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February 27
- Shanghai GPU Unicorn Layoffs Reach 200 Employees
芯东西
➀ Shanghai GPU unicorn MUXi is implementing a pre-IPO layoff plan, affecting around 200 employees, or about 20% of its workforce.
➁ The company has completed a financing round of 2 billion RMB and has started the A-share listing process.
➂ MUXi has secured several large orders, including an 850 million RMB order for its AI large model training and general-purpose computing GPU.
February 26
- IEEE Joins Bilibili! A Tech Enthusiast's狂欢!
IEEE电气电子工程师学会
➀ IEEE has officially joined Bilibili, opening an official account to bring a 'hardcore' feast for Chinese tech enthusiasts;
➁ IEEE will regularly post full-English videos of tech events, cutting-edge technology news, member welfare lectures, and celebrity lectures on Bilibili, covering hot areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and communication technology;
➂ The videos also support AI-generated Chinese subtitles, making it easy to keep up with global technology trends;
➃ IEEE, as the world's largest professional technical organization, has been committed to promoting technological innovation;
➄ This move to Bilibili not only brings IEEE closer to young Chinese tech enthusiasts but also provides a new learning and communication platform for tech-loving content creators and viewers;
➅ IEEE's top online events, such as IEEE Tech Frontiers, also be broadcasted live on Bilibili.
- Avicena: Chip-to-Chip Short-Distance Optical Interconnect Based on GaN MicroLED Arrays
Unknown
➀ Chip-to-chip communication needs are increasing with the rapid development of information technology, and traditional electronic interconnect technologies are facing limitations in meeting high bandwidth, low latency, and low power consumption requirements.
➁ Avicena proposes that short-distance chip-to-chip communication is more like walking, focusing on simplicity and efficiency, rather than using long-distance laser communication technology which is considered as overkill.
➂ μLED technology offers advantages such as high brightness, efficiency, low power consumption, high density parallel communication, low power consumption, high reliability, and low cost.
➃ The research team designed an optical transmitter using μLED arrays and optimized the drive current and modulation rate of μLEDs for high-speed data transmission.
➄ The optical receiver design includes the use of blue light photodetectors, optimized transimpedance amplifiers, and digital offset cancellation techniques.
➅ The team achieved a 2Gbps transmission rate with a total power consumption of 0.5pJ/bit in a 130nm CMOS SOI process, and a 1.2Tbps total rate with energy efficiency less than 1pJ/bit in a 16nm process.
➆ The application of μLED technology in chip-to-chip communication shows great potential for high-performance computing and artificial intelligence.
- Vietnam Aims to Break Through the US-China 'Silicon Curtain' with Huawei's Introduction
mp.weixin.qq.com
➀ Vietnam's General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong, emphasized the need to remove at least 30% of business restrictions and reduce administrative procedures by at least 30% to lower costs.
➁ Vietnam's legal system is lagging behind in digital economy, innovation, and international integration, particularly in fintech, AI, platform economy, e-commerce, and special economic zones.
➂ North Ninh province, a hub of Vietnam's electronics manufacturing, has visited Huawei and other companies to explore investment opportunities in technology and digital infrastructure.
- Foreign Media: Huawei's AI Chip Achieves Breakthrough!
Unknown
➀ Huawei's AI chip, Ascend 910C, achieves a significant breakthrough with a yield rate of 40%, marking a major progress from 20% last year;
➁ Huawei plans to produce 100,000 Ascend 910C and 300,000 910B chips this year, although sales are behind NVIDIA, still leading the Chinese AI chip market;
➂ Huawei aims to further increase the yield rate to 60% to further solidify its position in the AI chip market, currently occupying more than 75% of the total AI chip production in mainland China.
