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January 8
- Semiconductor Giant Reshuffles Staff, Postpones Salary Increase!
➀ Renesas Electronics, a Japanese semiconductor manufacturer, plans to lay off hundreds of employees this year due to weak demand for chips.
➁ The company, which serves major automotive manufacturers like Toyota and Nissan, has canceled its salary increase plan for employees scheduled for this spring.
➂ Renesas expects its revenue to decline by 9% to approximately 1.33 trillion yen (US$ 13.4 billion) in 2024, with an operating profit margin expected to drop by 5 percentage points to 28.9%.
- Canon's NIL Technology Competes with EUV Lithography
➀ Canon has delivered the first commercial version of a technology that could one day revolutionize the manufacturing of the most advanced silicon chips.
➁ NIL (nanoimprint lithography) can draw circuit features as small as 14 nanometers, matching the level of processors produced by Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA.
➂ Canon's approach is different from the EUV lithography system produced exclusively by ASML of the Netherlands.
- 8 New SiC Collaborations: Guangqi/Shanghai Auto Orders, 8-inch Product Delivery
➀ Xilinx Integration and Guangqi Aion have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to establish a joint laboratory for automotive semiconductor technology research and development.
➁ XiZhi Technology has achieved a delivery milestone of over 20,000 units of its 800V platform high-end electric drive SiC-DCM power modules.
➂ Jingchi Machinery has successfully passed customer verification for its 8-inch SiC resistive crystal growth furnace.
January 6
- The Investment Philosophy of Duan Yongping and Learning and Career Planning for Contemporary College Students
➀ Duan Yongping's investment philosophy emphasizes long-term value, avoiding quick judgments and short-term gains;
➁ He values business models and product differentiation, emphasizing the importance of a good business model in both investment and entrepreneurship;
➂ Duan is willing to take risks but keeps them within可控 limits, avoiding盲目 following others;
➃ He understands the importance of business models and culture, emphasizing the need for a deep understanding of the business, culture, and business model;
➄ Duan emphasizes doing the right thing, resisting short-term temptations, and stopping mistakes promptly;
➅ He believes in being the last to innovate, focusing on making existing things better;
➆ He emphasizes user value over innovation, aiming to meet user needs;
➇ He advocates for long-term holding of good companies, not being overly concerned with short-term fluctuations;
➈ Duan avoids using leverage and chasing information differences, focusing on long-term gains rather than quick wealth;
➉ He emphasizes the importance of thinking about the essence of things, not being deceived by appearances;
➊ He advises not to turn important matters into emergencies and to maintain health as a life goal.
January 5
- Academician Huang Ru No Longer Serving as President and Deputy Secretary of the Communist Party Committee of Southeast University
➀ Academician Huang Ru has ceased to serve as the President and Deputy Secretary of the Communist Party Committee of Southeast University;
➁ Huang Ru is a female Hui ethnic Chinese born in November 1969, from Nan'an, Fujian Province, a member of the Communist Party of China, with a doctorate in science, a professor, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and an academician of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World. She is a member of the Central Committee of the 20th Party Congress.
➂ Huang Ru has a bachelor's and master's degree from the Department of Electronic Engineering at Southeast University, and a doctorate from the Department of Computer Science and Technology at Peking University.
- The Secret Weapon Behind Broadcom's Breakthrough to Trillion
➀ Broadcom, with decades of experience in communication chips, is making a significant shift towards AI, with AI-related revenue accounting for 41% of its semiconductor business.
➁ Broadcom focuses on customized AI accelerators (XPUs) and related network connection technologies, avoiding direct competition with NVIDIA in the general AI acceleration chip market.
➂ Broadcom's XPU platform covers a full range of solutions from AI design process, AI IP, to SoC packaging, enabling rapid response to customer needs.
- CPU Market Gears Up for Two New Competitors
➀ NVIDIA and MediaTek are expected to enter the PC CPU market this year, increasing competition.
➁ Intel's CEO acknowledges the increased competition and emphasizes the need to stay alert.
➂ Arm's CEO predicts that Arm-based CPUs will challenge Intel and AMD's x86 architecture in the coming years.
➃ Reports suggest that NVIDIA and MediaTek are developing new Arm architecture CPUs for PCs.
➄ The entry of these companies is driven by the rise of AI PCs and the growing demand for more efficient and powerful processors.
➅ Microsoft's role in encouraging the development of new CPU architectures for Windows PCs is highlighted.
