Vietnam’s semiconductor industry is gaining momentum as foreign companies invest in chip testing and packaging facilities, shifting some production away from China. Amid trade tensions between the US and China, several global players, including South Korea’s Hana Micron and US-based Amkor Technology, are expanding operations in Vietnam to diversify their production bases. Hana Micron has committed over $930 million to boost its packaging capacity, while Amkor is investing $1.6 billion to establish its largest packaging plant, transferring some machinery from its Chinese facilities.
The rise in investment is set to increase Vietnam’s global share in chip assembling, testing, and packaging, with estimates suggesting a rise from 1% in 2022 to around 8-9% by 2032. Domestic companies are also stepping up. Vietnamese tech firm FPT plans to start a testing facility near Hanoi next year, investing up to $30 million, while Sovico Group is seeking partnerships for a chip plant in Danang.
Vietnam’s strategic push into the semiconductor sector has been encouraged by the US, viewing the country as a potential alternative to China for supply chains. The Biden administration’s support, especially as trade tensions grow, has bolstered Vietnam’s role in this industry. With domestic and foreign investments combined, Vietnam is poised to strengthen its position as a key player in the global semiconductor back-end market.
Looking forward, Vietnam is ambitiously aiming to develop its front-end chipmaking capabilities, planning to have its first foundry operational by 2030. Viettel, a state-owned firm, is set to lead this initiative, indicating Vietnam’s broader goal of advancing its semiconductor industry and reducing reliance on foreign production bases.
EU has committed €133 million ($142 million) to support pilot production facilities for photonic semiconductors in the Netherlands, according to the Dutch economy ministry. This initiative forms part of a larger €380 million fund under the EU’s Chips Joint Undertaking, a public-private partnership designed to bolster Europe’s semiconductor industry. Photonic semiconductors, which use light instead of electrons for calculations, promise enhanced speed and energy efficiency and are increasingly essential in fields like data centres and automotive technology.
Dutch economy minister Dirk Beljaarts emphasised photonics as a “technology of strategic importance” for Europe’s economic competitiveness. By building strong domestic capabilities in research, innovation, and supply chains, the EU aims to reduce dependence on global tech rivals. The move follows calls from European industry leaders for significant EU investment to keep pace with advancements in Asia and the US.
The Dutch pilot facilities, slated to begin construction in 2025, will involve Eindhoven and Twente universities alongside the TNO research institute, with co-investment from companies utilising the new infrastructure.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) confirmed that its investment plans in the United States will continue unchanged, following the election of Donald Trump as the next US president. TSMC, a leading global chipmaker and supplier to tech giants like Apple and Nvidia, is investing $65 billion in new semiconductor factories in Arizona.
Despite Trump’s previous comments accusing Taiwan of harming the US semiconductor industry, TSMC has recently secured a $6.6 billion subsidy from the US Commerce Department to support advanced chip production in Phoenix. TSMC’s US unit, along with other firms like GlobalFoundries, is expected to receive additional support under the Biden administration’s Chips and Science Act.
TSMC shares have remained resilient, bolstered by strong demand for AI technology, with its American Depositary Receipts rising 4.1% on Thursday as Nvidia’s stock surged, helping drive investor confidence.
Cloud monitoring firm Datadog raised its annual revenue and profit forecasts on Thursday, driven by increasing demand for its AI-backed cybersecurity products. The New York-based company now expects full-year revenue of about $2.66 billion, up from its previous projection of $2.62 to $2.63 billion, with analysts having anticipated $2.63 billion. Datadog also raised its adjusted profit forecast to between $1.75 and $1.77 per share, surpassing earlier estimates of $1.62 to $1.66.
The company’s performance has been bolstered by the growing adoption of AI applications by its customers, who are increasingly deploying these tools in live production environments. As AI apps run in the cloud, Datadog stands to benefit from the ongoing migration to cloud services, which drives demand for its monitoring software. For the quarter ending September 30, Datadog reported revenue of $690 million, beating the expected $664.3 million, and posted an adjusted profit of 46 cents per share, exceeding analysts’ predictions of 40 cents.
Despite the strong results and optimistic growth outlook, Datadog’s stock saw some volatility, rising 4.1% before later paring its gains as investors reacted to high expectations for the company’s performance.
French AI startup LightOn launched an initial public offering (IPO) on the Euronext Growth market in Paris, with its debut trading expected later this month. The company, known for its large language model (LLM) software used by businesses and the French government, will be Europe’s first publicly listed generative AI startup, a significant milestone as France aims to position itself as a leader in AI within Europe.
LightOn’s co-CEOs Igor Carron and Laurent Daudet emphasised that the IPO provides a ‘unique opportunity’ for investors to support a growing French tech company with a track record of success both in France and internationally. Shares are priced at 10.35 euros, valuing the company at around 50 million euros, and LightOn aims to raise roughly 10.4 million euros through the capital increase. The subscription period will run until November 20, with shares expected to trade beginning 26 November.
