Adata sees memory uptrend extend into 1H27


Tech talent has moved from being simply a hiring priority to a matter of national security. As major economies increasingly tie talent to competitiveness and national security, control over its cross-border movement is tightening. That shift is visible today: Taiwan's Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau is probing 17 companies accused of illegally recruiting tech talent in Taiwan, China is preparing to tighten exit controls on key technical workers, and the US continues expanding semiconductor and AI export controls and research security reviews.

Powerchip chairman Frank Huang, who spent much of his career mirroring the trajectory of Taiwan's memory and foundry industries and was set to ride the AI boom into profitability in 2026, has passed away. His passing has revived memories of a 1999 attempt to block UMC's aggressive bid for Powerchip, when Huang sought help from TSMC founder Morris Chang and eventually saw Vanguard International Semiconductor (VIS) invest in Powerchip to counter UMC.




China's State Council has released a revised version of the regulations on the protection of IC layout designs, set to take effect on October 15, 2026. It is the first full overhaul since the rules were issued in 2001, adding protection for photonic and quantum IC designs, increasing punitive damages for intentional infringement, and improving systems for layout design registration, licensing, and rights enforcement.




South Korean semiconductor equipment maker Hanwha Semitech is expected to begin recognizing revenue from fan-out panel-level packaging (FOPLP) equipment starting in the third quarter of 2026. The move follows a return to profitability in the second quarter, driven by thermocompression bonding (TCB) tools. FOPLP is set to become the next growth engine as the company broadens its advanced packaging portfolio.

Aurona said shipments of ABF substrate pads and CCL-related packaging materials both rose, extending its growth momentum in the second quarter of 2026. Stronger demand for CCL-related products helped lift quarterly revenue to NT$420 million (US$13 million), up 24.2% year-over-year.


J&V Energy announced on August 3, 2026, that it had completed the acquisition of a portfolio of operational solar projects in Taiwan held by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), the global infrastructure investment arm of BlackRock. With a total installed capacity of 187MW, the portfolio marks the largest domestic solar asset transaction by installed capacity in 2026.

Radiant Opto-Electronics (ROEC) is moving into AI optical communications through acquisitions. Chairman Yu-Chao Wang is targeting the medium- to long-term miniaturized optical communications market, aiming to give ROEC a completely different solution in the sector.

DIGITIMES Intelligence said its observations from the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) show that AI is rapidly reshaping the automotive industry, with smart-car competition shifting from software-defined vehicles (SDV) toward AI-defined vehicles (AIDVs), as the sector moves beyond software upgrades into a new stage driven by AI.


Delta Electronics expects capital spending to rise to roughly NT$70 billion(US$2.17 billion) in 2026 from NT$46.1 billion(US$1.43 billion) in 2025, driven by growing demand from AI data centers and energy infrastructure projects.

