This year’s COMPUTEX successfully attracted global attention, with the participation of 1,000 exhibitors and nearly 50,000 technology experts, startups, professional buyers, and international media. Building on the success of this year’s exhibition, COMPUTEX 2024 will revolve around Artificial Intelligence (AI) and is scheduled to take place from June 4 to 7 at the Nangang Exhibition Center, Halls 1 and 2. The organizer cordially invites interested exhibitors to register and join this global technology extravaganza.

COMPUTEX 2024: Building an AI Technology Ecosystem

According to market research firm IDC’s predictions, global spending on AI system-related software, hardware, and services is expected to exceed $300 billion by 2026. Additionally, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for 2022 to 2026 is projected to reach 26.5%. Given the continued expansion of the global AI computing trend into various industries, COMPUTEX 2024 focuses on six major themes: AI Computing, Advanced Connectivity, Future Mobility, Immersive Reality, Innovations, and Sustainability. New additions to the event include exhibition areas with forward-looking development potential, such as AI Computing and System Integration, Components and Battery Energy Storage, and Smart Mobility. We invite global technology enterprises to join us in co-creating the AI technology ecosystem.

InnoVEX, the innovation and startup exhibition area, stands as COMPUTEX’s international benchmark platform for startups. It provides startup companies with opportunities to find manufacturing partners and international sales channels while hosting startup competitions and product presentations to increase visibility and garner support from international investors.

Diverse and Rich Exhibition Activities Receive Support from Technology Leaders

This year, COMPUTEX Keynotes & Forums made a significant impact by featuring heavyweight tech CEO speakers. The event created quite a buzz in the industry, drawing an attendance of 7,000 people on-site and an impressive 2.5 million online views. In 2024, the organizers will continue to host these speaking engagements, inviting tech giants and high-level executives to share their profound insights into future technology trends. These discussions delve deep into areas such as AI, system integration, data science, IoT, and more, fostering cross-disciplinary exchanges and knowledge sharing.

Throughout the exhibition, there will be additional events, including international press conferences, opening ceremonies, procurement meetings, themed guided tours, Happy Hour, and more. These activities are designed to enhance communication and interaction among exhibitors, international media, international buyers, and domestic industry professionals.

COMPUTEX 2024: Registration to Exhibit is Now Open for this Global Business Opportunity Event

Registration for COMPUTEX 2024 is now officially open; an outstanding platform for businesses interested in expanding international markets, staying updated on the latest industry trends, and identifying potential supply chain partners. We warmly welcome participants in today’s tech, especially the fields of AI technology, system integration solutions, smart technology, and startups.

(Image: COMPUTEX)

China’s Ministry of Commerce announced that as of December 1, the export of graphite products will require permits, citing national security concerns. Graphite is a vital anode material in lithium-ion batteries, making it crucial for industries like electric vehicles and energy storage. China is the world’s largest producer of graphite, supplying over 67% of global natural graphite and more than 90% of refined graphite.

This move indicates China’s efforts to control critical mineral supplies, which is part of a broader trend as foreign governments, such as the EU, consider tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles due to perceived unfair subsidies, and the US expands restrictions on Chinese companies acquiring advanced semiconductor technology.

Natural graphite is considered a critical raw material by the EU, Japan, Canada, and the US. China’s major graphite buyers include Japan, the US, India, and South Korea. The International Energy Agency predicts a 20-25 fold increase in graphite demand from 2020 to 2040.

In response to the restrictions, the South Korean Ministry of Trade has held meetings with battery and materials manufacturers to discuss strategies for mitigating potential disruptions in lithium-ion battery production. Japan has expressed its intention to inquire further and consider appropriate measures if China’s actions violate World Trade Organization rules.

Before implementing these graphite export controls, China had imposed restrictions on gallium and germanium, affecting global prices for critical metals, starting on August 1. According to Chinese mainland customs data for September, export restrictions on gallium and germanium continue to impede the supply. In September, the export quantity of rolled germanium was 1 kilogram, while in August, it was zero. For both August and September, the export of rolled gallium was zero.

Read more:

• [News] China’s Export Control Measures and Their Impact on Electric Vehicle Battery Production

(Photo credit: Pixabay)

DB HiTek, a Specialty IC foundry in South Korea, is intensifying its research efforts in the Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductor domains to support future business growth, Jiwei reported.

DB HiTek’s recent investments aim to bolster its 8-inch wafer manufacturing capabilities. Nevertheless, due to a slow market recovery, reports suggest that the operation of the 8-inch wafer foundry may face challenges, and the transition to a 12-inch wafer foundry operation remains a question mark. In light of this situation, DB HiTek’s future development will pivot towards new power semiconductors such as GaN and SiC.

