We urge solutions that protect national security, avoid inadvertent and lasting damage to the chip industry, and avert future escalations.”
Electronics Weekly “Despite continuing market sluggishness compared to 2022, month-to-month global semiconductor sales inched upward in May for the third consecutive month, sparking optimism for a possible market rebound during the second half of the year,” says SIA CEO John Neuffer.
European growth leads a turn in the global chip market EE News Europe The latest figures from the from the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) report that the global chip market was worth US$40.74 billion in May on a three-month averaged basis, down 21.1 percent on the US$51.65 billion it was worth a year before.
Governments Begin To Shape Metrology Directions Semiconductor Engineering Over the past two decades, the U.S. share of worldwide semiconductor manufacturing declined to 12%, a substantial decrease from the 37% share the country held in 1990, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). |
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CHINAChina’s Huawei poised to overcome US ban with return of 5G phones, research firms say Reuters China’s Huawei Technologies is plotting a return to the 5G smartphone industry by the end of this year, according to research firms, signaling a comeback after a U.S. ban on equipment sales decimated its consumer electronics business.
China’s chip imports slump in first half as US sanctions and ongoing tech war take a toll on trade South China Morning Post China’s imports of integrated circuits (ICs) slumped 18.5 per cent in the first six months of 2023 from a year earlier by volume, according to newly released customs data, at a time when the US and its allies are continuing to restrict China’s access to advanced chips and technologies.
China’s semiconductor talent supply faces structural imbalance DigiTimes Asia As the global semiconductor industry faces a shortage of talent, latest survey has exposed an even more pronounced talent shortage in China’s semiconductor manufacturing sector. |
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TRADEU.S. should reach minerals deal with EU this year, U.S. official says Reuters The United States is “well positioned” to reach a deal with the European Union before the end of 2023 to allow critical minerals mined or processed in Europe to qualify for U.S. clean vehicle tax breaks, a senior U.S. treasury official said on Monday. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYNew material could hold key to reducing energy consumption in computers and electronics Science Daily A University of Minnesota Twin Cities team has, for the first time, synthesized a thin film of a unique topological semimetal material that has the potential to generate more computing power and memory storage while using significantly less energy.
Semiconductor Engineering With the fast growth of the number of electronic devices on the internet of things (IoT), hardware-based security primitives such as physically unclonable functions (PUFs) have emerged to overcome the shortcomings of conventional software-based cryptographic technology. |
SIA NEWSGlobal Semiconductor Sales Increase 1.7% Month-to-Month in May Press Release “Despite continuing market sluggishness compared to 2022, month-to-month global semiconductor sales inched upward in May for the third consecutive month, sparking optimism for a possible market rebound during the second half of the year,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO. |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETIndia aims to produce first semiconductors within 18 months Financial Times India will break ground on its first semiconductor assembly plant next month and begin producing the country’s first domestically manufactured microchips by the end of 2024, according to a senior government official who is overseeing New Delhi’s $10bn chipmaking foray.
Japan arms itself for global chip wars with $6.4bn state-backed deal Financial Times JSR, the Tokyo-based company that controls a critical link in the global semiconductor supply chain, will use a $6.4bn government-backed take-private deal to strengthen Japan’s arsenal in the US-China chip wars. |
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CHINAUS set to restrict China’s access to cloud computing, Wall Street Journal reports Reuters The new rule, if adopted, would likely require U.S. cloud-service providers such as Amazon (AMZN.O) and Microsoft (MSFT.O) to seek U.S. government permission before they provide cloud-computing services that use advanced artificial-intelligence chips to Chinese customers, the newspaper said.
China hits out at US ‘coercion’ after Dutch move to curb chip gear exports South China Morning Post Beijing has accused Washington of coercing other countries to curb semiconductor supplies to China after the Netherlands announced new restrictions on exports of some chip-making equipment.
China chipmakers line up $8bn via IPOs in comeback from U.S. curbs Nikkei Asia Chinese semiconductor manufacturers expect to raise over $8 billion from stock market listings so far this year, looking to expand output capacity to bounce back from a market downturn and U.S. export curbs.
China imposes export controls on rare minerals used to make semiconductor chips The Hill The Chinese government on Monday announced new limits on the exportation of two rare metals necessary for the production of semiconductors and electric vehicles. |
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TRADEChina, EU & USMCA all on tap Politico Until just a few years ago, China was easily the largest U.S. trading partner, at least where individual countries were concerned. But it’s fallen to third place behind Mexico and Canada, as the result of the increased trade friction that began in the Trump administration and prompted companies to diversify their supply chains.
