Semicon Briefing

Applied Materials opened its $5 billion EPIC research center in Santa Clara on October 12, 2026 – with TSMC, Intel, Samsung, SK Hynix, Micron, Broadcom and others as founding partners. Particularly noteworthy: bitter rivals Intel and TSMC share research space together for the first time, signaling historically unprecedented cooperation depth in the semiconductor industry.

Taiwan tightens export controls for AI chips to China and makes violations a criminal offense under the Foreign Trade Act – embedded in the US-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement concluded in January 2026, which also includes $250 billion TSMC investments in the US. In parallel, Taiwan is planning a $4 billion complex in Texas for the Nvidia AI supply chain, accelerating geopolitical decoupling from the China market.

China announces export restrictions or bans for 40 technologies, including AI systems, chips and solar energy, citing national security. The move escalates the technology trade conflict bilaterally and endangers global supply chains, while the US-China trade ceasefire is visibly fraying.

ASML reported record Q3 revenue of €11.7 billion (+55% YoY) and warned that planned production capacity for the next two years cannot fully meet customer demand – the company is examining additional capacity expansions. At the same time, ASML confirmed that High-NA EUV remains in very early ramp phases, putting timelines for the next chip generation under pressure.

Infineon and Wolfspeed have signed a new multi-year supply agreement for 200mm silicon carbide wafers, replacing existing 150mm agreements and securing Infineon's SiC roadmap for automotive and industrial applications. The deal is strategically significant as Wolfspeed faces considerable financial pressure, while Infineon secures a critical raw material source for power semiconductors long-term.

STMicroelectronics completed the acquisition of NXP's MEMS sensor business in February 2026 for $895 million plus $41 million earn-out, significantly strengthening its position in the growing market for industrial and automotive sensors. The deal shifts power dynamics in the European semiconductor market and positions ST as a direct challenger to Bosch Sensortec and Infineon in the MEMS segment.