Taiwan’s tech industry is experiencing rapid growth, outpacing the capacity of government and educational institutions to train talent that matches the sector’s expanding demands. A survey released by Taiwan’s Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting, and Statistics (DGBAS) on January 10 reveals that this tech boom has significantly boosted wages, particularly in electronics and computer manufacturing. Additionally, the active trading of tech stocks in Taiwan has led to double-digit salary growth in the securities and futures sectors.
To curb China’s domestic advancements in semiconductor technology, particularly in photolithography, the US Department of Commerce (DOC) has recently intensified its efforts against Chinese companies. Just before President Joe Biden leaves office, a comprehensive blockade targeting Chinese lithography machines and key components has been initiated.
ICSmart, referencing Tianyancha data, reported that on January 7, Nanjing ZhongAn Semiconductor Equipment (ZAS) updated its corporate registration, welcoming seven new shareholders. Among them is the National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund Phase II, also known as the “Big Fund Phase II.”
China’s economy remains on a downward trajectory, with weak domestic consumption. According to The Economic Observer, Shi Li, Dean of the Institute for Common Prosperity at Zhejiang University, estimates that 900 million people—65% of the population—earn less than CNY3,000 (approx. US$410) per month, classifying them as low-income.
Nvidia has voiced strong opposition to the Biden administration’s proposed AI chip export restrictions, calling them a “sweeping overreach” that would impose “bureaucratic control” over the global design and marketing of US semiconductors, computers, and software. Nvidia’s criticism, highlighted by reports from The Verge and the New York Post, underscores concerns over innovation and economic growth.
AcBel Polytech (AcBel) anticipates a year of growth in 2025, driven by the gradual emergence of synergies from its acquisition of OmniOn and the steady expansion of its renewable energy business, according to Chairman Jerry Hsu.