May 25, 2026 · 03:47 Uhr
Infineon is acquiring the non-optical analog and mixed-signal sensor business from ams-Osram for €570 million; closing is expected in Q2 2026 following approval by the German Federal Cartel Office. The deal strengthens Infineon's position in sensors for humanoid robots and AI infrastructure and provides significant financial relief to ams-Osram.
China's largest chipmaker SMIC has received final regulatory clearance for the approximately $5.97 billion acquisition of SMNC on the Star Market exchange. The deal consolidates SMIC's capacity expansion and signals Beijing's determination to massively scale the domestic semiconductor industry despite US export restrictions.
The new EU Chips Act 2.0 draft (publication expected end of May) shifts the goal from self-sufficiency to technological indispensability – Europe should become an indispensable hub in global supply chains, not an autonomous chip nation. Going forward, subsidies and procurement rules should be tied to the use of European or partner chip components.
The Trump administration has approved the sale of Nvidia's H200 AI chips to ten selected Chinese companies – on the condition that 25% of revenues flow to the US and the chips transit US territory. This represents a significant shift in US export control policy and could partially restore Nvidia's access to the Chinese AI market.
Huawei has unveiled a 122-terabyte SSD for AI data centers developed without access to cutting-edge US chips, technically competing with products from Samsung and SK Hynix. The breakthrough illustrates how US sanctions accelerate rather than impede China's independent development in critical memory technologies.
The US semiconductor industry urgently calls for extending the 35-percent CHIPS Act investment tax credit beyond the current deadline of December 31, 2026 – otherwise, projects totaling $640 billion risk losing funding eligibility. The lobbying effort underscores structural financing risks for America's fab buildout amid the geopolitical chip race.
The global semiconductor industry is in a phase of accelerated consolidation and geopolitical realignment: On one hand, Western companies are advancing their competitive position through acquisitions (Infineon/ams-Osram, SMIC/SMNC) and research partnerships; on the other, the selective US clearance of H200 chips for China undermines the previous containment strategy and sends mixed signals to allies. China's industry is responding to sanctions pressure with technological breakthroughs (Huawei, Alibaba) and massive capacity expansion, fundamentally questioning the effectiveness of export controls. Europe faces a critical decision on whether Chips Act 2.0 becomes real industrial policy or mere declaration of intent, while the US risks allowing its own funding mechanism (CHIPS tax credit) to lapse. The combination of partial US-China rapprochement, China's technology catch-up process, and Europe's strategic pivot significantly increases uncertainty for investment decisions in the chip industry.
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