EU, Japan Sign MOU on Semiconductors EE Times Europe European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton and Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura signed today (July 4) a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on semiconductors.
UK-US: What’s happened to their free trade deal? DW US President Joe Biden’s upcoming European trip, where he will be popping in to see UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, will no doubt reinforce the optics of the “special relationship,” but simultaneously conceal the underlying fact that London needs Washington far more than vice versa. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYCutting edge transistors for semiconductors of the future Science Daily Transistors that can change properties are important elements in the development of tomorrow’s semiconductors. With standard transistors approaching the limit for how small they can be, having more functions on the same number of units becomes increasingly important in enabling the development of small, energy-efficient circuits for improved memory and more powerful computers.
Phys.Org The fast switching and modulation of light is at the heart, among other things, of modern data transfer, in which information is sent through fiber optic cables in the shape of modulated light beams. It has been possible for several years now to miniaturize light modulators and to integrate them into chips, but the light sources themselves—light emitting diodes (LEDs) or lasers—still pose problems to engineers.
Improved Thermal Conductivity in Semiconductors: Heat Transfer Using Surface Plasmon Polaritons SciTechDaily Engineers have made a significant breakthrough in thermal management of semiconductors by discovering a new heat transfer mode using surface plasmon polaritons (SPP). This novel method enhances heat dispersion by 25% and could be vital in addressing overheating issues in miniaturized semiconductor devices. |
SIA NEWSNew Assessment Identifies Opportunities for Strengthening India’s Role in Semiconductor Ecosystem Blog Post SIA has long supported efforts to strengthen U.S.-India collaboration in the semiconductor supply chain. A new initial assessment—commissioned by SIA and the India Electronics Semiconductor Association (IESA) and authored by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF)—finds that India brings significant strengths to the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem.
SIA Welcomes Progress Toward Selection of National Semiconductor Technology Center Leadership Press Release “Today’s announcement marks good progress toward standing up the National Semiconductor Technology Center, a centerpiece of the historic CHIPS and Science Act enacted last year to reinvigorate domestic chip production and innovation. The selection committee members’ deep and varied experience makes them well-positioned to appoint a strong board of trustees that will ensure effective and efficient NSTC implementation. We look forward to working with the NSTC selection committee, the eventual board of trustees, and Secretary Raimondo and other leaders in the Commerce Department to ensure the CHIPS and Science Act provides maximum return on investment for America’s economy, national security, and supply chain resilience.” |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETOhio State University preparing students to fill shortage in semiconductor workforce Fox Business Across the country, manufacturers have already announced plans for new semiconductor infrastructure projects that could be partially funded with CHIPS Act subsidies. More than 50 new projects have been announced since the act was introduced, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association.
Board of Trustees for the National Semiconductor Technology Center selected Gas World According to the US Semiconductor Ecosystem Map, released by the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) in March (2023), over $210bn of new private investments have been announced across 19 states since spring 2020.
A.I. could ‘remove all human touchpoints’ in supply chains. Here’s what that means CNBC Artificial intelligence is likely to shake up the transportation industry — transforming how supply chains are managed and reducing the number of jobs carried out by people, according to analysts and industry insiders. |
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CHINAU.S.-China tech battle entering its ‘primetime’ — and generative A.I. could be the next frontier CNBC
China’s Cloud Computing Firms Raise Concern for U.S. NYT In the digital cold war between the United States and China, American officials are increasingly turning their attention to a new target: Chinese cloud computing giants.
South China Morning Post China has been pushing for membership in a high-level Asia-Pacific trade and investment pact and will step up efforts to attract foreign investment, according to the country’s top trade negotiator. |
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TRADEUS-India: Major critical technology collaborations for the future Financial Express In the overall scope of semiconductor industry, the U.S. Semiconductor Industry Association and India Electronics Semiconductor Association released an interim readiness assessment to identify near-term industry opportunities and facilitate the long-term strategic development of complementary semiconductor ecosystems.
US House approves Taiwan trade deal Taipei Times The US House of Representatives on Wednesday approved the first agreement under the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade, sending it to the US Senate where it is expected to be ratified.
