ComputInsights #21 – Weekly Computing Market Insights

Market Growth

China Cracks Mass Production of ‘Golden Semiconductor’ Indium Selenide

Chinese researchers have developed a breakthrough method to mass-produce high-quality indium selenide wafers—known as «golden semiconductors»—overcoming a key barrier in next-gen chip development. The technique ensures atomic precision and enables the creation of high-performance transistors, marking a major step beyond traditional silicon-based technology.

China’s CXMT and YMTC Disrupt Global Memory Chip Market with Aggressive DRAM and NAND

China’s CXMT and YMTC have nearly doubled their DRAM and NAND production within a year, challenging industry giants like Samsung and SK hynix. Backed by strong domestic demand and state support, both firms are advancing rapidly into high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and 3D NAND, reshaping the global memory landscape and contributing to ongoing market oversupply and pricing pressure.

M&A and Investments 

SK Keyfoundry and LB Semicon Unveil Auto-Grade Direct RDL for High-Performance Chip Packaging

SK Keyfoundry and LB Semicon have co-developed a cutting-edge Direct Redistribution Layer (RDL) technology for 8-inch wafers, enabling high-current power semiconductors with up to 15μm metal wiring and 70% chip area coverage. Meeting Auto Grade 1 standards, the innovation boosts reliability, efficiency, and positions both firms at the forefront of next-gen automotive and industrial chip packaging.

Company-Specific News

Rapidus Unveils Japan’s First 2nm Chip Prototype, Eyes Mass Production by 2027

Rapidus Corp. has successfully developed a prototype 2-nanometer semiconductor chip at its Hokkaido facility—marking a major milestone in Japan’s chip revival efforts. The company aims to begin mass production by 2027, with executives calling the progress “unbelievably fast” and crucial to meeting global tech demands.

SK Hynix Shifts Gears: Scales Up HBM in Korea, Winds Down China Ops

SK Hynix is accelerating domestic DRAM and HBM production in South Korea as U.S. export controls and geopolitical risks curb its operations in China. With its M16 and M15X fabs set to anchor future growth, the company is doubling down on high-bandwidth memory to secure leadership in AI-driven markets.