- Three New GaN Projects Launched: Accelerating Domestic Full Industry Chain Layout
Unknown
➀ Three new GaN projects have been launched in China, covering the four major links of 'substrate-epitaxy-chip-module';
➁ Gaao Technology's GaN project has been settled in Zhejiang Province, focusing on GaN power devices and modules;
➂ Gaao Technology has developed a new national standard electric bicycle intelligent charging pile using GaN technology;
➃ Quanlei Optoelectronics has started a GaN epitaxy wafer/芯片 research and development and industrialization project;
➄ Guogan Xinkeshi has completed the environmental protection acceptance of its GaN substrate production base project.
- Taiwan Treats Semiconductor Industry as 'Souvenir' for the U.S.
Unknown
➀ The Mainland Affairs Office of the State Council held a regular press conference on February 26th.
➁ A journalist asked about U.S. President Trump's recent statement on Taiwan taking away the U.S. chip business and his warning to Taiwan.
➂ The spokesperson, Zhu Fenglian, commented on the concerns and doubts in Taiwan regarding TSMC becoming 'U.S. TSMC'.
➃ Zhu emphasized that the Taiwan region's semiconductor industry and leading enterprises are treated as a 'door-opener for seeking independence through external forces' and even as 'a gift' handed over to the U.S., leading to growing opposition among Taiwanese citizens and enterprises.
- Chongqing's 'NVIDIA' Emerges from Despair
InvestorZ
➀ Chongqing-based AI chip company Xiangdiexian has emerged from a financial crisis after securing a new round of funding from Anfu Technology and several venture capital firms.
➁ The company, founded by Tang Zhimin, a strategic scientist in the field of computer system and processor chip design, had previously raised over 2.5 billion yuan in five funding rounds.
➂ However, the company faced difficulties due to a failed bet agreement and layoffs affecting over 400 employees. Now, with the new funding, the company is looking to rebuild and strengthen its position in the AI chip industry.
- Wenye 2024 Net Profit Reaches New High: 9.1 Billion New Taiwan Dollars!
微信公众号
➀ Wenye's revenue and net profit reached historical highs in 2024, benefiting from the merger of Fuzheng Electronics.
➁ The consolidated revenue for the full year was NT$95.94 billion, an increase of 61% year-on-year.
➂ The consolidated operating profit was approximately NT$15.26 billion, up 86% year-on-year.
➃ The consolidated net profit after tax was NT$9.11 billion, an increase of 127% year-on-year.
February 25
- High NA EUV Lithography Machine Achieves Significant Milestone
半导体行业观察
➀ Intel announced that the first two of the cutting-edge lithography machines are being produced in its factory, with early data showing they are more reliable than earlier models.
➁ Intel used ASML's high numerical aperture (NA) lithography machines to produce 30,000 wafers in a quarter, which can produce thousands of computing chips.
➂ Intel plans to use the High NA machines to help develop the so-called 18A manufacturing technology, which is scheduled for mass production later this year with the next generation of PC chips.
- In-Depth Analysis of Third-Generation Semiconductor Materials: Silicon Carbide and Gallium Nitride
芯师爷
➀ The development history of semiconductor materials, from the first generation to the third generation;
➁ The unique physical properties of silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), such as wide bandgap, high breakdown field, high electron mobility, and excellent thermal conductivity;
➂ The market landscape of SiC and GaN, including market size, key players, and application areas.
- Shanghai Semiconductor Equipment Manufacturer Makes Major M&A Move!
Unknown
➀ Shanghai's Zhizhen Technology plans to acquire the controlling stake of Weidong Jinglin, a professional electronic material supplier, through a combination of issuing shares and paying cash.
➁ Zhizhen Technology, a high-tech enterprise focusing on semiconductor equipment, has been actively involved in capital operations since its listing.
➂ Weidong Jinglin, founded in 2006, is a key supplier of electronic materials and has been preparing for an IPO.
- High NA EUV Lithography Machine Achieves Significant Milestone
半导体行业观察
➀ Intel has begun production with the first two of ASML's advanced lithography machines in its factory, showing early data indicating increased reliability over earlier models.
➁ Intel, which became the first chip manufacturer to receive these machines last year, plans to use them to develop 18A manufacturing technology for mass production later this year.
