One in a Million. People used to be our greatest strength
In this first article of Evertiq’s new expert column series, Claus Aasholm – seasoned technology executive and strategist – shares his perspective on the trends, challenges, and breakthroughs shaping the global electronics industry. Drawing on decades of hands-on experience, Claus offers sharp, thought-provoking insights that go beyond headlines and buzzwords. Expect analysis that connects the dots – and challenges the status quo.
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Claus Aasholm: “The semiconductor cycle is broken”
During Evertiq Expo Malmö 2025, Claus Aasholm, founder of Semiconductor Business Intelligence, offered a sobering reassessment of the global semiconductor market. In his keynote and follow-up interview, Aasholm argued that the industry’s historical four-year cycle has broken down – replaced by a fragmented, profit-driven upswing felt by only a select few.
Advanced chip capacity to surge 69% by 2028 on AI demand
The global semiconductor industry is expected to significantly expand its advanced manufacturing capacity through 2028, driven by accelerating demand for artificial intelligence applications, according to SEMI’s latest 300mm Fab Outlook report.
Semiconductor foundry landscape to transform by 2030
Market intelligence and analyst firm Yole Group explores the status of the semiconductor foundry in its latest report – digging deep into the geopolitical, economic, and capacity realignments setting the stage for the foundry industry.
Claus Aasholm on the ripples and tsunamis in the chip supply chain
“This tide does not lift all boats” – Aasholm warns of structural industry shifts driven by AI, geopolitics and China’s quiet semiconductor conquest.
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Inventory weighs on Top 5 enterprise SSD vendors in 1Q25
TrendForce’s latest investigations reveal that several negative factors weighed on the enterprise SSD market in the first quarter of 2025. These include production challenges for next-gen AI systems and persistent inventory overhang in North America.
New research highlights radar sensor risks in harsh environments
During Evertiq Expo Malmö on 15 May 2025, Jeongmin Kang, postdoctoral researcher at Halmstad University, presented new findings on how dust and moisture can impair the performance of radar sensors in autonomous vehicles. In a follow-up interview, Kang expanded on the implications for sensor design, placement, and future research directions.
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Top 10 foundries face tariffs and subsidies, 1Q revenue declines
The global foundry industry recorded USD 36.4 billion in revenue for Q1 2025, representing a 5.4% quarter-on-quarter decline, according to TrendForce. The revenue drop was softened by last-minute rush orders ahead of the US reciprocal tariff exemption deadline and continued demand driven by China’s 2024 consumer subsidy program.
SEMI: Global chip equipment billings up 21% in Q1 2025
Global semiconductor equipment billings reached USD 32.05 billion in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 21% increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to the latest Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Statistics (WWSEMS) report published by SEMI.
Top 5 EMS trends that will shape the electronics industry in 2025
From prototype to mass production, the role of EMS in managing supply chains, ensuring scalability, and delivering high-quality products is expanding rapidly.
Chinese firms gain ground in 2024 top 10 OSAT ranking
The combined revenue of the world’s top 10 outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) companies reached USD 41.56 billion in 2024, a 3% YoY increase, according to a new report from TrendForce. While established players ASE Holdings and Amkor retained their top positions, Chinese firms including JCET and HT-Tech posted double-digit growth, reshaping the competitive landscape.
Cybersecurity isn’t optional – it’s a responsibility
As cyber incidents surge across Europe, the topic of cybersecurity is taking on a whole new dimension. No longer confined to the realm of IT specialists, it has become a pressing operational challenge for electronics manufacturers, system designers, and decision-makers across the industry.
Semiconductor outlook: typical Q1, but atypical shifts ahead
The global semiconductor manufacturing industry entered 2025 with typical seasonal patterns. However, looming tariff threats and evolving supply chain strategies are expected to create atypical seasonality for several industry segments as the year progresses, reports SEMI.
Top 15: Swedish electronics manufacturing – the industry behind the industry
Sweden’s largest providers of electronics manufacturing services (EMS) dominate the domestic market. A review of their 2023 financials reveals an industry that is geographically concentrated, technically advanced, and deeply integrated into the country’s industrial landscape.
Tough Times for Hackers – Part 2: Applying the EN 18031 standard
Cybersecurity is shifting into the focus of European regulation. According to the EU Radio Equipment Directive, by August 2025, products with radio technology and internet access must protect networks and personal data and prevent fraud. The EN18031 standard is designed to assist manufacturers in implementation. Part 2 looks into its application.
Chemical mechanical planarization market to reach $10.5B by 2035
This upward trajectory is driven by the increased complexity in semiconductor architectures, growing demand for miniaturized electronic components, and the expanding integration of advanced node technology across the microelectronics industry.