U.S.-India relations enter a new chapter and could unlock even more tech and defense deals CNBC U.S.-India relations entered a new chapter as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden announced a slew of technology and defense deals.
US to push India to join Indo-Pacific Economic Framework trade pillar CNBC Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to hold talks with US President Joe Biden on improving trade ties, deepening tech and defence cooperation as well as on the future of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYBetter Choreography Required For Complex Chips Semiconductor Engineering The rapidly growing number of features and options in chip design are forcing engineering teams to ratchet up their planning around who does what, when it gets done, and how various components will interact.
Large-scale plasma etching technology for mass production of next-generation 2D semiconductors Tech Xplore A large-scale (4-inch), highly uniform, and defect-free plasma etching technology, which will likely become the foundation of the industrial supply of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), a next-generation two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor, has been developed.
Semiconductor Lasers Hit Steel-Slicing Levels IEEE Spectrum Semiconductor lasers, unlike bulky gas lasers and fiber lasers, are tiny, energy efficient, and highly controllable. The one thing they can’t do is deliver their competitor’s steel-slicing brightness. |
INDUSTRY/MARKETHow chip makers can get $24 billion in new US tax credits Yahoo Finance The US has fallen behind places like Taiwan in recent decades, especially in the making of the most advanced chips. A recent report from the Semiconductor Industry Association found that 0% of the world’s most advanced logic semiconductors were manufactured in the US in 2019.
With $1.4 billion investment, Texas hopes to sprint to the front of the microchip manufacturing race The Texas Tribune Semiconductor companies have already promised $215 billion in investments and the creation of 40,000 jobs across the country in response to the federal CHIPS Act, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association. Sixty billion of these investments will land in Texas, where six projects that will create 8,000 jobs in the sector have already been announced. Texas is the second state with the most planned projects, after Arizona.
Singapore warns U.S., EU chip subsidies will ‘drive up costs’ Politico Singapore is worried that the massive subsidies Washington and Brussels are about to spend on new microchip projects will upset a “finely balanced” global market.
How AI can overcome three common supply chain challenges Fierce Electronics In the realm of supply chain management, surmounting obstacles is paramount to ensuring smooth operations and sustained prosperity. Enter artificial intelligence (AI), which is revolutionizing the way enterprises address three prevalent hurdles: port congestion, freight rate instability, and demand forecasting. |
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CHINACramer says China faces challenges now that the U.S. market for A.I. chips is expanding CNBC CNBC’s Jim Cramer discussed on Wednesday the challenges China is facing now that the U.S. market for chips used by artificial intelligence software is ramping up.
Exclusive: Xi Jinping tells Bill Gates he welcomes U.S. AI tech in China Reuters Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the global rise of artificial intelligence with Bill Gates on Friday and said he welcomed U.S. firms including Microsoft bringing their AI tech to China, two sources familiar with the talks said.
South China Morning Post The speed at which computers can perform complex calculations and process data has become so blazingly fast that keeping up with the ever-expanding limits of computing power is a critical component in the economic rivalries between nations. |
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TRADEUS to remove obstacles to defence, high-tech trade with India, NSA adviser Sullivan says Reuters The United States is set to remove obstacles that prevent smoother trade with India in critical areas such as defence and high technology, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday.
EU moves forward with Critical Minerals Agreement negotiations with the US European Commission Today, the European Commission has adopted its negotiating directives for a Critical Minerals Agreement (CMA) with the United States. The objective is to foster EU-US supply chains in critical raw materials needed in the production of electric vehicle batteries. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYThe Semiconductor Industry’s Most Important Tool Goes Green IEEE Spectrum In the complex quest to keep increasing the density of transistors, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography is the most critical tool. Costing more than US $100 million, these trailer-size systems bounce near x-ray wavelength light off a complex cascade of mirrors and onto silicon wafers to create patterns with nanometer-scale precision.
A scalable method to create ferroelectric FETs based on AlScN and 2D semiconductors Phys.org A key objective in the electronics engineering field is to develop transistors and other electronic components that are increasingly compact and efficient, utilizing readily available processes and materials.
