➀ ASML and imec have signed a new strategic partnership agreement, focusing on research and sustainability.

➁ The agreement aims to deliver valuable solutions in two areas: advancing the semiconductor industry and developing sustainable innovation initiatives.

➂ The collaboration includes ASML's full product portfolio, focusing on high-end nodes and advanced technologies.

➀ ASML's annual revenue reached €28.263 billion in 2024, with China contributing 36.1% of the total.

➁ ASML plans to open a new service center in Beijing, China, to enhance its repair capabilities.

➂ The company expects the semiconductor market to recover, driven by demand for AI-related memory and advanced logic chips.

➀ ASML's EUV lithography technology achieves extremely high precision, requiring massive resources and a total cost of $2.5 billion. The key technology includes emitting a laser to a tin droplet to produce a plasma light source, which is executed 50,000 times per second, with heat reaching 40 times that of the sun's surface. The EUV machine also relies on ultra-smooth mirrors with extremely high precision.

➁ ASML's technological progress supports Moore's Law, making semiconductors more advanced and helping companies like NVIDIA manufacture complex chips. ASML leads in the lithography field with a deep technological moat that is difficult for other companies to surpass.

➂ The precision (EUV) required costs $2.5 billion, involving 40 shipping containers, 20 trucks, and 3 large jet planes to transport one EUV machine.

➃ The EUV machine's light source involves emitting a laser to a tin droplet about the size of a pollen grain. This process must be executed 50,000 times per second, meaning it occurs every 0.00002 seconds.

➄ ASML's mirrors are incredibly smooth, with the largest flaw being less than one millimeter if the mirrors were as large as Germany.

➅ Moore's Law largely depends on ASML, and continued technological advancement will lead to more advanced semiconductors, enabling chips to execute more complex algorithms.

➆ No one is close to ASML in the lithography field, with their moat on another level.

➀ The Trump administration is seeking to tighten export restrictions on advanced AI processors from the U.S. and persuade allies to restrict servicing of tools in China.

➁ The new guidelines, known as the AI Diffusion Rule, limit access to powerful AI processors like Nvidia's H100 GPUs.

➂ The move is met with resistance from the industry, which fears it could harm business interests and accelerate the development of domestic alternatives in China.

➀ Rapidus plans to install 10 EUV lithography tools in its upcoming fabs in Japan.

➁ The tools will be used for mass production of chips on 2nm-class process technology starting in 2027.

➂ The installation is expected to begin at IIM-1 and IIM-2 semiconductor production facilities.

➀ A former ASML employee with a Russian background was detained by the Dutch government for allegedly stealing chip-making manuals and other files from ASML and Mapper Lithography, sparking concerns from all sides;

➁ Mapper, a firm specializing in electron-beam lithography, was acquired by ASML in 2019, leading to a power struggle among the US, the Netherlands, China, and Russia;

➂ Mapper's technology, with high resolution and low cost, was considered a competitor to EUV lithography machines, but failed to gain widespread adoption due to its slow speed and low efficiency;

➃ Mapper received investment from RUSNANO, a Russian investment fund, which helped establish a factory in Moscow to produce necessary parts, but later faced financial difficulties and sought Chinese partners;

➄ The US Department of Defense was interested in Mapper's technology but failed to secure a deal, leading to Mapper's bankruptcy and ASML's acquisition;

➅ ASML acquired Mapper's technology and patents, but closed its electron-beam lithography product line, while Mapper's Russian factory was acquired by RUSNANO and continues to operate;

➆ Russia and China are continuing to develop their own electron-beam lithography technologies to meet their semiconductor manufacturing needs.

➀ Dutch Minister of Asylum and Migration has imposed a 20-year entry ban on a former ASML employee.

➁ The ex-employee, a 43-year-old Russian engineer, is also facing charges for violating sanctions regulations.

➂ He is accused of stealing ASML and Mapper Lithography chip technology documents over the years.

➀ ASML's overlay tool (YieldStar) and OPC mask making software (Tachyon suite) sales impacted by new export controls;

➁ Updated export control regulations include metrology and software in restricted technologies list;

➂ Additional fab locations in China added to US restrictions list;

➃ Commerce issued three new documents clarifying new export control rules;

➄ China's semiconductor phone book copied-pasted in the new export control list;

➅ ERC added 106 entities to the Entity List.

➀ The semiconductor market is experiencing a mixed situation with some companies thriving and others struggling.

➁ ASML's stock price continues to fall due to challenges in the market and geopolitical uncertainties.

➂ BESI's revenue and orders have grown significantly, but the company is facing challenges in the mainstream and Chinese packaging equipment markets.

➃ Lam Research has reported strong financial results, driven by strong demand for advanced logic and DRAM in Asia.

➄ Teradyne's revenue increased due to robust performance in its semiconductor testing business.

➅ ASM International's order book exceeded analyst expectations, driven by strong demand for AI chip key technologies.

➆ KLA's revenue and earnings exceeded expectations, and the company is optimistic about the semiconductor market's growth in 2025.

➇ SK Hynix achieved record profits and sales due to strong sales of high-end AI memory products like HBM.

➈ TSMC's third-quarter profit increased significantly, driven by strong demand for AI chips.

➉ United Microelectronics Corporation reported better financial results compared to Force Microelectronics Inc.

➊ Infineon and Texas Instruments have different views on the automotive semiconductor market, with Infineon predicting a slowdown and Texas Instruments remaining optimistic.

➀ TSMC is set to receive the first shipment of the world's most advanced chipmaking machines from ASML.

➁ These high NA EUV lithography machines are the most expensive chipmaking equipment, costing around $350 million each.

➂ TSMC will receive them just months behind U.S. rival Intel.