Semiconductor News 20260521

The major topics in today’s semiconductor news are the restructuring of supply networks in response to growing AI demand and the advancement of next-generation manufacturing technologies. While there are concerns about the impact of the Samsung Electronics strike on memory prices, ADATA is closely monitoring market trends beyond 2028, and a former Samsung executive warned of the risk of a sharp drop in memory demand in the same year, raising caution about the supply-demand balance over the medium to long term. On the technology front, imec has successfully demonstrated a high-NA EUV-based quantum bit device, paving the way for mass production, and ASML has also announced that its first product using High-NA EUV is expected to be available within a few months. In addition, customer interest in Intel’s EMIB technology is growing, and Japanese and Taiwanese suppliers are strengthening cooperation in the area of advanced packaging, for example, by supplying substrates. At the same time, geopolitical issues such as the hollowing out of South Korea’s manufacturing industry and its dependence on imports of chips for defense applications have come to the fore, forcing companies to strategically steer between AI-driven market growth and supply risks.

Main News

1. ASML Expects First High-NA EUV Memory and Logic Products Within Months Following TSMC’s Cost-Sensitive Delay
   Although TSMC plans not to introduce High-NA EUV in its A13 and A12 processes scheduled for 2029, ASML CEO Christoph Fouquet While TSMC’s cost-focused strategy has temporarily put off the adoption, implementation of the new technology in advanced processes is steadily advancing.
2. imec Demonstrates Quantum Dot Quantum Bit Devices with High-NA EUV, Presents Technology Platform for Mass Production
   imec has successfully fabricated quantum dot quantum bit devices using high-NA EUV lithography. The gap between the plunger gate and the barrier gate is formed at 6 nm, achieving both high-density integration and low noise. This achievement is an important milestone toward the industrial scaling of quantum computers by taking advantage of the affinity with the CMOS process, and will serve as a technological foundation that will greatly contribute to the mass production of quantum chips in the future.
3. Intel says EMIB customers support board prepayment; 4 from Taiwan, 2 from Japan seek commitment
   Intel CEO Lip Boo Tan said demand for his company’s advanced packaging technology, EMIB, is surging as 18A and 14A nodes are performing well Intel’s demand for EMIB, the company’s advanced packaging technology, is surging due to strong demand for 18A and 14A nodes. With substrate supplies tight, customers are showing support for upfront payments, and four Taiwanese and two Japanese companies are stepping up collaboration to seek supply commitments.
4. ADATA expects Samsung strike to push memory prices higher, with expanded impact on the Chinese market expected after 2028
   Following the Samsung Electronics strike scheduled for May 21, ADATA expects DRAM and NAND prices to rise. While the direct annual production impact of the strike is expected to be limited, it is affecting market sentiment. In addition, our analysis of Samsung’s strategic expansion in the Chinese market indicates that the full impact will be felt from 2028 onward.
5. Former Samsung Semiconductor Head Warns of Possible Plunge in Memory Prices and Demand After 2028
   A former head of Samsung’s semiconductor division has sounded the alarm about the future of the memory market. He noted that although the current boom due to AI demand will continue, memory prices could plummet after 2028 due to oversupply and declining demand. The industry needs to carefully assess how long the current growth cycle is sustainable.
6. As Taiwan ‘s presence grows with the AI server boom, South Korea is sounding the alarm about the hollowing out of its manufacturing industry.
   The explosive growth in demand for AI servers is rapidly increasing the economic and industrial presence of Taiwan, the center of the supply chain. In contrast, there is growing concern in South Korea about the hollowing out of the manufacturing industry, and there is an urgent need to take measures to maintain the industrial structure and strengthen competitiveness, particularly in the semiconductor industry.
7. According to Korean media reports, AI-driven supply pressures have reduced Apple’s memory bargaining power.
   Memory supplies continue to be tight due to surging AI demand, and Apple’s position, which has led price negotiations in the past based on its strong purchasing power, is changing. According to Korean media, memory makers’ dominance is increasing, highlighting the relative decline in Apple’s bargaining power.
8. AMD Holds First Overseas AI DevDay in Shanghai, Aims to Further Engage with China
   AMD held its first overseas AI DevDay in Shanghai, the company’s first overseas AI DevDay. The aim is to maintain and expand its presence in the AI field by deepening ties with the developer community in the Chinese market amidst the increasingly complex regulatory environment in the U.S. and China. This is a strategic move by CEO Lisa Su and is being watched closely.
9. Amidst a Looming Optical Technology Supply Chain Crisis, 99% of Korean Defense Chips Depend on Imports
   Amidst a looming crisis in the supply chain related to optical technology, it has been discovered that the dependence of the Korean defense industry on imports of semiconductor chips has reached 99%. In the defense sector, which is of high security importance, excessive dependence on overseas supply networks poses a major risk, and domestic production and diversification of supply sources have become urgent issues.
10. GlobalFoundries Invests in Playground Global Fund IV to Accelerate Semiconductor Innovation
    GlobalFoundries has invested in the fourth fund of Playground Global, a venture capital firm, to accelerate semiconductor innovation. GlobalFoundries invested in the fourth fund of Playground Global, a venture capital firm dedicated to accelerating semiconductor innovation. The investment is part of GlobalFoundries’ strategy to strengthen its ecosystem and advance its manufacturing capabilities by investing in manufacturing infrastructure and next-generation technologies.

News List (117 items)

This article is delivered every morning by an automatic collection and AI generation system. Number of collected articles: 117 | Update date: 20260521