Semiconductor News 20260529

Today’s semiconductor news highlights a situation where the explosive expansion of AI infrastructure is accelerating the advancement of manufacturing technology and demand for related components at an unprecedented rate. In particular, the DRAM market in the first quarter of 2026 is growing rapidly to $97 billion, 3.6x year-on-year, driven by AI demand, with HBM and data center products dominating the market. In response, Broadcom and FuriosaAI have partnered to develop next-generation AI chips using TSMC’s 2nm process, and Cadence and Samsung Foundry are deepening their cooperation in the 2nm and 3D-IC fields. There is also an urgent need for technological innovation to build a sustainable AI infrastructure, such as NGK’s decision to make a major investment of 250 billion yen for semiconductors and telecommunications, the introduction of water-cooling technology to reduce power consumption in data centers, and ASML’s strategy to improve energy efficiency of EUV equipment. Geopolitical influences are also growing, such as China’s introduction of an AI chip certification system and Taiwan’s emphasis on semiconductors as a national strategy, and the industry as a whole is making a concerted effort to strengthen “behind-the-scenes” technologies to support the huge trend of AI.

Main News

1. DRAM Market Surges 3.6x YoY to $97 Billion in Q1 2026 , Driven by AI Demand
   The DRAM market grew 3.6x YoY to $97 billion in Q1 2026, according to Counterpoint Research. This rapid growth is mainly due to exploding demand for HBM and LPDDR5 for AI data centers. By manufacturer, Samsung maintains a market share of about 38%, but signs of change in the market structure are beginning to emerge, with China’s CXMT growing to an 8% share.
2. NGK to Invest 250 Billion Yen in Development for Semiconductors and Telecommunications NG K (formerly NGK) will invest 250 billion yen by FY2030 to strengthen development of key components for semiconductor manufacturing and products for high-speed communications.
   NGK intends to make the digital society-related business, which supports the spread of generated AI, a pillar of growth in anticipation of the downsizing of the business for electric vehicles, and will hasten the shift to a business structure that responds to the shift to semiconductor infrastructure, with the goal of increasing consolidated sales to 1.3 trillion yen, approximately double current sales, in the 10 years to fiscal 2035.
3. Broadcom partners with FuriosaAI to jointly develop 2nm AI chips, reportedly made by TSMC – sampling expected in H1 2028
   Broadcom has partnered with South Korean AI chip company FuriosaAI to jointly develop next-generation AI chips. The chips are expected to use TSMC’s 2nm process and are targeted to begin sampling in the first half of 2028.With chipmakers increasingly looking to reduce their reliance on NVIDIA’s GPUs, Broadcom will play a key role in building AI inference infrastructure The company is expected to play a key role in building AI inference infrastructure.
4. Cadence and Samsung Foundry Deepen 2nm and 3D-IC Cooperation to Meet Surging AI Infrastructure and Physical AI Demands
   Cadence and Samsung Foundry are strengthening their cooperation in 2nm process and 3D-IC technologies to meet the burgeoning demand for AI infrastructure and physical AI. The two companies will optimize workflows from design to manufacturing to shorten development time and improve performance of next-generation semiconductors. This collaboration will help solve the increasingly complex AI chip design issues and strengthen Samsung’s competitiveness as a foundry.
5. AI Data Centers are “Cooled by Water” Japanese energy-saving technology curbs power bombardment
   With the spread of AI servers, power consumption in data centers is becoming a serious issue, and attention is turning to “water-cooled” technology for its high cooling efficiency. In the cooling process, which accounts for 30-40% of the power consumption of data centers, the conversion from conventional air cooling to water cooling is regarded as a trump card for energy conservation. Japanese companies have high technological capabilities in this field, and their introduction is accelerating both in Japan and overseas as a solution for improving power efficiency.
6. Anritsu, OKI, Optorun…NVIDIA is also accelerating investment! The 8 most powerful technology companies in Japan that expect “explosive demand” in “optical technology” to support AI data centers and semiconductors [Selected 8 companies]
   In response to the increasing power consumption of AI data centers, NVIDIA and other major companies are focusing on innovation in “optical technology. In response to the increasing power consumption of AI data centers, NVIDIA and other major companies are focusing on innovation in “optical technology. Optical communication technology, which enables faster data transfer and lower power consumption, is the key to next-generation infrastructure. Eight Japanese technology companies with unique strengths in this field, including Anritsu, OKI, and Optorun, are attracting a great deal of attention from investors as they capture the “explosive demand” of the AI age.
7. As AI Boosts Semiconductor Energy Consumption, ASML Launches Sustainable Strategy with EUV
   As the rapid spread of AI raises concerns about energy consumption in semiconductors, ASML has announced a sustainable strategy for its extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment. The company aims to improve the energy efficiency of its manufacturing processes to both produce the high-performance chips required in the age of AI and reduce environmental impact. The company emphasizes that ensuring the sustainability of semiconductor manufacturing through technological innovation is essential for the long-term growth of the industry as a whole.
8. Taiwan President Emphasizes Semiconductors and AI as Pillars of Taiwan’s Global Prosperity
   Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-tsung reiterated that the semiconductor and AI industries are two major pillars of Taiwan’s economic prosperity and international standing. Taiwan plays an integral role in the global supply chain and will continue to contribute to the development of global AI infrastructure through technological innovation and investment attraction. As geopolitical importance grows, Taiwan’s national strategy is to maintain its industrial pre-eminence.
9. Commentary: China’s AI Chip Certification Becomes New Gatekeeper to Market Entry
   The AI chip certification system that the Chinese government is introducing is beginning to act as a new barrier (gatekeeper) to market entry. This system, which has security and performance standards in its name, will affect both domestic and foreign chipmakers operating in the Chinese market. In addition to technical standardization, it is also being seen as a tool for geopolitical maneuvering, which could lead to significant changes in future supply chain strategies.
10. GUC Showcases VSORA’s Jotunn8 AI Inference Processor at TSMC European Technology Symposium
    GUC (Global Unichip Corp.) showcased VSORA’s Jotunn8 AI inference processor at the TSMC European Technology Symposium. The processor is designed to improve the efficiency of AI inference and leverages TSMC’s advanced process technology, combining GUC’s design capabilities with VSORA’s architecture to capture demand for AI solutions in the European market.

News List (112 items)

This article is delivered every morning by an automatic collection and AI generation system. Number of collected articles: 112 | Update date: 20260529

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