➂ Imec has demonstrated the first electrical yield results from 20nm spacing metal lines patterned using High NA EUV single patterning technology, showing good electrical yield and fewer random defects.
- Tianyue Advanced Announces Record SiC Revenue and Production Capacity
WeChat Official Account
➀ Tianyue Advanced reported a net profit of 180 million yuan from SiC, achieving a turn-around from losses;
➁ The company's SiC sales volume exceeded 250,000 pieces in the first nine months of 2024, with an annualized production capacity of 460,000 pieces;
➂ Tianyue Advanced plans to build 8-inch SiC production lines and new overseas production bases.
- Fujian Entrepreneur's Chip Business Boosts Wealth by Over 200B in Half a Year
微信公众号
➀ Deepseek's popularity has ignited excitement in the secondary market for edge AI, boosting the stock prices of companies like Rockchip.
➁ Rockchip's founder Li Min's wealth has surged to 10 billion yuan, with a direct and indirect shareholding of 42.3361% in Rockchip, valued at about 32.9 billion yuan.
➂ Rockchip has transformed from audio and video chips to AIoT chips, becoming one of the most diverse AIoT product line vendors in China.
February 24
- Intel 18A Process Ready for Tape-Out
半导体产业纵横
➀ Intel has announced that its Intel 18A process, the final and most important in its 'four years, five nodes' plan, is ready for tape-out in the first half of this year;
➁ The 18A process represents a significant breakthrough for Intel's IDM 2.0 strategy and is seen as a key signal for the revitalization of Intel Foundry Services (IFS);
➂ The 18A process will introduce several advanced semiconductor technologies, with a 30% increase in chip density and a 15% improvement in performance per watt compared to Intel's 3nm process;
➃ Intel plans to apply the 18A process to the upcoming Panther Lake laptop processors and Clearwater Forest server CPUs;
➄ The ribbonFET full-gate transistor and PowerVia backside power supply technology are the two major breakthroughs of the 18A process;
➅ The ribbonFET transistor achieves a full-gate (GAA) architecture, providing finer control of current flow and reducing power consumption and leakage;
➆ PowerVia backside power supply technology changes the logic of chip wiring, making the power supply path for transistors more direct and improving power supply efficiency;
➇ Intel's next-generation mobile processor Panther Lake and desktop processor Nova Lake will be based on the Intel 18A process, with the server CPU Clearwater Forest also planned for release in the first half of 2026;
➈ Intel will also cooperate with external chip design companies to customize chips, such as Amazon and Microsoft.
- 重磅！三星与长江存储合作
芯通社
➀ Samsung has chosen to use China's NAND manufacturer YMTC's patented technology starting from V10 (10th generation);
➁ YMTC, the earliest to apply hybrid bonding to 3D NAND, has a strong patent accumulation in related technology;
➂ Samsung Electronics has signed a licensing agreement with YMTC for 3D NAND hybrid bonding patents, avoiding patent risks and accelerating technological development.
- Intel 18A Ready to Take the Lead Over TSMC and Samsung
芯智讯
➀ Intel has officially launched the introduction of its most advanced 18A process technology and claims it is 'ready';
➁ The 18A process is expected to enter mass production in mid-2025, with the Panther Lake processor from the Core Ultra 300 series as the first to use it, which is expected to be launched in the second half of this year;
➂ Compared to the Intel 3 process node, the 18A process improves performance per watt by 15% and chip density by 30%;
➃ Intel 18A uses RibbonFET GAA transistor technology for precise current control and improved performance per watt, minimum voltage operation, and electrostatic performance;
➄ The PowerVia背面供电 technology of Intel 18A can improve density and utilization rate by 5% to 10% and reduce resistance power drop, thereby improving ISO power performance by up to 4%;
➅ Intel 18A is expected to enter mass production in the second half of 2025, potentially leading the industry by nearly a year over TSMC's N2 process.
February 23
- Chinese Companies Place Orders for South Korea's 4nm!
芯榜
➀ Samsung Electronics' 4nm advanced process yield has approached 80% and recently received ASIC foundry orders from Chinese companies.