Smart Manufacturing Makes Gains In Chip Industry Semiconductor Engineering Lights out manufacturing is gaining steam across the semiconductor industry, accelerating productivity, improving quality, and reducing costs and environment impact. |
SIA NEWSGlobal Semiconductor Sales Increase 0.3% Month-to-Month in April Press Release “The global semiconductor market remains in a cyclical downturn, exacerbated by sluggish macroeconomic conditions, but month-to-month sales ticked up for the second consecutive month in April, perhaps foreshadowing a continued rebound in the months ahead,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO. “The latest industry forecast projects a double-digit dip in global chip sales for 2023, followed by a strong rebound in 2024.” |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETGlobal chip sales dropped more than 20% in April, but 2024 rebound expected Market Watch “The global semiconductor market remains in a cyclical downturn, exacerbated by sluggish macroeconomic conditions, but month-to-month sales ticked up for the second consecutive month in April, perhaps foreshadowing a continued rebound in the months ahead,” said SIA Chief Executive John Neuffer in a statement.
Tech Hubs competition begins under CHIPS Act funding Electronics 360 The Regional Technology and Innovation Hub (Tech Hubs) competition has been launched by the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC), a funding opportunity program authorized under the CHIPS and Science Act.
You can now become a semiconductor technician in just 10 days Quartz Chipmakers are expected to hire more than 20,000 people in Arizona in the coming years, according to Maricopa Community College officials. The mean annual salary for a semiconductor processing technician in the US is $48,370.
NIST unveils new leadership team to drive semiconductor innovation Nextgov The National Institute of Standards and Technology has compiled a new team of leaders to help spearhead federal research and development efforts that aim to boost U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing. |
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CHINASouth China Morning Post The global semiconductor market is still grappling with a cyclical downturn exacerbated by macroeconomic headwinds. In April, the chip industry saw its total sales drop 21.6 per cent year on year to US$40.0 billion, according to data released on Tuesday by the US-based Semiconductor Industry Association.
CNBC Industry analysts are optimistic that Chinese chip makers will develop their own advanced semiconductors despite Washington’s attempts to cut the country off from accessing or manufacturing the technology.
South China Morning Post The central business district of the southern Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen has announced new measures to support semiconductor companies that range from cheaper rent to cash subsidies worth up to 10 million yuan (US$1.4 million), as part of the central government’s pursuit of technological self-sufficiency amid an escalating rivalry with the US. |
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TRADEBiden and UK’s Sunak sign ‘Atlantic Declaration,’ pledging agreements on A.I. and critical minerals CNBC Despite a U.S.-U.K. trade deal remaining very much elusive, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and President Joe Biden signed a new “Atlantic Declaration” aiming to bolster economic security in the face of threats coming from Russia and China. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYBuilding 2D semiconductors with nanopulse lasers for low cost sensors EE News Europe The €1.2m project on ‘Pulsed Laser Annealing of 2D Semiconductors for Nanoelectronics’ aims to substantially increase the scalability, functionality, performance, and energy efficiency of electronic devices while keeping full compatibility with existing mass production technologies. |
SIA NEWSCoalition Urges Congress to Fund R&D, Workforce Initiatives Blog Post Funding for critical research and education is an investment in our future competitiveness. Our country will reap the benefits of this investment for generations to come … Innovation has driven significant growth over the last 50 years with America’s GDP growing from $550 billion to more than $23 trillion. Federal research funding is a down payment on our nation’s future success. |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETForeign Policy “What happens with a lot of these companies is they try to hire in the U.S., they strike out with the H-1B two cycles in a row, and then they have the same job but they have to go do it somewhere else,” said Eric Breckenfeld, director of technology policy at the SIA. “It’s just a drain on efficiency. There’s no reason that it needs to happen.”
A semiconductor workforce shortage is on the horizon. Ohio higher education wants to fix that. WOSU A 2022 report by financial advisor Deloitte estimates the U.S. semiconductor workforce will be short by 70,000 to 90,000 people in the coming years. The Semiconductor Industry Association takes a more conservative approach in saying the expanding supply chain will create upwards of 40,000 new jobs, but that’s still a lot of help wanted signs.
Senators urge Commerce to prioritize national security in chips funding Reuters Two key U.S. senators said on Thursday they want the Commerce Department to prioritize national and economic decisions in awarding $39 billion in semiconductor manufacturing subsidies rather than using the funds to aid ailing companies. |
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CHINAAlibaba begins rollout of its ChatGPT-style tech as China A.I. race heats up CNBC Alibaba on Thursday began rolling out its ChatGPT-style technology as Chinese tech giants look to take a lead in the country’s artificial intelligence race.
