Semiconductor today

Global smartphone production in second-quarter 2026 reached 275 million units, down 8% year-on-year, according to market research firm TrendForce. The decline was narrower than previously forecast, resulting in better-than-expected overall performance...

In Yole Group’s White Paper ‘Photonics at the Speed of AI’ (part of the firm’s AI White Papers Collection), it argues that optical transceivers — once a supporting piece of data-center infrastructure — have become a system-level requirement for scaling artificial intelligence...

Modelithics Inc of Tampa, FL, USA, which provides RF and microwave simulation models for electronic design automation (EDA), has released the Modelithics Qorvo GaN Library v26.5.11. For more than 12 years, the Modelithics Qorvo GaN Library has provided RF and microwave engineers with up-to-date, highly accurate, measurement-based nonlinear models that accelerate design cycles, improve first-pass success and reduce development costs...

Modelithics Inc of Tampa, FL, USA, which provides RF and microwave simulation models for electronic design automation (EDA), has released the Modelithics Qorvo GaN Library v26.5.11. For more than 12 years, the Modelithics Qorvo GaN Library has provided RF and microwave engineers with up-to-date, highly accurate, measurement-based nonlinear models that accelerate design cycles, improve first-pass success and reduce development costs...

NUBURU Inc of Centennial, CO, USA (a dual-use defense & security integrated platform company) is expanding its directed-energy optical portfolio into law enforcement and public security through its subsidiary Lyocon S.r.l. The initiative extends NUBURU’s One Optical Systems Hub beyond the battlefield and into everyday protective operations – public order, checkpoints and access control, tactical response and perimeter protection – with an initial go-to-market focus on the USA and NATO-member countries...

NUBURU Inc of Centennial, CO, USA (a dual-use defense & security integrated platform company) is expanding its directed-energy optical portfolio into law enforcement and public security through its subsidiary Lyocon S.r.l. The initiative extends NUBURU’s One Optical Systems Hub beyond the battlefield and into everyday protective operations – public order, checkpoints and access control, tactical response and perimeter protection – with an initial go-to-market focus on the USA and NATO-member countries...

RF gallium nitride GaN technology is entering a new phase of growth and strategic competition, notes KnowMade in its report RF GaN Technology Patent Landscape Analysis 2026...

RF gallium nitride GaN technology is entering a new phase of growth and strategic competition, notes KnowMade in its report RF GaN Technology Patent Landscape Analysis 2026...

Specialty semiconductor and performance materials producer 5N Plus Inc (5N+) of Montréal, Québec, Canada has been selected by the US Department of War to receive a US$7.3m award to establish domestic production of gallium arsenide components for US defence applications. This follows presentation of the firm’s proposal at the inaugural Defense Industrial Base Accelerator (DIBX) Pitch Competition in Philadelphia (25-27 August)...

Sivers Semiconductors AB of Kista, Sweden (which supplies RF beam-former ICs and lasers for AI data-center, SATCOM, defense and telecom applications) has announced a $30m strategic investment to significantly expand its indium phosphide (InP) manufacturing facility in Glasgow, Scotland, UK as it prepares for anticipated customer production ramps driven by growing AI data-center and optical networking demand...

Epiwafer and substrate maker IQE plc of Cardiff, Wales, UK has announced a purchase agreement with Quintessent Inc of Santa Barbara, CA, USA — which specializes in heterogeneous integration of quantum dot lasers and silicon photonic integrated circuits (PICs) — for the supply of quantum dot laser (QDL) epitaxy...

NUBURU Inc of Centennial, CO, USA (a dual-use defense & security integrated platform company) has announced continued progress toward closing its proposed acquisition of a 70% controlling interest in Tekne S.p.A., reported Tekne management’s preliminary review indicating about $135.4m in adjusted active remaining order value, and detailed the next phase of execution for NUBURU’s integrated platform strategy...

At the 29th European Microwave Week (EuMW 2026) at ExCeL London, UK (4–9 October), ATEK MIDAS AS of Istanbul, Turkey — which designs high-performance analog, mixed-signal silicon ASICs & RFICs and gallium arsenide (GaAs) & gallium nitride (GaN) monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) and modules — is exhibiting in booth L108 alongside its technical sales representative Antae (which covers UK, Spain, Portugal and Ireland)...

Atlantic Alumina Company LLC (ATALCO, the only operating alumina refinery in the USA) has expanded its partnership with the US Department of War’s (DoW) Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition & Sustainment, the Economic Defense Unit, and natural resource company Concord Resources Holdings Ltd (ATALCO’s majority owner), in conjunction with Concord’s majority shareholder (a fund managed by New York-based commodities investment firm Pinnacle Asset Management L.P). The new funding, in the form of $350m in preferred equity, brings total capital raised for the ATALCO facility in Gramercy, Louisiana and its critical mineral production to $800m since the start of the year, split evenly between $400m from the DoW and $400m from private investors through Pinnacle’s fund...

Vector Photonics Ltd of the West of Scotland Science Park — which was spun off from the University of Glasgow in 2020, and is pioneering the use of photonic crystal surface-emitting lasers (PCSEL) in secure communications — is exhibiting on stand 1468 at the European Conference on Optical Communication (ECOC 2026) in Malaga, Spain (20–24 September). The firm will discuss how its proven PCSEL technology can eliminate communications bottlenecks in AI data centers that are threatening to restrict performance...

Infineon Technologies AG of Munich, Germany and Skeleton Technologies, which provides high-power energy storage systems for AI data centers, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on high-efficiency, resilient power solutions for modern data centers...

US-based aerospace & defense technology company Northrop Grumman Corp has won a $7m contract to create diamond-cooled chips that deliver higher power, faster speeds and enhanced performance for military radar and communications...

To accelerate technical innovation and expand domestic manufacturing capabilities for solar panels in space applications, the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation has announced a $12m funding opportunity to help to ensure that the next generation of space photovoltaics (PV) is developed in the USA...

Gallium nitride (GaN) power IC and silicon carbide (SiC) technology firm Navitas Semiconductor Corp of Torrance, CA, USA says that the first shipments of US-manufactured 5th Generation GaNFast technology, in partnership with GlobalFoundries of Malta, NY (GF, the only US-based pure-play foundry with a global manufacturing footprint, including facilities in the USA, Europe and Singapore), will begin in September, marking a milestone in strengthening the US domestic GaN ecosystem for AI infrastructure and critical national security applications...

Discrete device designer and manufacturer Nexperia B.V. of Nijmegen, the Netherlands (which operates wafer fabs in Hamburg, Germany, and Hazel Grove Manchester, UK) says it will explore a strategic collaboration on advanced power semiconductor solutions for automotive applications with Aurobay Technologies, a division of Horse Powertrain Ltd (a joint venture between Renault Group and Geely)...