Global semiconductor sales continue growth in August

Worldwide semiconductor sales registered an on-year increase for the seventh consecutive month in August 2020.The global semiconductor industry posted August sales of US$36.2 billion, up 3.6% sequentially, according to Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). Sales were 4.9% above the August 2019 total of US$34.5 billion.”Global semiconductor sales increased year-to-year in August for the seventh consecutive month, demonstrating the global market so far has remained largely insulated from ongoing global macroeconomic headwinds, but there is still substantial uncertainty for the months ahead,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO.

Source: Global semiconductor sales continue growth in August

Chip Industry Wants $50 Billion to Keep Manufacturing in U.S.

WASHINGTON—Sept. 16, 2020—The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), in partnership with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), today released a study analyzing the impact of proposed federal incentives for domestic semiconductor manufacturing. The report, titled Government Incentives and U.S. Competitiveness in Semiconductor Manufacturing, finds robust federal incentives would reverse the decades-long trajectory of declining chip production in America and create as many as 19 major semiconductor manufacturing facilities (fabs) and 70,000 high-paying jobs in the U.S. over the next 10 years. Congress is considering legislation that calls for substantial investments in domestic semiconductor manufacturing and research. SIA represents 95 percent of the U.S. semiconductor industry by revenue and nearly two-thirds of non-U.S. chip firms.

Source: Study Finds Federal Incentives for Domestic Semiconductor Manufacturing Would Strengthen America’s Chip Production, Economy, National Security, Supply Chains – Semiconductor Industry Association

It’s Official: Nvidia Buys Arm 

The announcement noted that SoftBank will remain committed to Arm’s long-term success through its ownership stake in Nvidia, expected to be under 10 percent.Nvidia is framing its mega business deal with Arm as “bringing Nvidia’s own AI computing platform to Arm’s vast ecosystem.”

Source: It’s Official: Nvidia Buys Arm | EE Times

Memory pricing downward pressure to extend to 1H21

Oversupply in the memory market is likely to extend downward pricing pressure to the first half of 2021. Memory prices are expected to drop 10% in fourth-quarter 2020. Although demnd for memory products from the PC sector may be flat in fourth-quarter 2020, notebook brand vendors are all-out trying to secure shipments from ODMs to meet strong demand for notebooks in the months ahead. Meanwhile, ASML will soon unveil an EUV technology training center in Taiwan to better serve its major client, TSMC.

Source: Highlights of the day: Memory pricing downward pressure to extend to 1H21

CHIPS Act Targets Post-Globalized Industry 

The U.S. economy is tanking, America is recording more than 1,000 coronavirus deaths daily, millions file for unemployment benefits each week. Amid the crises, chips are taking center stage in what looks like a new, pandemic-driven industrial policy .Manufacturing advanced and secure circuits domestically is no longer just a talking point. Momentum is building, observers note.

Source: CHIPS Act Targets Post-Globalized Industry | EE Times

SMD Package for Rad-Hard Power Electronics 

Anchoring surface mount components (SMD package) to PCBs is a challenge. All too often, different thermal coefficients lead to an expansion misalignment of the materials used, resulting in loss of efficiency. The problem can be especially severe for electronics headed for space.

Source: SMD Package for Rad-Hard Power Electronics | EE Times

Combating Counterfeit Chips

The harsh reality is that today, the authenticity of chips is often impossible to guarantee. The counterfeit chip market is sizeable and growing with a worldwide value estimated at $75B in 2019. Those counterfeits are believed to have been integrated into more than $169B of electronic devices. Recent confirmed incidents of counterfeit parts found in electronic systems include defibrillators, airport landing lights, intravenous (IV) drip machines, and braking systems for high speed trains. With electronic devices critical to nearly every aspect of modern life, the risk of counterfeits can range from an inconvenience to injury or loss of life.

Source: Combating Counterfeit Chips

Global Semiconductor Sales Increase 5.1% Year-to-Year in June 

WASHINGTON—Aug. 3, 2020— The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today announced worldwide sales of semiconductors were $34.5 billion in June 2020, an increase of 5.1 percent from the June 2019 total of $32.9 billion. Sales in June were 0.3 percent less than the May 2020 total of $34.6 billion. Sales during the second quarter of 2020 were $103.6 billion, an increase of 5.1 percent over the second quarter of 2019, but a small decrease of 0.9 percent compared to the first quarter of 2020. Monthly sales are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization and represent a three-month moving average. SIA represents 95 percent of the U.S. semiconductor industry by revenue and nearly two-thirds of non-U.S. chip firms.

Source: Global Semiconductor Sales Increase 5.1 Percent Year-to-Year in June; Q2 Sales Down Slightly Compared to Q1 – Semiconductor Industry Association

Rethinking Competitive One Upmanship Among Foundries

The winner in the foundry business used to be determined by who got to the most advanced process node first. For the most part that benchmark no longer works.Unlike in the past, when all of the foundries and IDMs competed using basically the same process, each foundry has gone its own route. This is primarily due to the divergence of end markets, and the realization that as costs increase, only a handful of companies would be able to afford or need the most advanced nodes. And while performance and power are still critical elements of a design, there are multiple ways to get there.

Source: Rethinking Competitive One Upmanship Among Foundries

Is a Semiconductor Rebound Around the Next Corner?

A new report paints a picture of a global semiconductor industry that’s already shaking off the worst impacts of the global pandemic and bracing for a rebound in the near future.

Source: Is a Semiconductor Rebound Around the Next Corner? | Source Today

Insight of GaN and SiC Market 

Power electronics has taken an interesting road with the adoption of GaN and SiC. Yole Développement (Yole) estimated a general view of these wide bandgap materials. While silicon is still dominating the market, GaN and SiC devices are already more efficient solutions in some applications. From a development standpoint, SiC research  is focused on SiC wafer quality on larger diameters and power module development. In the GaN field, the main trends are on GaN device integration — either system-in-package or system-on-chip solutions.

Source: Insight of GaN and SiC Market | EE Times

GaN, SiC Stage a Power Play 

Growing demand for power supplies, photovoltaic inverters and hybrid and electric car components is helping the power electronics sector achieve critical mass.Omdia, the London-based technology forecaster, discerns a transition occurring in the nascent market for gallium nitride and silicon carbide wide bandgap semiconductors as plucky startups are snapped up by established power IC manufacturers. Hence, it is forecasting the GaN/SiC sector will exceed $1 billion in revenues in 2021.

Source: GaN, SiC Stage a Power Play | EE Times