China Telecom establishes quantum technology group Reuters China Telecom (0728.HK) has invested 3 billion yuan ($434 million) to establish the China Telecom Quantum Information Technology Group Co., it said in a statement on its official WeChat account Tuesday.
Chinese tech entrepreneurs keen to ‘de-China’ as tensions with US soar Reuters For the ambitious Chinese tech entrepreneur, expanding into the U.S. just keeps getting harder. Before 2019, there were few major impediments to having a Chinese company that did business in the U.S. from China. |
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TRADEU.S. and Taiwan ink trade deal as China issues warning The Japan Times The United States and Taiwan signed a trade deal on Thursday aimed at deepening economic relations between both sides — a move that has sparked a warning from Beijing.
IPEF nations agree to strengthen supply chains at Detroit meeting Nikkei Asia The U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework wrapped up a meeting on Saturday, with trade ministers agreeing to a deal to strengthen supply chains for essential materials such as chips and critical minerals to reduce dependence on China.
UK has no plans to strike US trade deal during Rishi Sunak visit to Washington Financial Times Rishi Sunak is set to ignore calls to secure a UK-US trade deal when he visits Washington next week for a bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYResearchers find a way to reduce the overheating of semiconductor devices Phy.Org The demand to shrink the size of semiconductors coupled with the problem of the heat generated at the hot spots of the devices not being effectively dispersed has negatively affected the reliability and durability of modern devices.
Developing Semiconductor Materials for Harsh Environments AZO Nano Harsh environments like high temperature, extreme pressure and corrosive or oxidizing atmospheres significantly impact the performance of semiconductor materials. This article discusses the challenges of developing high-performance semiconductor materials for harsh environments.
ALD-Oxide Semiconductors: Summary, Benefits And Challenges Semiconductor Engineering A technical paper titled “Atomic layer deposition for nanoscale oxide semiconductor thin film transistors: review and outlook” was published by researchers at Hanyang University. |
SIA NEWSSIA Supports Holistic Approach to Implementing CHIPS Act’s Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credit Blog Post As part of our ongoing effort to provide input to government leaders during the implementation of this critical new law, SIA today submitted comments on the proposed rule of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Treasury Department to implement the CHIPS Act “advanced manufacturing investment credit.”
SIA Urges Balanced Approach to Implementation of CHIPS Act ‘Guardrails’ Blog Post As part of our ongoing effort to provide input to government leaders during the implementation of this critical new law, SIA today filed public comments in response to the Department of Commerce’s proposed regulations to implement the CHIPS Act “guardrails,” which place certain restrictions on companies that receive CHIPS manufacturing incentives.
Blog Post SIA and Arizona State University this week hosted the first North America Semiconductor Conference (NASC), a new trilateral endeavor between the governments, academic institutions, and private sectors of Mexico, Canada, and the United States. |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETWhite House Press Release The three governments organized the first North America Semiconductor Conference in Washington, D.C. on May 18-19 with the support of the Semiconductor Industry Association and Arizona State University.
Inaugural North American Semiconductor Conference Held in Washington D.C. Supply Chain Brain “NASC holds great promise as a critical platform to help re-balance the global semiconductor supply chain and bring more manufacturing, assembly, test, packaging and design to the North America region,” wrote Rina Pal-Goetzen, director of Global Policy at SIA, in a blog post. “SIA looks forward to playing a collaborative role as this important new effort progresses in the months and years ahead.”
EU’s New Monitoring System Aims to Secure Semiconductor Supply Chain ElectroPages As the world’s semiconductor supply slowly stabilises after the COVID-19 pandemic, countries around the world continue to invest in local foundries to try and prevent future supply chain challenges. Now, the EU has announced that it will be piloting a new monitoring system that will look for weaknesses in the semiconductor supply chain. |
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CHINAAt APEC trade meeting, union leaders call for new ‘balance’ with China Reuters U.S. trade policy with China and other nations must strike a more equitable balance between needs of workers and corporate profits, leaders of two big U.S. unions said at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation trade ministers meeting on Thursday.
G7 urged to deliver on no-decoupling pledge China Daily “Access to this massive (Chinese) market is essential for the success of any globally competitive chip firm today and in the future,” the Semiconductor Industry Association, a Washington-based group that represents the US chip sector, said in a report.