- Samsung's封装Challenge: The Rise and Fall of a Giant in Semiconductor Packaging
➀ Samsung's ambition to enter the semiconductor foundry market in early 2022 was thwarted by its weaknesses in advanced packaging compared to TSMC.
➁ Samsung has been actively hiring key personnel and investing in advanced packaging technology to catch up with TSMC.
➂ Despite its early advancements in packaging technology, Samsung has struggled to maintain its competitive edge due to lack of investment and market focus.
December 30
- No Significant Price Drop in Chinese Semiconductor Wafer Fab, Industry Denies!
➀ Reports of significant discounts in China's wafer fabs are denied by industry sources;
➁ The cost structure makes the rumored discounts highly unlikely;
➂ Analysts predict a minor price drop trend but not a widespread price war in 2025.
December 28
- Photonic Corporation Invests 5 Billion RMB in Establishing Asian Electronic Production Center in Vietnam's Quang Ninh
➀ Photonic Corporation, a global top 10 OEM manufacturer, is investing 6.9 billion USD (about 50 billion RMB) in an electronic component and equipment manufacturing project in Vietnam's Quang Ninh Province.
➁ The project, located in the Song Khoai industrial park, is expected to start production in November 2025 with an annual capacity of over 64 million units.
➂ The project is part of a larger trend of manufacturing industry reconfiguration, with Vietnam becoming a key emerging manufacturing base and attracting global manufacturers.
- Bamboo Forest Realizes 2 Billion RMB in Cash-Out, Changxin Technology Valuation Drops to 128.2 Billion Yuan?
➀碧桂园 announced a share transfer agreement with Hefei Jianchang Equity Investment Partnership and Changxin Technology Group, selling approximately 1.56% of Changxin Technology's equity for 2 billion RMB;
➁Changxin Technology is the parent company of Changxin Storage, a leading domestic DRAM chip manufacturer in China;
➂Bamboo Forest participated in Changxin Technology's financing in September 2021 and sold its equity in December 2022, valuing Changxin Technology at approximately 128.2 billion RMB.
- Suggestions for Intel's Wafer Fab
➀ Intel needs to fill all its fabs to maintain competitiveness in the semiconductor manufacturing field;
➁ TSMC is rapidly expanding its competitive advantage through partnerships with Japan and Europe;
➂ Creating a universal foundry platform alliance would allow other fabs to utilize their manufacturing capabilities, benefiting Intel;
➃ Intel's failed acquisition of Tower Semiconductor due to regulatory hurdles is a missed opportunity;
➄ TSMC's collaboration with Japanese and European companies to build fabs is a strategic move;
➅ Intel needs to transform and consider establishing a universal foundry platform alliance to fill its fabs and packaging facilities.
- Samsung and SK Hynix Diverge on EUV Lithography Technology!
➀ Samsung and SK Hynix, two major South Korean semiconductor companies, are taking different strategies in the EUV lithography technology field.
➁ Samsung is focusing on improving yields, while SK Hynix is focusing on long-term technological progress.
➂ Samsung has invested heavily in EUV lithography machines aims to maximize the production efficiency of various materials and components used in EUV lithography equipment.
➃ SK Hynix has dissolved its EUV TF and integrated it into the Future Technology Research Institute, emphasizing long-term technological progress.
- U.S. Chip Efforts: A Boon or a Bust?
➀ The U.S. CHIPS Act has been in the works for over four years, costing $53 billion, aiming to revitalize the U.S. economy and compete with China.
➁ The U.S. Commerce Secretary recently criticized the Act, suggesting that trying to stop China is foolish and that the only way to win is by innovating and staying ahead.
➂ The Act has led to significant investments, but challenges like cultural differences and financial issues have hindered progress.
- The Growth Path of KLA: Insights into China's Measurement Industry
➀ KLA is a dominant player in the front-end measurement equipment industry, providing comprehensive detection, measurement, and data analysis products and services.
➁ KLA's journey includes several key acquisitions that have expanded its business into various sectors of semiconductor equipment.
➂ The Chinese measurement industry is currently fragmented, with many companies focusing on low-end AOI, and the country needs 1-2 strong companies to compete with global leaders like KLA.
