Semiconductor And Beyond Newsletter - #183

Author

Chetan Arvind Patil
December 03, 2023

The semiconductor industry, often termed the backbone of modern technology, is crucial for advancing and sustaining almost all major sectors, from telecommunications to automotive. As the world rapidly transitions towards a more digitized future, the significance of semiconductors has escalated, leading to a global race in semiconductor manufacturing.

With its ambitious plans and vast potential, India has entered this race. However, the journey to becoming a semiconductor powerhouse has numerous challenges. Below is a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted hurdles that the Indian semiconductor industry currently faces, from infrastructure and skilled workforce shortages to global competition and policy constraints.

THREAD

Semiconductor data analytics is a growing market and a significant one. Learn how this field is increasing and what potential it holds.

I got the opportunity to share about semiconductor industry and career options with the students of K. K. Wagh Institute Of Engineering Education & Research. This talks provided a significant view of how the semiconductor industry works, and steps students can use to bridge the gap.

LinkedIn has more than 1 billion users and it is important for the undergraduate students to make the most of this platform. Learn how one can maximize the reach at LinkedIn and in turn set the case of better networking and career growth.

There is a strong case that OpenAI will venture into silicon chip development. Main reason is to cater to the AI workload requirements. However, to do so, OpenAI would need a strong team that can turn silicon ideas into a workable product.

Intel is setting up a right case of removing 16/32 Bit mode from their x86 architecture. Doing so will ensure they are able to focus on solution that only utilize 64 Bit mode and will make architecture more compute friendly by avoiding translations.

VLOG

Watch an insightful video on what a Supply Chain Engineer does in the semiconductor industry. 

A supply chain engineer in the semiconductor industry is crucial in managing and optimizing the flow of materials and products. They are responsible for designing and implementing efficient supply chain processes, ensuring a seamless transition from raw materials to finished semiconductor products. This role involves close collaboration with suppliers, manufacturers, and customers to ensure timely delivery and high-quality standards. They also focus on cost reduction, risk management, and sustainability initiatives, adapting to the semiconductor sector's rapidly changing technology and market demands.

GOVERNMENT

India may not have the advanced node FAB until the end of the decade. This could significantly impact the indigenous plans of Government of India.

Germany has decided to subsidize Intel and TSMC fabs despite budget crisis. This is a good news for the semiconductor industry as it could further diversify the global semiconductor value chain.

India's Karnataka state could soon get a assembly and test plant with estimated $400 million of investment.

European Chips Act enters into force. It puts in place a comprehensive set of measures to ensure the EU's security of supply, resilience and technological leadership in semiconductor technologies and applications.

INDUSTRY

Amkor a leading provider of semiconductor packaging and test services, has announced its plan to build an advanced packaging and test facility in Peoria, Arizona. By the time of full project completion, Amkor projects to invest approximately $2 billion and employ approximately 2,000 people at the new facility.

TSMC is planning to construct third FAB in Japan.

Arm is working with leading technology companies, including AMD, Intel, Meta, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. on a range of initiatives focused on enabling advanced AI capabilities for more responsive and more secure user experiences. These partnerships will create the foundational frameworks, technologies, and specifications required for the 15 million and counting Arm developers to deliver next-generation AI experiences across every corner of computing.

AMD has inaugurated the company's largest global R&D center in India, as part of its $400 million investment in the country over five years. This is a significant boost to the Indian semiconductor sector.

NVIDIA is going big into GenAI. With Cadence, Dropbox, SAP, ServiceNow First to Access NVIDIA NeMo retriever to optimize semantic retrieval for accurate AI Inference.

Off-the-Shelf Chiplets has the potential to open new market opportunities

Siemens acquires Insight EDA to expand Calibre integrated circuit reliability verification offering. Insight EDA’s technology identifies and helps address design specific potential circuit reliability failure areas, bolstering the confidence of design engineers in achieving first-pass silicon success. Circuit reliability is a fast-growing market for IC design and Siemens’ Calibre® PERC™ software is a market leader for manufacturing reliability sign-off software delivering new checking functionalities previously unattainable with traditional verification tools.

Huawei surprised the US with a cutting-edge chip made in China. Learn how they did it.

Samsung is reportedly organizing next-gen chip fabrication team, Aiming to seize the initiative in the AI field.

World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) has recently published its latest forecast for the semiconductor market, generated in November 2023. Exceeding the spring projections with slightly better Q2 and Q3 results, WSTS has revised its forecast, anticipating a single-digit contraction in the global semiconductor market of 9.4 percent in 2023. However, this is anticipated to be followed by a robust recovery, with an estimated growth of 13.1 percent in 2024.

ACADEMIA

Tuskegee University is partnering with Intel to advance semiconductor manufacturing education. The collaboration is designed to equip the next generation of engineering graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in the critical growth industry of semiconductor manufacturing.

Michigan Technological University (MTU) will a support of $838,000 from The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). It is to support a major expansion of semiconductor education and training programs across the Upper Peninsula while responding to Michigan’s increased demand for skilled technicians and engineering professionals in the semiconductor industry.

RESEARCH

SK Hynix's Revolutionary Technology Center (RTC), established under the Future Technology Research Institute, conducts global research on the memory technologies of tomorrow. In order for RTC to go beyond the technical boundaries of semiconductor memory, the center actively communicates and collaborates with various international research organizations. Learn more about RTC here.

SK Hynix R&D RTC will present a paper at the 2023 International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM2023) (Neuromorphic Session 23-5), which will be held in San Francisco, California, USA from December 9 to 13, 2023. In the paper, SK Hynix will demonstrate the recent achievements of RTC on Resistive Synaptic Cell (RSC)-based ACiM Platform research.

Google DeepMind’s new AI tool helped create more than 700 new materials. Newly discovered materials can be used to make better solar cells, batteries, computer chips, and more.

TOOLS

The World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) is an organization of semiconductor product companies and is the foremost source for semiconductor market data.

Key aspects of the WSTS include:

  • Data Collection And Reporting: WSTS collects sales and forecast data from its member companies, which represent a significant portion of the global semiconductor industry. This data is then aggregated and used to generate detailed market reports.

  • Market Forecasting: One of the primary functions of the WSTS is to provide semiconductor market forecasts. These forecasts are based on the analysis of industry trends and data collected from member companies.

  • Global Coverage: The data and forecasts provided by WSTS cover the global semiconductor market, including regional and product-specific information.

  • Membership: Members of WSTS include a wide range of companies involved in the semiconductor industry, from manufacturers to suppliers.

  • Industry Standard: The data provided by WSTS is widely used by semiconductor companies, analysts, and researchers as a reliable source of market information and is often cited in industry analyses and reports.

  • Semi-Annual And Monthly Reports: WSTS releases comprehensive semi-annual forecasts as well as monthly updates, providing timely insights into the industry's performance and trends.

The information provided by WSTS is crucial for companies in the semiconductor industry to make informed business decisions, understand market trends, and plan for future developments.

Learn more about WSTS here.

JOBS

Amkor pledges to create more than 2000 jobs in Arizona as part of the new semiconductor assembly and testing plant in the City of Peoria.

As part of India's Semiconductor Mission, Indian state of Gujarat is aiming to generate more than 2 million jobs in the next 5 years.

CONNECT

Whether you are a student with the goal to enter semiconductor industry (or even academia) or a semiconductor professional or someone looking to learn more about the ins and outs of the semiconductor industry, please do reach out to me.

Let us together explore the world of semiconductor and the endless opportunities:

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