Japan to tighten controls on semiconductor exports to China The Japan Times The government will launch, in July at the earliest, tighter regulations on the export to China of manufacturing equipment for cutting-edge semiconductors, which are essential to the development of supercomputers and artificial intelligence. |
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TRADEJapan and US to commit to closer chip cooperation in joint statement Reuters Japan and the United States will issue a joint statement on technology cooperation on Friday that will commit them to closer cooperation in research and development of advanced chips and other technologies, a Japanese government source said.
U.S. pumps the brakes on EU clean car deal Politico The European Union has been pressing for a more flexible agreement on the critical minerals used in electric car batteries that won’t require the time-consuming approval of its 27 member countries. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYA brief history of gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors EDN Gallium nitride (GaN) and its wide bandgap cousin silicon carbide (SiC) have started to disrupt power electronics. Ironically, just a few years ago, GaN was considered useless as a semiconductor, mainly because GaN is a highly imperfect crystal.
Chips Getting More Secure, But Not Quickly Enough Semiconductor Engineering Awareness about potential vulnerabilities is increasing, but so is the complexity with heterogeneous integration and the increased reliance on semiconductors in critical applications.
Chip-based quantum key distribution achieves higher transmission speeds Phys.Org Researchers have developed a quantum key distribution (QKD) system based on integrated photonics that can transmit secure keys at unprecedented speeds. The proof-of-principle experiments represent an important step toward real-world application of this highly secure communication method. |
INDUSTRY/MARKETAmerica’s Semiconductor Boom Faces a Challenge: Not Enough Workers NYT More than 50 new facility projects have been announced since the CHIPS Act was introduced, and private companies have pledged more than $210 billion in investments, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association.
Experts push Congress for more high skilled immigrants to compete with China AXIOS More than five dozen experts, including former national security officials, are asking the House China Select Committee to address “immigration bottlenecks” for international science and engineering graduate students and workers, according to a copy of a letter viewed by Axios.
Britain launches $1.2 billion semiconductor plan after U.S. and EU splurge on chips CNBC The U.K. on Friday announced up to £1 billion ($1.24 billion) of support for its semiconductor industry, seeking to boost its domestic chipmaking capabilities and prevent further disruptions to supply after cries for help from bosses at some of the country’s leading firms.
Europe must lead in semiconductor manufacturing: EU Commissioner Computer World Europe must manufacture its own cutting-edge chips or risk being left to build old-style chips, said EU Commissioner Thierry Breton during a keynote speech to semiconductor companies this week. |
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CHINARepublicans skeptical of Schumer plan on China Axios Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) says he wants Republicans to help Democrats craft an ambitious plan to help the U.S. fight off competition from China — but so far, his calls for bipartisanship are falling flat.
‘De-Americanize’: How China Is Remaking Its Chip Business NYT Last October, construction plans for a hulking semiconductor factory owned by a major state-backed company in central China fell into disarray. The Biden administration had escalated the trade war over technology, severing China’s access to the Western tools and skilled workers it needed to build the most advanced semiconductors.
South China Morning Post China’s growing demand for semiconductors used in electric vehicles, high-end servers in data centres and artificial intelligence applications provides a vast opportunity for RISC-V processors to flourish, according to a proponent of the open-source, royalty-free chip design, even as integrated circuits (ICs) built on proprietary Arm and x86 architectures continue to dominate the global market. |
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TRADEUS and Taiwan draw closer with new trade pact opposed by China CNN
US-led trade talks with 14 countries, including India, close to reaching supply chains pact The Economic Times Fourteen countries in US-led Indo-Pacific trade talks are nearing an agreement on supply chain coordination and may announce a deal as soon as next week, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Rishi Sunak to unveil semiconductor partnership with Japan Financial Times Rishi Sunak will announce a “semiconductors partnership” with the Japanese government during a visit to Tokyo on Thursday as the UK seeks to reduce geopolitical risk by diversifying its chip supply chain. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYPushing the Limits: Testing Higher-Power Next-Gen Semiconductors EE Times The ever-evolving landscape of technology requires increasingly higher-power semiconductors, presenting a host of challenges for engineers in the field.