December 27
- Northern Huace: Achieving Defect-Free 8-inch SiC Superjunction槽蚀
➀ Northern Huace's team has successfully achieved defect-free superjunction device trench etching with a high aspect ratio (>5:1) on 8-inch SiC substrates and rounded trench etching for SiC MOSFET devices, which has great potential for improving the performance of SiC trench power devices.
➁ The SiC trench etching process of Northern Huace has three main advantages: high aspect ratio SiC trench etching without obvious anomalies such as bending, micro-grooves, and 'V'-shaped profiles; SiC trench size is very consistent with subsequent epitaxy processes; and nitrogen introduction can directly realize rounded SiC trench structure etching without annealing.
➂ The team optimized the plasma etching formula to solve the above problems, including adjusting the gas flow ratio for superjunction devices and introducing nitrogen dilution for gate trench devices.
- Former Star Company Bankruptcy Accelerates Silicon Carbide Market Clearance
➀ Beijing Jidu Jinguang Semiconductor Co., Ltd. has filed for bankruptcy liquidation due to financial difficulties;
➁ The rapid expansion of the silicon carbide market has led to intense competition and overcapacity;
➂ The price of silicon carbide has dropped significantly due to excessive supply and competition in the downstream electric vehicle industry;
➃ The industry is expected to see further consolidation and differentiation as new players enter the market.
December 26
- Samsung Holds Global Emergency Meeting!
➀ Samsung recalled overseas general managers from 9 regions including China, North America, and Southeast Asia to discuss emergency business strategies in response to domestic and international uncertainties;
➁ The meeting focused on currency exchange rates, departmental sales strategies, and response plans;
➂ The semiconductor business faced challenges with the appreciation of the Korean won against the US dollar, affecting component prices and overall sales.
December 23
- Apple M5 Series Chip: Advanced Features and Timelines
➀ The M5 series chips will adopt TSMC’s advanced N3P node, with mass production expected in 2025 and 2026.
➁ M5 Pro, Max, and Ultra will use server-grade SoIC packaging and 2.5D封装 for improved yields and thermal performance.
➂ Apple’s PCC infrastructure will accelerate post-high-end M5 chip mass production for better AI inferencing.
- U.S. Takes Action Against China's Traditional Chip Industry
➀ The Biden-Harris administration is investigating China's production of mature process semiconductors under the 301 trade law, citing national security threats and reducing U.S. dependence on these chips.
➁ The U.S. Trade Representative's office is initiating a 301 investigation to review China's targeting of mature semiconductors as a dominant position and its impact on the U.S. economy.
➂ The U.S. is investing in the entire semiconductor supply chain, including upstream materials like silicon carbide and wafers, with billions of dollars in private sector investments.
- U.S. Takes Action Against China's Traditional Chip Industry
➀ The Biden-Harris administration is investigating China's production of mature process semiconductors under the 301 trade law, citing national security threats and reducing U.S. dependence on these chips.
➁ The U.S. Trade Representative's office is initiating a 301 investigation to review China's targeting of mature semiconductors as a dominant position and its impact on the U.S. economy.
➂ The U.S. is investing in the entire semiconductor supply chain, including upstream materials like silicon carbide and wafers, with billions of dollars in private sector investments.
- Vietnam's Goertek Expands Drone Production Lines, Doubling Capacity to 60,000 Units
➀ Goertek Vina plans to expand its drone production lines from 4 to 8 in Binh Duong Province, doubling annual output to 60,000 units;
➁ The expansion includes the introduction of upstream component production to increase Vietnam's manufactured content;
➂ The factory produces two main drone models, Wing/7000 MP3 and Wing 7000 WB, with a focus on high performance and innovation;
➃ The expansion also involves the production of drone accessories like charging equipment and control devices.
- The Legend of Yisiwei: How Wang Dongsheng is Rebuilding a Dynasty
➀ Wang Dongsheng, known as the 'Father of China's Semiconductor Display Industry', has embarked on a transformative journey from 'making screens' to 'making chips'.
➁ Yisiwei Materials successfully submitted an IPO application to the Shanghai Stock Exchange with a valuation of 24 billion yuan in 2024.
➂ China's technology industry needs leaders to fight a hard battle from CRT tubes to the world's first LCD panels, from highly dependent on imports to Yisiwei Materials' independent breakthrough.
- The Legend of Yisiwei: How Wang Dongsheng is Rebuilding a Dynasty
➀ Wang Dongsheng, known as the 'Father of China's Semiconductor Display Industry', has embarked on a transformative journey from 'making screens' to 'making chips'.