This move aligns with France’s broader push to close the innovation gap with the US and the UK, with ambitions for 100 tech ‘unicorns’ by 2030. LightOn’s listing could signal an opening for more European AI firms to seek public funding, offering investors access to an evolving tech market in the region.
BNB Chain has introduced a tokenisation solution to ease entry into web3 for individuals and small businesses. The platform’s one-stop solution supports tokenising real-world assets and company shares, making it easier for users to navigate the web3 ecosystem. The initiative aims to bring tangible assets, such as property and commodities, into the digital sphere by converting them into tradable tokens.
Through partnerships with firms like BitBond and Matrixdock, BNB Chain’s business tokenisation service allows companies to issue their tokens on the blockchain. It is part of a broader effort to remove technical barriers and open up Web3 access to more people. According to BNB Chain, tokenising real-world assets is expected to be a key step in expanding Web3 use cases, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.
BNB Chain’s ecosystem has grown to over 4 million users, with more than 4,000 decentralised applications now running on its network. Supporting services such as carbon credits and natural hydrogen tokenisation, the chain aims to diversify its offerings and drive even greater adoption of web3 technology.
A woman from Littlehampton, West Sussex, is ‘deeply grateful’ to AI for detecting her breast cancer, which had previously gone unnoticed despite a routine mammogram showing no signs of the disease. Sheila Tooth, 68, had her mammogram at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, where AI is being used to enhance breast cancer screenings and identify cancers that human reviewers might miss.
Sheila’s cancerous cells were nearly undetectable by traditional methods, and she believes AI’s detection helped catch it at an early, treatable stage. ‘I just feel so lucky,’ she said, reflecting on how AI detected the cancer that could have become invasive if left unnoticed. The technology is part of a larger project involving 15 trusts across the UK, which reviewed over 12,000 mammograms to identify missed cases. AI flagged nearly 10% of these as potentially needing a second look, leading to further investigations for some women and five confirmed breast cancer diagnoses.
Dr Olga Strukowska, a consultant radiologist, called AI screening ‘exciting’ because it enhances the accuracy of breast cancer detection, reduces missed diagnoses, and lowers false positives. AI’s role in early and precise cancer detection could greatly improve outcomes for patients, according to Dr Strukowska. With about 650 women diagnosed with breast cancer annually in Sussex, the trust now plans to participate in a national trial to further integrate AI into routine breast screenings.
NTT DATA and Google Cloud have partnered to launch a new subsea cable linking Saudi Arabia and Egypt through the Red Sea to expand regional connectivity. The cable, owned by Mobily, connects the Arabian Gulf to Egypt’s Red Sea landing station and integrates with multiple subsea cable systems in Egypt.
This launch follows a memorandum of understanding signed two years ago between the two companies, marking a significant milestone in regional telecommunications development. The new cable is designed to extend an existing subsea network, enabling the operator to handle increased telecom traffic and improve communication flexibility between the Middle East and Europe.
The cable is also seen as a crucial step in strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading international hub for telecommunications services and data traffic, aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. The project underscores a commitment to expanding infrastructure and enhancing regional and international capabilities. Additionally, the partnership complements the newly established landing station in Sharm El Sheikh, with plans to develop new crossing routes to the Mediterranean Sea.
Batelco and Qareeb Data Centers have partnered to enhance digital infrastructure in Bahrain by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the Gateway Gulf Investment Forum 2024. The collaboration aims to develop the first White Space Data Centre in Bahrain, a key component of Beyon’s Data Oasis project, which will become the Kingdom’s largest technology hub.
The partnership aligns with Batelco’s strategy to expand its presence in the growing data centre market and digital infrastructure sector. Together, the companies will focus on delivering colocation services, implementing regional Data Centre initiatives, and offering managed digital services to meet the increasing demand for scalable and flexible solutions in the region.
As the data centre market in the region continues to grow, particularly in demand for local edge colocation services, Batelco and Qareeb Data Centers are well-positioned to capitalise on these trends. With Qareeb’s regional expansion objectives and Batelco’s established infrastructure capabilities, the partnership will drive advancements in Bahrain’s technology sector and contribute to the broader digital economy across the Gulf region.
Dubai Customs and DP World have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance digital trade and logistics solutions in Dubai, supporting the city’s ambition to become one of the top three global economic cities. The partnership aligns with Dubai’s economic agenda, D33, and aims to boost the city’s competitiveness as an international trade hub.
The MoU focuses on transforming customs systems by integrating advanced digital technologies, streamlining trade and logistics processes, and improving stakeholder experiences. By leveraging cutting-edge digital solutions, both organisations seek to modernise customs operations, offer faster, more efficient services, and facilitate smoother cross-border trade flows, ultimately meeting the evolving demands of international trade.
Furthermore, this collaboration highlights a commitment to fostering innovation within the trade and logistics sector, creating a more seamless business experience. The partnership is expected to propel the industry toward more efficient trading methods, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a competitive and connected business hub in the global trade ecosystem.