Tough times for hackers – Part 1: Basic regulatory principles
Cybersecurity is shifting into the focus of European regulation. According to the EU Radio Equipment Directive, by August 2025, products with radio technology and internet access must protect networks and personal data and prevent fraud. The EN18031 standard is designed to assist manufacturers in implementation.
Global semiconductor sales increase 18.8% YoY in 1Q25
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) reports that global semiconductor sales reached USD 167.7 billion in the first quarter of 2025, marking an 18.8% increase compared to the same period last year. However, sales were down 2.8% compared to the fourth quarter of 2024.
TV brands yay pass US tariff costs to consumers –
TrendForce’s latest research indicates that US reciprocal tariffs are likely to drive TV brands to pass rising costs onto consumers through higher retail prices in the second half of 2025, further weakening consumer spending momentum.
Global silicon wafer shipments rise 2.2% YoY in Q1 2025
Global silicon wafer shipments grew modestly in the first quarter of 2025, rising 2.2% year-on-year to 2,896 million square inches (MSI), up from 2,834 MSI in Q1 2024, according to the latest quarterly report from the SEMI. The report highlights ongoing demand for advanced semiconductor manufacturing, though short-term pressures continue to weigh on the industry.
Europe's semiconductor target appears out of reach
It is very unlikely that the EU will meet its target of a 20% share of the global market for microchips by 2030, according to a new report by the European Court of Auditors (ECA).
Dust, water and radar – a hidden threat to autonomous vehicle reliability
A key challenge in autonomous driving technology – how dust and moisture contaminants impair the reliability of automotive radar sensors – will be in focus during a presentation by Jeongmin Kang, Postdoctoral Researcher at Halmstad University, at the upcoming Evertiq Expo Malmö on May 15, 2025.
Global semiconductor materials market posts $67.5B in 2024 revenue
Global semiconductor materials market revenue increased 3.8% to USD 67.5 billion in 2024, reports SEMI.
Europe's electronics erosion threatens strategic autonomy
A new report from IPC warns that Europe’s continued decline in electronics manufacturing capacity — particularly in printed circuit boards (PCBs), advanced packaging, and EMS — poses a growing threat to the continent’s defence readiness, industrial resilience, and technological sovereignty.
Europe’s patent landscape: stable, but no breakthrough
In 2023, the European Patent Office (EPO) received a record number of patent applications from companies, research institutions, and individual inventors alike — a total of 199,275. So, did 2024 break that record? Not quite. Still, the data shows that innovation activity in Europe remains at a consistently high level.
Standardising standards to support EU industry competitiveness
In his previous guest article, Dirk Stans, Managing Partner at Eurocircuits, outlined three key actions needed to strengthen Europe’s electronics industry. Now, in this follow-up, he delves deeper into the third measure: Standardising standards to support EU industry competitiveness.
Top 50 EMS firms grew 12.7% in 2024, reached $477B in assembly revenue
Overall, the APAC region accounted for around 74.7% of the Top 50 EMS revenue, and the Americas achieved 20.4% revenue growth, an increase of 2.4%, while the EMEA region constituted 2.5%, and an increase of 0.3%, mainly due to extensive activity in acquisitions.
ST's response to the global race for AI
In recent years, the electronics industry has been marked by tension caused by economic, defence, and technological turmoil. Many countries and companies view artificial intelligence as both a major opportunity and a potential game changer in the ongoing race. The challenges surrounding AI were a key focus at the recent Evertiq Expo in Sophia Antipolis — a topic that drew strong interest, as reflected in the high attendance at the presentation by Edwin Hilkens of STMicroelectronics.
US tariffs spurs surge in stockpiling, memory contract prices set to rise
TrendForce’s latest investigations reveal that the implementation of the US “reciprocal tariffs” on April 9th — followed by a 90-day grace period for most regions — has prompted buyers and suppliers to adjust their strategies in response to policy uncertainty.
Pasi Pylväs: “The Chips Act isn’t the complete solution”
At this year’s Evertiq Expo Tampere, Pasi Pylväs – director of the Finnish Chips Competence Center – gave a presentation covering the current state of European chip manufacturing, what The EU Chips Act gets right, and what still needs to be done in order to secure the industry’s future.
AI, embargoes, and the end of the chip cycle
The well-known four-year ebb and flow of the semiconductor industry is over. Political decisions and ambitions challenge the economic logic of supply and demand. Subsidies, embargoes and the AI revolution are now dictating the investment decisions while China plays the long game.
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