China rolls out AI chip design system ‘Qimeng’ to cut reliance on US EDA tools

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has introduced an AI-driven chip design system named “Qimeng” (“Enlightenment”), signaling a major move in China’s drive to accelerate semiconductor innovation and cut dependence on US-origin electronic design automation (EDA) tools. The unveiling coincides with tighter US export controls targeting China’s access to critical chip design software.

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Tokyo Electron to triple output with US$728 million smart fab

Tokyo Electron Ltd. (TEL), Japan’s top semiconductor equipment manufacturer, held a groundbreaking ceremony on June 2, 2025, for its state-of-the-art production site in Taiwa, Miyagi Prefecture. Initially referred to as an expansion of its main plant, the facility has now been officially named the Miyagi Production Innovation Center. Scheduled for completion in the summer of 2027, the site is a cornerstone of TEL’s strategy to address surging global demand for advanced chipmaking equipment.

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Honda plans investment in Rapidus to support Japan’s 2nm chip ambitions

Honda Motor is preparing to invest in Japanese semiconductor startup Rapidus during the second half of fiscal year 2025 (October 2025 to March 2026), with a commitment expected to reach several billion Japanese yen—equivalent to tens of millions of US dollars. The move underscores Honda’s strategic focus on securing next-generation semiconductor supply for future automotive technologies, particularly autonomous driving systems.

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Trump’s tariff reversals roil global markets, but Taiwan finds unexpected gains

Since returning to the office, President Donald Trump has once again made unpredictability a cornerstone of US trade policy. His shifting stance on tariffs, particularly toward China, has sent tremors through global supply chains. And yet, amid the turbulence, Taiwan has managed not only to hold its ground but also to benefit unexpectedly from the chaos.

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Chinese MCU providers pivot to humanoid robots amid genAI boom

As generative AI and humanoid robotics converge, Chinese microcontroller unit (MCU) manufacturers are shifting their strategic focus away from the automotive sector toward humanoid robots, seeking new avenues for growth. Industry players are zeroing in on three key modules—motion control, edge AI, and battery management—to position themselves early in the evolving robotics landscape.

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Trio Technology confirms new Thailand factory as China-US tariff rush subsides

Passive component inductor giant Trio Technology announced that its operations returned to normal shipment levels in May 2025, following the urgent order effect caused by the China-US tariff war tapering off. Looking ahead, with AI applications accelerating their shift from cloud to edge computing, the company expects steady growth in both inductor specifications and usage volume. The addition of new product lines, such as transient voltage suppressor inductors, is also expected to contribute to stable operational expansion.

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Taiwan’s Laster Tech eyes H2 boost from China’s auto stimulus, Tesla Model Y deliveries

Laster Tech, a Taiwanese maker of LED automotive lighting modules, reported consolidated revenue of NT$751 million (US$23 million) in May 2025, down 7.16% from April and 12.28% from the prior year. Despite the pullback, the figure still marked the second-highest May performance on record. For the first five months of 2025, cumulative revenue rose 5.67% year-over-year to NT$3.609 billion, setting a new high for the period.

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Taiwan unveils breakthrough in 8-inch quantum chip fabrication

Academia Sinica announced on June 10, 2025, the successful development of several advanced fabrication processes for superconducting qubits on an automated 8-inch platform, positioning Taiwan to expand its leadership from semiconductors into quantum chipmaking. While Taiwan dominates global semiconductor manufacturing, the institute underscored that quantum chips demand fundamentally different process technologies, with process stability and uniformity still posing major hurdles to scalable quantum computing.

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