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Chips for lives, a keynote speech by Frans Van Houten, a former CEO of Philips

‘Ugly Truth’ About the Medical Chip Shortage

By Junko Yoshida

What’s at stake?
The roles semiconductor technologies play in the future of medical science and software-defined vehicles are huge. Still, chipmakers are not addressing the continued chip shortage faced by medical technology suppliers and healthcare providers.

While chip shortages affecting the automotive sector get most of the media attention, a retired industry executive warns that a lack of components used in medical devices has real-life consequences.

Read More »‘Ugly Truth’ About the Medical Chip Shortage
Chinese lidar company Hesai's point cloud image

Lidar Market Upheaval: Who’s Next for M&A?

By Junko Yoshida

What’s at stake?
Lidar startups that developed new and innovative technologies once appeared to be ushering in the robotaxi era. But the automotive industry’s demands, coupled with geopolitics, have transformed the market, forcing lidar startups to fight for survival. Who should merge with whom, and which companies are acquisition targets?  

Ouster and Velodyne are the first two lidar companies to announce a merger among a wave of anticipated consolidations. The pair declared they were joining forces in early November.

Read More »Lidar Market Upheaval: Who’s Next for M&A?
Xi Jinping meets Joe Biden

Dire Straits: China Moves Hastening TSMC’s Geo-Diversification

By George Leopold

What’s at stake:
Will a military crisis in Taiwan “decouple” global semiconductor supply chains?

Perhaps no other facet of the global economy is as dependent on a handful of companies as is the strategic semiconductor industry, historian Chris Miller notes in his new book, Chip War. The prime examples include foundry giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and the Netherlands’ ASML, which builds all of the market’s extreme-ultraviolet manufacturing equipment.

Read More »Dire Straits: China Moves Hastening TSMC’s Geo-Diversification
IBM 2nm process

Dissecting Rapidus, Japan’s Shiny New Chip Project

By Junko Yoshida

When Japan announced late last week a national project to launch a semiconductor company dubbed Rapidus, backed by the country’s biggest companies in partnership with IBM, I suspect I was not alone when I groaned, “Not again.”

Many understand that Japan loves ambitious long-term R&D projects. These national initiatives provide a pretext for ministry officials to goad Japanese corporations into pooling their resources to create new technologies. The point is to keep Japan competitive in advanced technologies.

Read More »Dissecting Rapidus, Japan’s Shiny New Chip Project
Eliyan founders (from left): Syrus Ziai, Ramin Farjadrad, Patrick Soheili

Eliyan Goes Do-or-Die with Die-to-Die Interface Technology

By Junko Yoshida.

What’s at stake?
Chiplets are emerging as the go-to technology for advanced SoCs designed for AI accelerator, data center and cloud computing applications. Despite years of implementation, these chiplets still face many challenges, including interconnect interfaces and protocols, packaging and quality control. Startup Eliyan is confident it has a technology that helps chipmakers overcome those hurdles.

Read More »Eliyan Goes Do-or-Die with Die-to-Die Interface Technology
India flag

India Renews Its Push for Homegrown Fabs

By Sufia Tippu

What’s at stake?
India has been trying unsuccessfully for decades to create strategic alliances for semiconductor manufacturing. Now, amid the confluence of geopolitics, economic uncertainty and supply chain disruptions, India’s best shot may be in chip assembly, test and packaging. 

An oft-repeated joke in Silicon Valley goes something like this: What comes first, Middle East peace or a fab in India?

Read More »India Renews Its Push for Homegrown Fabs