➁ The new management team has adjusted the strategy, no longer chasing the forefront competition, and focusing on winning customers with high yield.
➂ The popularity of the AI development platform DeepSeek has ignited the enthusiasm of Chinese technology companies to develop AI ASICs, with Samsung's price and capacity advantages becoming a key driving force for orders.
- South Korea's Semiconductor Technology Almost Entirely Behind China, Say Media Reports
KISTEP
➀ According to a survey report by KISTEP, South Korea's majority of semiconductor technologies have been surpassed by China.
➁ South Korea's level in high integration and low impedance storage chip technology is 90.9%, lower than China's 94.1%.
➂ South Korea's level in high-performance, low-power artificial intelligence chips is 84.1%, still not reaching China's 88.3%.
➃ South Korea's power semiconductor level is 67.5%, while China's is 79.8%.
➄ Both South Korea and China are at 74.2% in advanced semiconductor packaging technology.
➅ South Korea's semiconductor industry has made significant achievements in the past few decades, especially in the field of storage chips.
➆ China's semiconductor industry has developed rapidly in recent years, surpassing South Korea in many key technology areas.
February 22
- What Ren Zhengfei, Lei Jun, and Others Discussed at the Private Enterprise Dialogue?
芯智讯
➀ President Xi Jinping held a symposium with entrepreneurs from various fields across the country to discuss the development of private enterprises under the new situation;
➁ Ren Zhengfei, CEO of Huawei, expressed his confidence in China's rise and discussed Huawei's 'backup plan 2.0';
➂ Lei Jun, CEO of Xiaomi, spoke about Xiaomi's recovery and commitment to high-end development and AI technology application;
➃ Wang Chuanfu, Chairman of BYD, highlighted the achievements of China's new energy vehicle industry and the importance of innovation;
➄ Liu Yonghao, Chairman of New Hope Group, discussed the vitality of traditional industries and the importance of confidence;
➅ Yu Renrong, Chairman of Weilai Semiconductor, analyzed the increasing domestication rate in supply chain and the strong driving force of upstream and downstream development;
➆ Wang Xingxing, CEO of UST, emphasized the importance of innovation and the contribution of young people to national innovation.
- Huang Renxun's First Response to DeepSeek! (With Real Record)
Unknown
➀ DeepSeek's R1 model sparked a major response in the tech industry, causing NVIDIA's stock to fall 16.79% and its market value to lose $90 billion, a record in American financial history.
➁ Huang Renxun, NVIDIA's CEO, praised DeepSeek as a major advancement in artificial intelligence but had not publicly responded to the issue until Thursday.
➂ Huang Renxun addressed the misunderstanding among investors about DeepSeek's progress in the AI field, which led to an incorrect reaction in the market to NVIDIA's stock.
- LPDDR5 Speed Boost: A Massive Leap!
icbank
➀ Samsung's LPDDR5-Ultra-Pro further solidifies its position in the LPDDR6 domain.
➁ Samsung has introduced an extension to the LPDDR5 specification at the ISSCC, raising data transfer rates to 12,700 MT/s (12.7 GT/s) through the addition of four-phase self-calibration and AC coupling transmitter-receiver equalization.
➂ The fastest LPDDR5X by Samsung features a 12,700 MT/s data transfer rate and is a 16 Gb memory IC with an industry-standard voltage of 1.05V, manufactured using the company's fifth-generation 10nm-class DRAM manufacturing process.
- The Future of EUV Technology: Prospects for Brightness
icbank
➀ The demand for advanced node chips supporting AI is growing rapidly, putting pressure on the industry to meet demand;
➁ EUV lithography technology is critical for manufacturing these chips, and its stability requires continuous investment and improvement;
➂ The ongoing research and development in various aspects, from new photoresists to more powerful light sources, aims to improve the cost-effectiveness of EUV.
