Semicon Briefing

Apple and Intel have reached a preliminary agreement whereby Intel will manufacture Apple-designed chips in the future – Intel's stock subsequently surged 19% to an all-time high. Alongside Microsoft, Amazon, and Tesla, Apple as a new customer underscores Intel's transformed role as a credible TSMC alternative and significantly strengthens diversification strategy in the foundry market.

Broadcom has joined the EPIC-Center of Applied Materials, already supported by Samsung, Micron, SK Hynix, Advantest, and TSMC, which focuses on advanced packaging for next-generation AI systems. The growing membership list establishes the EPIC-Center as the central industry orchestrator for post-Moore packaging technologies.

Huawei unveiled its new 'LogicFolding' semiconductor architecture at a conference in Shanghai, which according to its own claims will enable leading chip performance within five years without access to modern EUV equipment – SMIC shares subsequently rose 7.6%. The announcement signals a new level of Chinese chip autonomy and increases pressure on Western export control regimes.

The first phase of EU Chips Act 2.0 with a budget of €20 billion will be published on May 27; the draft allows direct EU Commission investments in fabs for the first time and prioritizes technological 'essentiality' rather than self-sufficiency. Intel is considered the potential largest beneficiary, while European automakers are pressured to diversify their chip supply chains.

Analog Devices has officially specified the closing timeline for the already-announced $1.5 billion all-cash acquisition of Empower Semiconductor to H2 2026, subject to HSR antitrust clearance. The deal strategically strengthens ADI's IVR and silicon capacitor portfolio for AI data center applications and joins a record wave of 121 semiconductor M&A deals in 2025.

The U.S. Department of Commerce signed letters of intent on May 21 for $2 billion from the CHIPS and Science Act for nine quantum computing companies, causing stocks like Rigetti and D-Wave to surge in pre-market trading. The funding marks a strategic expansion of the CHIPS framework beyond classical semiconductor manufacturing toward quantum hardware.