What’s New: onsemi (Nasdaq: ON) today announced the completed expansion of its state-of-the-art, world-largest silicon carbide (SiC) fabrication facility in Bucheon, South Korea. At full capacity, this fab will be able to manufacture more than one million 200 mm SiC wafers per year. To support the ramp in SiC manufacturing capacity, onsemi plans to hire up to 1,000 local employees over the next three years to fill the mostly highly technical positions – a more than 40% increase over the present workforce of about 2,300.

As part of the President’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Commerce identified regional centers primed for technological innovation and job creation.

WASHINGTON, DC — The Biden-Harris administration, through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), today announced the designation of 31 Tech Hubs in regions across the country. This is the first phase of the new Tech Hubs program, which is an economic development initiative designed to drive regional innovation and job creation by strengthening a region’s capacity to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy technology that will advance American competitiveness. The program invests directly in burgeoning, high-potential U.S. regions and aims to transform them into globally competitive innovation centers.

SINGAPORE -- An affiliate of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is nearing a decision to build its most advanced chip plant ever in Singapore, three sources with knowledge of the matter told Nikkei Asia.

Vanguard International Semiconductor, a specialty contract chipmaker, is looking to build its first 12-inch chip plant with an eye on capturing demand for automotive-related chips. TSMC owns a 28.3% stake in the company. The overseas expansion plan follows VIS's $236 million acquisition in 2019 of a more mature 8-inch chip plant in Singapore from GlobalFoundries that makes various sensors.

US biotech pioneer Amgen and Swiss eyecare device maker Alcon are among the companies leveraging Singapore’s R&D capabilities, talent and regional connectivity to serve Southeast Asian markets.

On October 17, 2023, the U.S. Commerce Department, Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) announced two new rules that will update and expand the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”) controls aimed at restricting China’s ability to obtain advanced computing chips, develop and maintain supercomputers, and manufacture advanced semiconductors, which were first introduced on October 7, 2022 in the Implementation of Additional Export Controls: Certain Advanced Computing and Semiconductor Manufacturing Items; Supercomputer and Semiconductor End Use; Entity List Modification Interim Final Rule (the “October 7, 2022 Rule”) as summarized in our previous client alert. The new rules will take effect on November 17, 2023. BIS is seeking public comments on both rules, as well as several related issues, until December 18, 2023. Also on October 17, 2023, BIS designated two advanced computing entities in China to the Entity List, along with several of their subsidiaries, in the Entity List Additions Final Rule.

AMSTERDAM, Oct 19 (Reuters) - The chief executive of Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML Holding NV (ASML.AS) said one more of its products falls under new export restrictions rules affecting China announced by the U.S. this week.

The Twinscan NXT1980Di tool can be used to help make both relatively advanced computer chips as well as mid-range and older chips.

"In principle the 1980s would fall under the export control restrictions, but only when ... (they) are used for advanced semiconductor manufacturing," CEO Peter Wennink said at a press conference late on Wednesday.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) yesterday said it has dropped a plan to build a new fab to produce next-generation chips in the Longtan (龍潭) section of Hsinchu Science Park (新竹科學園區) amid local protests over government appropriation of privately owned land for industrial use.

TSMC issued a statement after a self-help group representing some residents of Longtan in Taoyuan, said on Facebook that the world’s biggest contract chipmaker had dropped its new fab construction plan in Longtan after negotiations broke down on Friday.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - While stripping China's access to key U.S. artificial intelligence chips, the Biden administration's sweeping new rules also quietly threw Nvidia, Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) a potential lifeline to preserve lucrative business in one of the world's biggest chip markets.

SINGAPORE/TOKYO, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Taiwan chipmaker Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (6770.TW) is considering around five sites in Japan, including Mie prefecture, for setting up a potential $5.4 billion factory as talks on subsidies progress, sources said.

TAIPEI – The United States has extended a waiver to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to supply US chipmaking equipment to its factories in China, the island’s Economic Affairs Minister said on Friday.