15 Aug
Latest News and Trends

China pushes back against Nvidia H20 chip exports amid US trade tensions

Chinese authorities have recently voiced concerns about the reauthorization of shipments for Nvidia Corporation’s H20 AI chips, highlighting fears that these chips could be remotely disabled by the US. This capability, they argue, could be exploited to hinder China’s AI development. In response, reports indicate that Beijing is encouraging domestic cloud providers to shift away from Nvidia’s chips in favor of locally produced alternatives.

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15 Aug
Latest News and Trends

Commentary: China’s chip equipment underdog stands up to Applied Materials as local substitution wave rises

Beijing E-Town Semiconductor Technology has sued US chipmaking equipment leader Applied Materials in a Chinese court, seeking nearly CNY100 million (approx. US$13.9 million) in damages for alleged trade secret misappropriation. Beyond the immediate legal battle, the case signals a strategic shift: Chinese semiconductor equipment firms, once largely reactive in disputes, are now asserting themselves on the global stage.

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15 Aug
Latest News and Trends

Taiwanese firms secure M9-grade CCL certifications as ASIC server demand surges

In response to the global surge in large-scale AI computing power deployment, the usage and value of PCBs for AI servers have significantly increased. High-end copper-clad laminate (CCL) is evolving as next-generation AI servers upgrade their transmission architecture to 1.6 terabit rates. With increasingly stringent demands for high-frequency, high-speed, and low-loss materials, board requirements are expected to officially advance from M7 and M8 grades to the M9 grade.

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15 Aug
Latest News and Trends

E Ink’s record 2Q25 eyed as an upward climb, with capacity expansion underway

E Ink Holdings is riding a wave of strong demand for its electronic paper displays. During its earnings briefing on August 13, CEO Johnson Lee acknowledged that the company’s production capacity has been thoroughly eclipsed by customer demand. He projected that the second quarter would mark the year’s revenue peak, with the third quarter likely holding steady, albeit not exceeding the second quarter, and the fourth quarter experiencing some deceleration—possibly pushing some volume into early 2026. Overall, however, Lee assured that 2025 would see solid operational performance, with momentum carrying into 2026.

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