➀ Tariffs have encouraged US memory buyers to get their orders in Q1, reducing inventories;

➁ DRAM prices expected to fall 0-5% QoQ in Q2, with HBM pricing to rise 3-8% due to HBM3e shipments;

➂ Samsung's HBM qualification progress slower than expected, but no significant capacity shift back to DRAM;

➃ SK hynix focusing on server and mobile DRAM, limiting PC DDR5 supply;

➄ DDR4 prices weak due to consumer demand and capacity expansion, with PC DRAM prices expected to remain flat QoQ in Q2;

➅ Server DRAM demand driven by top North American CSPs and AI server investment in China, with DDR5 prices expected to stabilise in Q2;

➆ Mobile DRAM demand improved, with LPDDR4X supply ample but prices expected to decline modestly;

➇ GDDR7 demand from next-gen graphics cards, with prices expected to hold flat or slightly down due to tight supply;

➈ GDDR6 prices expected to decline 3-8%, with suppliers bundling to stabilise pricing and clear inventory;

➉ Consumer DRAM seeing more aggressive purchasing, with DDR4 contract prices expected to rise 0-5% in 2Q25, and DDR3 prices likely to remain flat.

➀ Saarland University researchers are developing lightweight elastomer films for smart textiles, touch displays, and speakers with haptic feedback.

➁ These films can be precisely controlled to vibrate, flex, press, or pull using electrical voltage.

➂ The research focuses on creating more efficient, stable, sensitive, and responsive smart film actuators.

➀ The former Newport Wafer Fab will receive a £250 million investment from new owners Vishay Intertechnology;

➁ Chancellor Rachel Reeves emphasizes the government's commitment to business growth and job creation;

➂ Vishay's investment plan includes expanding staff from 500 to 900 by 2030, with higher-than-average salaries;

➃ The investment is supported by the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) to bolster the UK's semiconductor supply chain.

➀ A student at the University of Applied Sciences in Hagen, Melanie Welp, has developed a contactless timing system for Paralympic swimming to prevent injury from head impacts.

➁ The prototype uses an ultrasonic sensor to measure the time at six meters and 50 centimeters before the edge of the pool.

➂ The system has been tested and shown to be possible without causing injury to swimmers.

➀ Chinese chipmakers are gradually shifting production to domestically-made tools to support the local wafer fab equipment ecosystem and reduce reliance on foreign tools.

➁ SiCarrier Technologies, a Huawei-linked startup, has revealed a comprehensive catalog of wafer processing tools at Semicon China.

➂ SiCarrier is working on advanced process nodes and future advanced nodes, and has partnerships with Huawei for proprietary production flows.

➀ YES, a global leader in materials and interface engineering equipment solutions, has shipped the first commercial VeroTherm Formic Acid Reflow tool to a global semiconductor manufacturer from its Sulur, Coimbatore facility.

➁ This marks a significant milestone for YES and the Indian semiconductor ecosystem, as it is the first equipment produced in India for advanced semiconductor applications like HBM.

➂ The Sulur facility, which commenced operations in September 2024, is part of YES's strategic expansion plan to serve global customers more efficiently.

➀ Jensen Huang of Nvidia expects a 20% performance boost from GAA-based technologies;

➁ Huang emphasizes the importance of software innovations over process node changes;

➂ Nvidia's next-generation GPUs for AI, codenamed Rubin, are expected to use TSMC's 3nm-class fabrication process.

➀ Faraday Technology Corporation, a leading provider of ASIC design services, has selected Silvaco's FlexCAN IP for advanced automotive ASIC design.

➁ The collaboration aims to enhance the capabilities of automotive systems through the use of advanced semiconductor technology.

➂ Silvaco's FlexCAN IP is designed to meet the stringent requirements of automotive applications.

