Qcells expands alliance with Microsoft to boost grid capacity August 31, 2026 Rather than simply adding electricity demand to the grid, the proposed approach would develop new generation and flexible energy resources alongside Microsoft’s expanding data center footprint, helping support grid reliability while enabling future AI growth.
IBM completes acquisition of HRL to advance quantum ecosystem August 31, 2026 The combination brings together complementary expertise in quantum computing, sensing, materials science, and advanced technologies to accelerate future innovation
Pasqal, Eleven Ventures to advance quantum computing in Saudi Arabia August 28, 2026 The joint venture intends to deploy and operate Pasqal’s neutral-atom systems in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and bring Pasqal to market for customers across the country and the wider region.
Taiwan charges 9 over illegal AI server exports to China August 28, 2026 The nine people include one from Nvidia and two from Super Micro, according to a report by Associated Press. Prosecutors said the servers were ‘B300’ GPUs, which have been banned from sale to China.
Siemens, Reinhausen develop DC power solutions for AI data centers August 28, 2026 Together, the companies are developing and will industrialize a solid-state transformer for up to 36kV grid voltage. The technology is being developed for deployment in AI data centers.
Report: India plans $1.4 billion scheme for battery cell components August 28, 2026 The move is aimed at bolstering energy security through a local battery supply chain. The proposed incentives cover anode and cathode active materials, electrolytes, separator film and copper foil, Bloomberg reports.
Singular Photonics raises $2.15M to develop next-gen sensors August 28, 2026 The new capital will accelerate the development of a new generation of image sensors, expanding the Scotland-based startup’s product roadmap. Singular also announced that Dipesh Patel, the former CTO of Arm, has joined the company’s board of directors.
SK hynix breaks ground on $4 billion packaging facility in Indiana August 28, 2026 The Indiana fab is scheduled to open its cleanroom by October 2028 and initiate mass production of next-generation HBM in the second half of 2029. SK hynix also signed an MOU with Purdue University for research and development collaboration in advanced packaging.
Mercury partners with Palantir to enhance factory automation August 28, 2026 Palantir is working with key US defense industrial base suppliers to increase throughput and reduce delivery timelines. Mercury will streamline material planning, reduce manual workloads and improve the ability to deliver at increased capacity.
Rolls-Royce expands Marand partnership, opens Canberra headquarters August 28, 2026 Rolls-Royce selected Marand to build three additional gas turbine acoustic enclosures and corresponding ship interface systems for the Type 26 programme. Marand will manufacture and assemble the enclosures at its Melbourne facility.
Saab to build new 80,000 square metre facility in Jönköping August 27, 2026 Saab is developing a new production facility of just over 80,000 square metres in Hedenstorp outside Jönköping, Sweden, with move-in planned for 2029–2030. Property developer Vectura has signed a lease agreement with Saab and will develop the facility for long-term ownership, according to a press release from Vectura.
SEMCO raises MLCC prices – signalling industry upcycle August 27, 2026 South Korean MLCC manufacturer SEMCO has raised prices for OEM and ODM customers for Q4 2026, marking a departure from its previous practice of limiting price adjustments to distributors. The move signals that the MLCC industry has officially entered an upcycle, according to TrendForce.
Scanfil automates electronics testing at German plant August 27, 2026 Finnish EMS provider Scanfil has implemented a fully automated test cell at its Wutha production site in Germany. The solution combines robotics and process control to automate the testing and sorting of electronic assemblies.
Renesas sets up physical AI & robotics lab in Beijing August 27, 2026 Japanese electronics company Renesas has opened a new Physical AI & Robotics Lab in Beijing, China, aimed at supporting the development, demonstration and validation of next-generation robotic systems.
Lear to shut down production in Gründau, cutting 180 jobs August 27, 2026 US automotive supplier Lear Corporation plans to cease production at its facility in Gründau, Germany, relocating manufacturing to Slovakia, Serbia and Tunisia. Around 180 jobs will be lost, with the phase-out expected to begin immediately and complete by mid-2027. Approximately 120 engineering positions will remain at the site, according to IG Metall.
Lam Research breaks ground on new Oregon lab August 27, 2026 Lam Research has broken ground on a new 120,000 square-foot laboratory at its Tualatin campus in Oregon, in the United States. The facility, expected to open in 2028, is the first milestone in a planned USD 3 billion expansion of Lam's global lab network over the next five years.
L&T’s renewables arm wins ‘major’ BESS order in Middle East August 27, 2026 In addition to the storage facilities, the scope of the packages involves grid interconnections, including pooling substations and underground cables. The three projects will collectively contribute to 6 gigawatt-hour of storage capacity.
