CPO Mass Production Bottleneck: Single-Chip Testing Exceeds 100 Seconds, Equipment Giants Race to Fill the Gap

1. As AI data centers' computing power demands continue to climb, traditional copper interconnect technology is approaching its physical limits. Co-packaged optics (CPO) is being touted as a key interconnect solution for next-generation AI infrastructure. However, just as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) prepares to mass-produce chips using its COUPE platform in 2026, a long-overlooked step in the process is becoming a critical bottleneck across the entire supply chain: testing.

Malaysia: National Semiconductor Strategy to Secure Global Position

 1. Malaysia is working to strengthen its role in the global semiconductor sector by diversifying supply chains and maintaining investor confidence amid trade uncertainties. The country’s approach is being shaped by the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS), which aims to enhance resilience in an industry increasingly influenced by geopolitical and economic shifts.

2. The NSS reflects Malaysia’s ambition to position itself, alongside neighbouring economies such as Singapore and Vietnam, as a vital link in the global technology supply chain. The emphasis is on creating a more robust and flexible framework for semiconductor production and trade, moving away from the older reliance on single-sourced operations.

ETSI Launch Positions Malaysia As Regional Semiconductor Hub

 1. Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science & Technology (CREST) and the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) have launched the Engineering Talent for Semiconductor Industry (ETSI) Programme, a flagship initiative to strengthen Malaysia’s semiconductor capabilities.

2. The programme, aligned with the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) and anchored by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) and the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA), aims to develop a holistic talent pipeline spanning students, graduates, the existing workforce and researchers. It seeks to equip participants with critical skills across the semiconductor value chain to boost R&D, innovation and Malaysia’s competitiveness in the global E&E sector.

3. ETSI includes four key programmes: structured internships for students, job-ready training for graduates and the unemployed, reskilling and upskilling of the current workforce and access to CREST’s Semiconductor Centre of Excellence (CoE) for advanced training and R&D. The programme is designed to nurture homegrown engineers, facilitate knowledge transfer and strengthen industry–academia linkages.

China’s EVs dominate the world — why not in the US and Canada?

1. China makes more than 70 percent of the world’s electric cars. But it’s hard to find those vehicles in North America. One month before he opened this year’s United Nations climate summit, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva helped open a new mega-factory at the site of a former Ford car manufacturing plant.

2. The new plant, in Brazil’s Camacari, Bahia, is one of many being built around the world by China’s BYD, the world’s largest manufacturer of electric cars. BYD’s presence is also being felt at the ongoing COP30 climate summit in Brazil’s Belem, where it is a cosponsor alongside GWM, another Chinese electric carmaker.

3. The sponsorship is just one of many ways that China’s investments in green technology are being felt at the UN’s top climate meeting, where the Chinese official delegation of 789 people is second only to Brazil’s 3,805.

4. Back in the US, and in neighbouring Canada, trade barriers aimed at punishing Chinese electric vehicles have made them far costlier than what the manufacturers want to sell them for. These tariffs are a legacy of former US President Joe Biden’s administration, and place North America as an outlier at a time when Chinese EVs otherwise dominate the global market.

EMS market faces downturn but cautious optimism for 2026

1. According to in4ma’s half-year survey, which gathered input from 224 companies representing 21% of the European EMS market, the first half of 2025 saw a decline of 8.1% compared to the same period last year. When combined with the final quarter of 2024, the result still showed a negative development of 3.1%.

2. Looking ahead, however, respondents indicated slightly more optimism. For the second half of 2025, the survey suggests a modest increase of 0.9%. Overall, when combining 2024 and 2025, the industry remains down by 2.1%.

3. Haass noted that while the forecast for 2026 from the survey currently stands at an 11.9% increase, she believes that figure is overly optimistic:

4. “I’m sure that we will see growth next year, but not a double-digit growth,” she said.

5. At the time of the presentation, in4ma had collected real data from 23% of companies for 2025, showing an overall decline of 3.8%. Haass expects the year to close with a small increase, possibly in the range of 2 to 3 %.

6. Despite the slow first half of 2025, Haass concluded that there is reason for cautious optimism about the remainder of the year and into 2026.

