Faster 12-nanometer semiconductors

Intel and UMC have announced a mega-deal to work together on making 12-nanometer semiconductors faster and more powerful.

Tsao donates $32.8 million to train 3 million civilian soldiers 

Former Taiwanese chipmaker United Microelectronics boss Robert Tsao outlined plans to fund military training for millions of “civilian warriors” in Taiwan to fight against any potential Chinese invasion.

Smoking the peace pipe

US chipmaker Micron and Taiwanese peer UMC have withdrawn complaints against each other following a years long legal dispute over intellectual property (IP).

Nothing to see here move on

Taiwan's second-largest contract chipmaker United Microelectronics has agreed to pay a $60 million fine to make an industrial espionage lawsuit with the US Department of Justice go away.

But it should not do too much harm

Micron played down the likely impact on its business of a temporary Chinese ban on some chip sales but said it was unfair and would appeal.

UMC patent war to blame

A Chinese court temporarily banned Micron in China as part of its patent war with Taiwanese rival United Microelectronics.

It’s the thin edge of the wedge

Prices of 12-inch silicon wafers may rise by as much as 20 percent in 2017.

UMC is expected to  move its 14nm FinFET process to volume production in the second quarter of 2017.

16nm doing well but 20nm slumps

Taiwan’s chip foundries are raking in more cash in the third quarter than ever before, according to a new report.

Falling capacity

Foundry UMC is expecting its shipments to fall by five percent in the fourth quarter of 2015, as a result of ongoing inventory adjustments within the industry supply chain.