➁ Yisiwei Materials successfully submitted an IPO application to the Shanghai Stock Exchange with a valuation of 24 billion yuan in 2024.
➂ China's technology industry needs leaders to fight a hard battle from CRT tubes to the world's first LCD panels, from highly dependent on imports to Yisiwei Materials' independent breakthrough.
- SunPower Electric Announces 2 Major Milestones: 2 Million Units Off the Production Line and SiC Motor Controller Integration into Geely's New Hybrid Model
➀ SunPower Electric announced the production of the 2 millionth unit, marking a significant milestone in the electric vehicle control and power supply field;
➁ The newly produced hybrid dual-control HEM38 product is based on the mature TPAK parallel power module and is equipped with a SiC step-up module, achieving an efficiency of up to 99.9%;
➂ The SiC motor controller has been successfully integrated into Geely's new hybrid model, the Starship 7 EM-i;
➃ The Starship 7 EM-i is Geely's first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) based on the GEA new energy exclusive architecture;
➄ Several leading car manufacturers such as BYD, Toyota, Hongqi, Chery, and Kia have also introduced hybrid models with SiC-based DHT systems.
December 22
- Another Fund Launched in Anhui for Investment in Smart Chips!
➀ Anhui Kexun Artificial Intelligence Venture Capital Fund Partnership (Limited Partnership) was established with a capital of 500 million yuan.
➁ The fund is engaged in private equity investment, investment management, and asset management.
➂ Kedacom, Hefei City Venture Capital Guidance Fund Co., Ltd., and other parties jointly invested in the fund.
➃ This is the eighth subsidiary fund established by Hua'an Jiye, which manages the Anhui Artificial Intelligence Theme Mother Fund, with a subscribed capital of nearly 13.7 billion yuan.
➄ The subsidiary fund focuses on the exploration and commercial application of cutting-edge AI technologies, investing in areas such as smart chips, natural language processing, computer vision, and data analysis.
- Three Forces Driving the Aggressive Development of Silicon Photonics
➀ The rapid development of data centers and the demand for faster and more efficient communication networks are driving the adoption of silicon photonics.
➁ Silicon photonic integrated circuits (PICs) combine the advantages of optics with the scalability of integrated circuits, enabling high-speed data transmission.
➂ The market for PICs is expected to grow significantly, driven by high-speed modules and expanding data centers.
➃ Major semiconductor companies, such as Intel and Broadcom, are investing heavily in silicon photonics technology.
➄ Newcomers like Lightmatter, Celestial AI, and Ayar Labs are also making significant contributions to the field.
➅ Semiconductor foundries are playing a crucial role in the production of silicon photonics products.
December 21
- Amkor Technology's 11.5 Billion USD Factory in Vietnam's Bac Ninh Officially Launched, Reducing 70% of Employees with Automation
➀ Amkor Technology is constructing a $1.6 billion semiconductor packaging and testing factory in Bac Ninh, Vietnam, showing confidence in the market.
➁ The new factory in Bac Ninh will begin operations in October 2024, with an initial capacity of 70% of the designed capacity.
➂ The total investment for the Bac Ninh project is $1.6 billion, with an annual production capacity of 1.2 billion chips upon completion.
➃ The automation of the new factory is expected to reduce the number of employees from the originally planned 10,000 to only 2,800.
➄ The advanced automation technology used in the factory will require skilled technicians for operation and maintenance.
➅ Vietnam's strategic location and government support are driving the growth of the semiconductor industry in the country.
- The Future of China's Semiconductor Industry: Prospects and Challenges
➀ The market sentiment towards China's semiconductor industry is pessimistic due to capital withdrawal and layoffs.
➁ Professor suggests that the good news is that the U.S. is blocking China's advanced technology, not mature technology, which presents an opportunity.
➂ The bad news is that China's advanced semiconductor technology is not promising in the short term, with numerous issues and a lack of original innovation.
- Analyst: Taiwan's Mature Process Should Integrate Quickly
➀ Taiwan's semiconductor industry is expected to grow by 16%, with TSMC's growth at 25%, driven by Intel orders, advanced process capacity, and AI orders.
➁ Analysts suggest that the U.S. restrictions on China's mature process may not be as effective as expected, and Taiwan's mature process companies should consider integration for economies of scale.
➂ TSMC's revenue growth rate is estimated to reach 25% in 2025, but the biggest variable is U.S. policy.