Navitas Semiconductor to acquire Claros for $233 million August 27, 2026 Navitas’ potential acquisition of Claros would extend the company’s AI infrastructure portfolio from the grid all the way to the xPU by bringing industry-leading VPD and IVR capabilities that can directly power the high-current, high-speed processors at the heart of modern AI systems.
Doosan acquires 70.6% stake in SK Siltron August 26, 2026 South Korean conglomerate Doosan has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire a 70.6% stake in SK Siltron from SK Group for KRW 2.3 trillion, equivalent to approximately USD 1.7 billion. The deal was approved by Doosan's board on July 31.
Zeiss SMT expands capacity in Oberkochen and key semiconductor markets August 26, 2026 Zeiss Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology has reached a milestone in its Oberkochen site expansion with the move-in to a new office building in July 2026, roughly four years after the groundbreaking ceremony in May 2022. In total, the expansion adds approximately 25,000 square metres of space for production and production-related areas at the site.
Koh Young to double production capacity at Yeoju complex August 26, 2026 South Korean inspection solutions provider Koh Young Technology is building a second production centre at its Yeoju complex in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, targeting completion in August 2027. The new 12,800 square-metre facility will double the company's total production capacity.
ESCATEC establishes in-house BPA-free plastic manufacturing capability August 26, 2026 EMS provider ESCATEC has established an in-house capability to manufacture plastic components from BPA-free resins at its Johor Bahru facility in Malaysia. The capability targets customers in food and beverage, medical technology and other applications requiring stringent material controls.
Beyond the headlines: a live semiconductor market conversation in Gothenburg August 26, 2026 The semiconductor market is moving fast – but the headlines and numbers only tell part of the story. Prices are increasing, lead times are stretching, and geopolitics is reshaping how companies think about sourcing. What's harder to see from the outside is how all of this is playing out in practice: in customer behaviour, in order flows, in the conversations that happen daily between distributors, manufacturers and buyers.
Memory to account for 68% of cloud giant CapEx by 2027 August 26, 2026 DRAM and NAND Flash combined will account for 47% of major cloud service providers' total capital expenditure in 2026, rising to 68% in 2027, according to TrendForce. The shift reflects both soaring memory contract prices and surging procurement demand for AI infrastructure.
Oura faces lawsuit over sleep tracking accuracy claims August 26, 2026 Finnish smart ring maker Oura is facing a proposed class action lawsuit filed in a US federal court on August 20 by California law firm Clarkson Law Firm. The lawsuit alleges that the company's marketing claims about its sleep tracking capabilities are false and misleading.
ICEYE to broaden engagement with India’s defense ecosystem August 26, 2026 The Finnish company has announced the formal establishment of ICEYE India, operating from New Delhi. ICEYE India’s immediate priority is supporting India’s defense and intelligence customers to access advanced intelligence capabilities and solutions.
LGES announces start of production at new Lansing battery plant August 26, 2026 With the opening of its Lansing facility, LG Energy Solution now operates two facilities in Michigan, located in Holland and Lansing. The South Korean company has invested more than USD 5 billion total in the state of Michigan since 2010.
Kitron opens new production facility in Norway as defence demand surges August 25, 2026 Kitron has officially opened its new production facility at Longum outside Arendal in Norway, adding approximately 7,500 square metres of manufacturing space. Together with the existing Kilsund site nearby, the two facilities employ approximately 550 people.
Coherent begins sampling 300mm SiC substrates for AI thermal management August 25, 2026 Coherent has begun sampling its 300mm high thermal conductivity silicon carbide substrates to AI semiconductor partners. The milestone moves the platform from internal development to customer evaluation.
Zollner expands Costa Rica facility as part of Americas 2030 strategy August 25, 2026 German EMS provider Zollner has officially opened an expansion of its Cartago facility in Costa Rica, adding approximately 10,000 square metres of operational space. The expansion is expected to create around 500 additional jobs by 2030 and forms part of the company's Americas 2030 strategy.
Global semiconductor sales hit $403 billion in Q2 August 25, 2026 Global semiconductor sales reached USD 403.3 billion in Q2 2026, a 35.1% increase compared to Q1, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association. Monthly sales in June alone came in at USD 134.5 billion – up 123.6% YoY and 9.7% from May.
Donut Lab acquires nanotechnology company Nordic Nano Group August 25, 2026 Finnish technology company Donut Lab has acquired nanomaterials company Nordic Nano Group, with the entire team transferring to Donut Lab. The acquisition brings together both companies' intellectual property, technology and staff under one roof.