It was a dinner with more than a thousand semiconductor professionals from around the world keynoted by Author and Editor in Chief of Forbes Magazine Steve Forbes. What more could a humble blogger ask for? Even at $250 a plate it was well worth it just to mingle amongst the people who make this industry so great.
Global Semiconductor… Read More
Equipment Spending Down 2013; Expect 33% Growth in 2014
SEMI’s World Fab Forecast report, published in November, predicts that fab equipment spending will decline about -9 percent (US$32.5 billion) in 2013 (including new, used and in-house manufactured equipment). Setting aside the used 300mm equipment Globalfoundries acquired from Promos at the beginning of 2013 (NT$20-30 … Read More
The Leading Edge Depends on What You Are Doing
At Semicon Japan a few days ago, Subi Kengeri of GlobalFoundries delivered the keynote. While he covered a number of topics, using Tokyo’s recent win of the 2020 Olympics as a hook, one major theme was the increasing importance of processes other than the bleeding edge digital processes that get all the news.
What is leading… Read More
Semiconductor market could grow 15% in 2014
The global semiconductor market has grown 4% for the first three quarters of 2013 compared to a year ago, according to World Semiconductor Trades Statistics (WSTS). Guidance for 4Q 2013 revenue change versus 3Q 2013 varies widely for key semiconductor companies. Texas Instruments (TI), Broadcom, Infineon and Renesas all expect… Read More
GSA Award Nominees Announced
Today GSA announced the award nominees for the 2013 awards. They will be presented at the GSA Award Dinner on Thursday December 12th at the Santa Clara Convention Center. The keynote will be given by Steve Forbes.
Recently it was announced that the 2013 Dr. Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award winners are CEO and Chairman, Dr.… Read More
Tablets, smartphones & China still driving growth
Media tablets and smartphones have been the two most significant drivers of electronics and semiconductor growth for the last few years. Forecasts from two major market research firms indicate these devices will continue to be major drivers for the next few years. For 2013, Gartner and IDC (International Data Corporation) both… Read More
GSA Memory+ Conference in Taiwan
The GSA Memory+ conference Taiwan will take place on (Halloween!) October 31, 2013 at the Regent Taipei, Taiwan. The main theme of this year is highlighting Memory—the Critical Enabler for Prominent and Emerging Applications in System Logic Solutions.
GSA Memory+ Conference is the global industry event dedicated to all memory… Read More
SEMI Smart Technology Conference
I should start by saying that SEMI Smart Technology is not technology that is only half as smart as our phones, it is a conference on smart technology organized by SEMI. Officially it is called the International Technology Partners Conference with a sort of subtitle of From Smart Cars to Smart Cities: Shaping the Future of Microelectronics… Read More
Another Negative Year for Semiconductor CapEx
Global semiconductor capital spending is headed for another decline in 2013, following a 12% decline in 2012. Gartner’s September forecast called for a 7% decline in 2013. Most of the major spenders expect flat to declining expenditures in 2013. Intel in July estimated 2013 spending of $11 billion, flat with 2012 and down from … Read More
The US Executive Forum 2013
The US Executive Forum hosted by the Global Semiconductor Alliance was held last night at the beautiful Rosewood Sand Hill Hotel in Menlo Park. We all have memorable events in our professional lives and this is one of mine, absolutely. The audience was filled with semiconductor executives from around the world who chatted freely… Read More
Intel’s Pearl Harbor Moment