Challenges Grow For Creating Smaller Bumps For Flip Chips Semiconductor Engineering New bump structures are being developed to enable higher interconnect densities in flip-chip packaging, but they are complex, expensive, and increasingly difficult to manufacture. |
SIA NEWS
Press Release “Semiconductor sales continued to slip during the first quarter of 2023 due to market cyclicality and macroeconomic headwinds, but month-to-month sales were up in March for the first time in nearly a year, providing optimism for a rebound in the months ahead,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO. |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETNearshoring Mitigates Counterfeit Component Risks EE Times More broadly, counterfeit parts can negatively impact the U.S. economy. According to the Semiconductor Industry Association, counterfeiting costs U.S.-based semiconductor companies more than $7.5 billion per year, which translates into nearly 11,000 lost American jobs.
A.I. will cause ‘significant labor-market disruption’ over next 5 years, says World Economic Forum Fortune Global labor markets are poised for a new era of turbulence as technologies like artificial intelligence accelerate the decline of clerical work, while simultaneously increasing demand for technology and cybersecurity specialists. |
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CHINASouth China Morning Post Beijing has hit out again at the US’s efforts to boost its semiconductor industry via subsidies under the Chips and Science Act, saying that the actions manifest a “Cold War mentality” and severely disrupt the global chip supply chain.
South China Morning Post A state-backed Chinese semiconductor trade group said Japan’s recent move to expand restrictions on exports of advanced chip-making technology would “bring even greater uncertainties” to the global chip industry. |
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TRADEUS-Taiwan trade negotiations should be updated ‘soon’, White House official says South China Morning Post US President Joe Biden’s top trade official said on Wednesday that an update on a Washington-Taipei trade facilitation initiative should be expected “soon” and touted the administration’s efforts to reduce reliance on “certain countries” for critical minerals – an apparent reference to mainland China.
South China Morning Post A US trade official said he expects to discuss China’s “economic coercion” in a coming round of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) talks in Detroit this month. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYML Automotive Chip Design Takes Off Semiconductor Engineering Machine learning is increasingly being deployed across a wide swath of chips and electronics in automobiles, both for improving reliability of standard parts and for the creation of extremely complex AI chips used in increasingly autonomous applications.
World’s smallest LED will convert your phone camera into a microscope Interesting Engineering A team of researchers from Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) has developed a silicon LED that can help convert the camera of the mobile phone in your hand into a high-resolution microscope.
Data Leakage Becoming Bigger Issue For Chipmakers Semiconductor Engineering Data leakage is becoming more difficult to stop or even trace as chips become increasingly complex and heterogeneous, and as more data is stored and utilized by chipmakers for other designs. |
SIA NEWS
SIA Welcomes Commerce Department Action to Advance National Semiconductor Technology Center Press Release “Today’s action represents a valuable step forward for implementation of the National Semiconductor Technology Center, a cornerstone of the landmark CHIPS and Science Act signed into law last year. While we are still reviewing the details set forth in the Commerce Department’s white paper, we are encouraged it reflects industry leaders’ input and recommendations, including those outlined in SIA’s recent report on semiconductor research. We look forward to continuing to work with Secretary Raimondo, others in the Commerce Department, and the future leadership of the NSTC itself to ensure the new law is implemented in a way that maximizes its return on investment and turbocharges U.S. semiconductor production and innovation for many years to come.” |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETCommerce Dept. Outlines Plans to Fund Cutting-Edge Chip Research NYT The Biden administration outlined plans on Tuesday to propel research on the type of cutting-edge microchips needed to power computers, cars and other devices, saying it would establish a new national organization with locations in various parts of the United States.
Tata ready to buy its way into semiconductors: report EE News Europe During the interview Chandrasekaran confirmed the group’s plan to manufacture semiconductors in India (see Tata plans to make semiconductors in India) but said it may take a little time. He indicated that Tata will start with assembly and packaging of ICs (see Tata in talks over $300 million Indian chip packaging factory). |
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CHINASouth China Morning Post Shanghai’s municipal government has vowed to provide up to 100 million yuan (US$14.45 million) to shore up investments in semiconductors, biomedicine, and artificial intelligence (AI), amid the country’s growing technological rivalry with the US.
China pumps $7bn into upgrading chip supply chain Nikkei Asia Chinese chipmaking suppliers and state-backed funds plan to spend an estimated 50 billion yuan ($7.26 billion) to strengthen the domestic supply chain as the U.S. curbs tech exports. |
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TRADEUS-led IPEF does not conflict with other trade pacts -USTR’s Tai Reuters U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said on Tuesday the Biden administration’s signature Asian engagement project called the IPEF is designed to create no conflict with other trade agreements in the region, where China is expanding its clout.
