Grand Process Technology Corporation (GPTC), a key wet process equipment supplier in the supply chains of TSMC, ASE, and Micron, posted record consolidated revenue of NT$6.514 billion (approx. US$207.5 million) in 2025, up 59.93% year-over-year, with profits expected to hit new highs as well. However, January 2026 revenue unexpectedly plunged 47.7% from December’s peak to NT$527 million, though it still rose 42% year-over-year. GPTC attributed the drop to delayed customer shipments affecting revenue recognition, but maintained that full-year momentum remains stable and upward.

As artificial intelligence workloads push traditional computing architectures to their limits, the photonics industry is emerging as a critical enabler of next-generation data center infrastructure. The third Asia Photonics Expo (APE 2026), which concluded on February 6, 2026, reflected this shift, bringing together more than 240 exhibitors and nine international pavilions to showcase how optical technologies are becoming increasingly intertwined with semiconductor manufacturing and high-performance computing systems.

As demand for higher transmission performance rises alongside the expansion of artificial intelligence and data centers, the 2026 Asia Photonics Expo (APE 2026), held in Singapore, underscored the deepening convergence between the semiconductor and photonics industries. Against this backdrop, DIGITIMES interviewed Sukumar Verma, managing director of Informa Markets Singapore, on development trends shaping the city-state’s high-tech sector.