- The Storage Market: Another Winter Approaching?
icbank
➀ The storage market, including NAND and DRAM, has been severely impacted since the third quarter of 2021, with DRAM prices falling by 57% and NAND prices by 55%;
➁ The market began to recover in the second half of 2023, driven by the rise of AI and the demand for HBM in AI chips;
➂ However, the warm season did not last long, and the storage market seems to be facing another winter at the beginning of 2025;
➃ NAND prices are expected to remain low in the first half of 2025, but SSD shipments are expected to increase in the second half due to growing demand for AI servers;
➄ DRAM prices are also expected to decline significantly in the first quarter of 2025, mainly due to weak consumer demand and excess supply of DDR4 memory modules;
➅ The DRAM industry is expected to shift its focus to DDR5 and HBM in the future, as these technologies are becoming increasingly important in data centers and AI applications.
February 21
- Over 3Billion Yuan in Funding for 12 SiC Companies
微信公众号：行家说三代半
➀ Since January2025, SiC industry has seen continuous funding, with 2 more companies receiving a new round of funding totaling over 500 million yuan.
➁ As of February 21, 12 SiC companies have completed funding this year.
➂ Pinnacle Semiconductor has completed nearly 500 million yuan in A2 and A3 rounds of funding, focusing on R&D, supply chain, and global market layout.
➃ Sun Yang Electronics has completed B round of funding, aiming to enhance R&D efforts and product competitiveness.
➄ In 2025, a total of 12 SiC companies have received funding, with a total amount of nearly 3 billion yuan.
- A Unicorn Failing Before IPO: The Downfall of a Tech Giant
融中财经
➀ Zongmu Technology, a leading intelligent driving company, has fallen into a state of shutdown, leaving over 700 employees unemployed.
➁ The company has struggled with employee wage issues since November 2024 and has seen high-level management departures.
➂ Despite securing 9 rounds of financing totaling 2.247 billion yuan, Zongmu Technology has failed to turn a profit, leading to its current predicament.
- FD-SOI, Advancing to 7nm
icbank
➀ The traditional CMOS process faces challenges due to the limits of photolithography and the need for new technologies to maintain further development.
➁ FinFET has become the mainstream choice for semiconductor devices, pushing the development of semiconductor processes to 7nm, 5nm, and even 3nm.
➂ FD-SOI, once overlooked, is gaining prominence due to its unique technical characteristics and advantages.
➃ FD-SOI technology is growing rapidly, with the global market size expected to increase from $930 million in 2022 to $4.09 billion in 2027.
➄ FD-SOI technology has advantages such as higher performance, lower power consumption, and better radio frequency performance.
➅ FD-SOI technology is particularly suitable for low-power devices such as mobile phones and IoT.
➆ The development of FD-SOI technology has been driven by key players in the semiconductor industry, with the industry actively promoting the technology's development and expanding its application boundaries.
February 20
- Samsung Suddenly Calls 2000 Executives!
半导体技术天地
➀ Samsung Group has recently initiated a special leadership training program for all senior management personnel at home and abroad, focusing on the themes of 'crisis breakthrough' and 'organizational management'.
➁ The program aims to gather approximately 2000 senior executives from all subsidiaries, including Samsung Electronics, for a special training session on 'reviving the spirit and values of Samsung'.
➂ The training, which is taking place at the Samsung Human Resources Development Institute in Gyeonggi Province, is a rare move by Samsung to conduct a large-scale training for all senior management for the first time in nine years.
February 19
- Semi-conductor Giants in Japan and South Korea Plan to Shut Down and Sell!
Unknown
➀ South Korea's Magnachip Semiconductor is seeking to sell after failing to close a $1.4 billion acquisition deal with China's Zhi Lu Capital in 2021 due to U.S. intervention.
➁ Magnachip's stock has been declining due to the long-term downturn in the global display industry, with its market value now at $150.7 million and expected sale price at $27.3 million.
➂ Sumco, a Japanese silicon wafer manufacturer, plans to stop silicon wafer production at its Miyazaki factory by the end of 2026, transforming it into a factory for producing single crystal ingots.