Samsung, SK Hynix race to build US chip capacity

As the CHIPS and Science Act drives a shift in global semiconductor investments from Asia to the US, whether South Korean giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix can emerge successfully amid rising US–China tensions will depend on their ability to quickly establish stable production in the US, and on government efforts in navigating tariffs and other policies, according to South Korean media reports.

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Taiwan’s chip and AI boom drains talent from academia; NSTC explores possible solutions

As Taiwan’s semiconductor and AI industries continue to surge, universities are facing an unexpected casualty of economic success: a talent drain from academia. Graduate students, lured by soaring salaries in the tech sector, are abandoning plans for doctoral studies and, in some cases, even leaving master’s programs early after securing job offers from chipmakers.

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AI drives flexible server architectures as multimodal demand rises

Demand for AI servers remains robust, prompting industry players to actively develop and continuously update product architectures. Supply chain observers note that as AI endpoint requirements grow more complex, future server platforms will move away from one-size-fits-all standards toward customized configurations tailored to specific applications. This shift also increases market demand for rack designs with flexible, adaptable configurations, a key focus for server vendors going forward.

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Taiwan’s ZDT and Unimicron forecast golden decade for PCB industry on AI boom

As artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) lead a new industrial revolution in the PCB sector, Taiwanese giants Zhen Ding Tech (ZDT) and Unimicron are optimistic about market prospects in 2026. They expect demand from AI data center infrastructure and edge AI devices to drive significant growth across IC substrates, HDI, HLC, and flexible printed circuit boards (PCBs).

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Taiwan dispels US investment relocation fears

Taiwan’s top economic and technology officials have dismissed concerns that the island’s semiconductor ecosystem investments in the US represent industrial relocation. The pushback follows Vice President Bi-khim Louise Hsiao’s announcement that Taiwan’s entire ecosystem will invest in America, which sparked domestic debate over potential industrial hollowing and talent drain.

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