The company has reportedly initiated investments in essential equipment for next-generation GaN and SiC power semiconductors, a move set to expedite their research and development.

It is reported that DB HiTek, housing an 8-inch wafer foundry, is gearing up to venture into the SiC market, while the 6-inch wafer foundry remains the norm in this sector. As part of government policy initiatives, this specialized foundry is collaborating with Busan Techno Park for Silicon Carbide development.

In GaN semiconductor manufacturing, DB HiTek is partnering with the fabless company A-PRO Semicon to fine-tune their foundry processes.

As per the company’s website, DB HiTek operates two wafer foundries, producing ICs across a range of manufacturing nodes from 350nm to 90nm. Fab 1 in Bucheon City, Gyeonggi-do, offers chip solutions within the 150nm to 350nm nodes, including mixed-signal, power, and analog chips. Fab 2 in Eumseong County, Chungcheongbuk-do, provides solutions suitable for the 90nm to 180nm process nodes, including mixed-signal and CMOS image sensors (CIS), among other applications.
(Image: DB HiTek)

Read more:

• [News] Strategic Shift in Samsung’s Personnel Focuses on SiC

In recent updates from Shanghai Industrial μTechnology Research Institute (SITRI), Dr. Xing Wei’s research team has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in 300mm SOI wafer manufacturing technology. They have successfully created China’s inaugural 300mm Radio Frequency Silicon-on-insulator (RF-SOI) wafer.

The team harnessed the resources of the China Key Laboratory for Integrated Circuit Materials’ 300mm SOI research platform, systematically resolving critical technical challenges required for 300mm RF-SOI wafers. This involved low-oxygen high-resistance crystal production, deposition of low-stress high-resistivity polycrystalline silicon films, and non-contact planarization.

This achievement not only marks the inception of China’s 300mm SOI manufacturing technology but is also anticipated to drive the entire RF-SOI chip design, manufacturing, and packaging industry chain within China. It will also ensure a stable supply of SOI wafers in the country.

SOI technology boasts a wide range of applications, encompassing RF-SOI for communication RF front-ends, high-power Power-SOI components, and Photonics-SOI technology for optical communications. SOI technology, which positions silicon wafers on insulating material, has emerged as a game-changing innovation with unique advantages, break limitations associated with traditional silicon materials and integrated circuits.

(Image: SITRI)

Chinese media reported on the 22nd that China’s regulatory authorities are conducting investigations into Foxconn’s factories in Guangdong, Jiangsu, Henan, and Hubei. This comes at a time when Apple’s iPhone 15 series is in full production and seeing high shipment volumes. The investigation may potentially impact the production capacity of the iPhone 15. Market rumors suggest that Apple is considering gradually shifting orders to competitors, which could benefit companies like Luxshare Precision and Pegatron.

According to Taiwan’s Commercial Times, in response to the recent tax inspection, Foxconn emphasized on the 22nd that it would actively cooperate with relevant agencies in their operations. Major suppliers for iPhone 15 lenses, Largan Precision and Genius Electronic Optical, declined to comment on the situation with individual clients but emphasized that their current shipments are not affected.

Influenced by strong competition from Chinese smartphones, including Huawei, and concerns about overheating issues, the appeal of the iPhone 15 has waned, and the highly anticipated iPhone 15 Pro Max’s popularity has declined. In the Asian market, waiting times for the sought-after titanium alloy casing iPhone have been substantially reduced. Shipping times have decreased to approximately two weeks, while in-store pickup can be as fast as three days. Signs of cooling demand are also appearing in Europe and the United States.

Tech industry insiders note that even though demand for the iPhone 15 has decreased, Apple is still considering expanding its supply chain to be prepared for unforeseen circumstances.

In addition, samples of iPhone 16 components and designs are in the sampling stage, with plans to finalize them by January of next year. The recent tax inspection controversy involving Foxconn, combined with the fact that its competitor, Luxshare, has obtained the assembly NPI (New Product Introduction) for the 2024 iPhone 16 Pro Max, further strengthens Luxshare’s presence in the iPhone business. Its share of manufacturing is expected to increase significantly next year.

Furthermore, Luxshare has already become the primary assembly factory for Apple Watch and AirPods, and in 2020, it acquired two iPhone production lines from Wistron. Luxshare is also a major producer for Vision Pro, representing Apple’s accelerated localization efforts and a move away from its dependency on Foxconn.

Read more

• [News] China’s Tax Authorities and Natural Resource Departments Conduct Inspections on Key Foxconn Enterprises
• [News] Luxshare Doubles Business with 3 iPhone 15 Orders, Breaking Foxconn’s High-End Supply Dominance
• [News] Chinese Firms Rise in iPhone Supply Chain, Enter New Optical Component Line

(Photo credit: Apple)