➀ Power semiconductors, once a rising star with AI chips, are now facing challenges due to a slow EV market;

➁ Major players are reducing staff and delaying investments, with over 8,800 layoffs reported;

➂ The struggle is further compounded by the emerging competition from China.

➀ X-FAB, SMART Photonics, and Epiphany Design are collaborating to develop a photonics integration platform that combines InP and SOI technologies for multi tera-bit data rates.

➁ The platform aims to address customer requirements for high-speed data rates and energy efficiency in the manufacturing of optical transceivers.

➂ The collaboration has resulted in the development of a design flow and PDK that enables the design of photonics circuits integrating InP chiplets on an SOI platform.

➀ EnSilica, a mixed-signal ASIC designer, has opened a second design centre in Brazil;

➁ The new centre is in Campinas, São Paulo State, complementing the company's existing facility in Porto Alegre;

➂ The expansion is driven by a multimillion-pound contract from an optical computing systems customer and aims to meet the growing demand for a resilient European-based supply chain.

➀ Shanghai Yachuang Electronics Group Co., Ltd. plans to up to 200 million yuan in Shanghai Analog Semiconductor Technology Co., Ltd.;

➁ Yachuang Electronics has been focusing on the automotive, industrial, and power sectors, and is a well-known domestic agent and provider of automotive entertainment navigation solutions;

➂ Analog Semiconductor, founded in 2018, specializes in chip design for automotive intelligent driving linear products, and data converters, mainly targeting industrial and automotive markets.

Alphawave Semi is sampling its portfolio of optoelectronics products targeting the high-speed interconnect semiconductor market, expected to exceed $4 billion by 2028. The portfolio includes DSPs for PAM4 and emerging Coherent-lite modulation, using PAM4 SerDes with its WidEye DSP architecture and EyeQ diagnostic technology. The 800G and 1.6T interconnect products support up to 20km optical reach based on PAM4 and Coherent-lite solutions.

➀ SEMI announced a 2% year-over-year growth forecast for front-end fab equipment spending in 2025, reaching $110 billion;

➁ This growth is driven by demand in HPC and memory sectors, as well as the increasing integration of AI;

➂ The Logic & Micro segment is expected to be a key driver of growth, with investments reaching $52 billion in 2025 and $59 billion in 2026.

➀ The P-562.6CD 6-axis Nanopositioning Stage from PI (Physik Instrumente) offers nanometer-level accuracy, repeatability, and high dynamic performance with millisecond responsiveness across six degrees of freedom.

➁ It uses PICMA® piezo actuators and play-free flexure-guided mechanics for frictionless motion and long-term stability.

➂ The stage is designed for photonics, semiconductor metrology, super-resolution microscopy, and nanomanufacturing.

➀ This article lists the top ten foundries based on a report by TrendForce.

➁ The list highlights the leading companies in the semiconductor industry.

➂ It is part of a series that focuses on the top performers in various technology sectors.

➀ Sarcina Technology has launched an innovative AI platform;

➁ The platform aims to provide cost-effective and customizable packaging solutions for AI applications;

➂ It utilizes ASE's FOCoS-CL assembly technology and includes an interposer for advanced packaging.

➀ RANsemi, a British wireless semiconductor innovator, announced a strategic partnership with ACES, a leading Saudi Arabian neutral host operator, specializing in 5G Open RAN baseband technologies.

➁ The partnership is supported by the Saudi Arabian National Technology Development Programme (NTDP) and aims to advance 5G Open RAN and small cell technologies.

➂ The project aims to develop a class-leading 5G Open RAN neutral host small cell system, combining RANsemi's 5G baseband expertise with ACES' RF design capabilities.

➀ The Foundry 2.0 market is projected to reach $298 billion in 2025, with a year-over-year growth of 11%;

➁ TSMC is expected to expand its market share to 37% in 2025, driven by robust orders for AI accelerators;

➂ The non-memory IDM sector is expected to grow modestly at 2% in 2025, despite Intel's aggressive promotion of its process technologies.