US-EU Critical Minerals Deal Would Give EU Broader Trade Relief Bloomberg An agreement between the US and the European Union over critical minerals would unlock wider benefits than previously thought, with a deal paving the way to remove several more trade barriers introduced by President Joe Biden’s massive green subsidy law, according to people familiar with the matter. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYD2X Tool Paves Easier Way To Get Bugs Out Of Programming Languages India Education Diary Sometime in 2019, MIT PhD student Ajay Brahmakshatriya formulated a simple, though still quite challenging, goal. He wanted to make it possible for people who had expertise in a particular domain — such as climate modeling, bioinformatics, or architecture — to write their own programming languages, so-called domain-specific languages (or DSLs), even if they had little or no experience in creating programming languages. |
SIA NEWS
Press Release R&D is the driving force behind semiconductor innovations that have advanced modern technology and made the world smarter, more efficient, and better connected. U.S. semiconductor companies invest an average of one-fifth of their revenues in R&D annually, among the largest shares of any sector. Restoring the longstanding policy of allowing the immediate, full deduction of R&D investments would help expand U.S.-based R&D and innovation, spur economic growth and job creation, and strengthen America’s tech workforce. |
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INDUSTRY/MARKETUS manufacturing commitments double after Biden subsidies launched Financial Times Companies have committed more than $200bn to US manufacturing projects since Congress passed sweeping subsidies last year, as president Joe Biden’s effort to spark a new industrial revolution gains momentum.
EU takes on United States, Asia with chip subsidy plan Reuters The European Union on Tuesday agreed a 43 billion euro ($47 billion) plan for its semiconductor industry in an attempt to catch up with the United States and Asia and start a green industrial revolution. |
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CHINASouth China Morning Post China’s Guangdong province is doubling down on expanding its local semiconductor industry to meet growing demand for chips from the region’s carmakers and electronics companies, according to a high-ranking local government official.
China aiming for ‘global technological supremacy’, British cyber chief says Reuters China is aiming for “global technological supremacy” in cyberspace and is using its cyber capabilities to conduct intelligence and surveillance campaigns, Britain’s cyber chief said on Wednesday. |
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TRADEChina, Brazil agree to cooperate on semiconductors as geopolitical worries continue Seeking Alpha The Chinese and Brazilian governments on Friday signed a number of memorandum of understandings, including one designed to see both countries cooperate on semiconductors.
No deal yet on EU critical minerals Politico The U.S. and European Union are still hammering out the details of their critical minerals agreement, even as leaders on both sides seem eager to reach a speedy resolution, EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis told reporters. |
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RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGYQuantum Light Source Fully Integrated On A Chip Semiconductor Engineering Integrated photonics has recently become a leading platform for the realization and processing of optical entangled quantum states in compact, robust and scalable chip formats, with applications in long-distance quantum-secured communication, quantum-accelerated information processing and nonclassical metrology.
Nanoimprint Finally Finds Its Footing Semiconductor Engineering Nanoimprint lithography, which for decades has trailed behind traditional optical lithography, is emerging as the technology of choice for the rapidly growing photonics and biotech chips markets.
Smarter Ways To Manufacture Chips Semiconductor Engineering OSAT and wafer fabs are beginning to invest in Industry 4.0 solutions in order to improve efficiency and reduce operating costs, but it’s a complicated process that involves setting up frameworks to evaluate different options and goals. |
INDUSTRY/MARKETUS works with allies abroad to develop semiconductor policies Fox News “Our goal is not to totally onshore our supply chain. It’s too big, too sophisticated. We can’t do it all at home,” Neuffer said. “We must also work with global partners to increase production, partners like Mexico and Canada, like-minded economies in Southeast Asia and in Europe to reinforce our global supply chain.”
February chip sales down 21% globally, down 14% in Americas Fierce Electronics Despite the decline, Semiconductor Industry Association CEO John Neuffer said the long-term prospects for chip sales remain “bright thanks to growing demand across a range of end markets.” SIA reported in March that chip sales for all of 2022 actually increased for automotive and industrial as well as for broad category of consumer products despite a downturn for chips for PCs and computers. |
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CHINABrazil paves way for semiconductor cooperation with China Reuters China and Brazil agreed on Friday to set up a working group to pursue cooperation on semiconductors as the South American nation strengthens ties with Beijing in areas of sensitive technology.
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