Malaysia’s key US leverage: Electronics, chips, rare earths, gloves and security

 1. Malaysia should leverage its importance in electronics, semiconductors, rare earths, healthcare and security to negotiate tariff relief from the US during the 90-day reprieve, according to Kenanga Research.

2. In a note on Monday, it said Malaysia should leverage its position as a crucial supplier of electronics and semiconductors to the US to secure tariff exemptions.

3. Malaysia makes up 20% of US chip imports. Semiconductors are vital for various US industries, especially automotive and technology. As the US looks to strengthen its supply chains, Malaysia’s role in chip production gives it a strong bargaining position to secure tariff exemptions. Malaysia’s electronics made up 39.9% of its exports in 2024 and play a key role in US tech supply chains. As a stable alternative to China, Malaysia offers “friend-shoring” opportunities.

The Future Of Manufacturing: Technology Trends For 2025 And Beyond

1. The manufacturing sector is undergoing a technological and sustainable revolution. Industry 4.0 technologies like AI, IoT, and digital twins are enhancing efficiency, resource optimization, and eco-friendly practices. 

2. By 2025, software innovations will focus on carbon neutrality, energy efficiency, and cloud solutions, significantly reducing environmental impacts. AI drives smart production, while IoT transforms production lines into intelligent systems. 

3. Decentralized manufacturing and microfactories increase supply chain agility, despite challenges. The electrification of vehicle fleets and the integration of digital ecosystems in cars highlight mobility sector trends. However, manufacturers must address cybersecurity and balance cost-efficiency with innovation to adapt to global challenges

4. Here are FORBES and Forrester’s prediction for manufacturing in 2025 

Meteor Lake Shortages Prompt Intel's Costly Ireland Ramp-Up Amid Apollo Deal

1. Buyout firm Apollo Global Management (APO.N),  will acquire a 49% equity interest in a joint venture related to Intel's (INTC.O),  new manufacturing facility in Ireland for $11 billion, the companies said on Tuesday.

2. Apollo will acquire the stake in the Fab 34 joint venture in Leixlip, Ireland, the U.S. chipmaker's first high-volume location for its Intel 4 manufacturing process using extreme ultraviolet lithography machines.

3. The deal, expected to close in the second quarter, would allow Intel to redeploy parts of its investment in the project to other parts of its business, the company said.

Manufacturing Trends and Predictions in 2024

Below are manufacturing predictions and trends from Opentext, Oracle and, Advanced Technology Services (ATS) for 2024.

3 Cybersecurity Issues Manufacturers Can Solve with AI

1. AI has led to some massive changes in many different industries. The manufacturing industry is among those most affected by the changes it has created.

2. Manufacturers are projected to spend $2.3 billion on AI technology this year. While this figure might not seem significant, it is growing at a rate of 47.9% a year through 2027.

3. One of the biggest reasons that the manufacturing sector is investing more heavily in AI is to take advantage of the cybersecurity benefits it offers.

4. Manufacturers are among the biggest targets of cybercriminals. In 2021, over 40% of manufacturers experienced a cyberattack. That figure is likely to increase in the coming years, so they must use all resources at their disposal to combat them.

5. Therefore, using AI-driven cybersecurity strategies will be more important than ever.

6. Technological advancements and innovation have helped manufacturing industries to grow exponentially in the past few years. Companies are no longer limited to using old and offline trends. They are now making significant shifts to online activities. Unfortunately, this has also led to increasing incidences of cyber-attacks.

7. Manufacturers should be aware of the different cybersecurity threats the industry faces today. They must also develop effective solutions to address these threats and minimize risks, which includes using AI to its full potential.

8. Here are three cyber security issues in manufacture you should know, which can be addressed with AI technology.

Vietnam looks to build first semiconductor plant

1. Vietnam is looking to build its first semiconductor plant despite US warnings that it will involve high costs.

2. Reuters reported that officials have met with half a dozen US chip firms in the past few weeks, including with Vu Tu Thanh, head of the Vietnam office of the US-ASEAN Business Council.

3. According to one executive consulted by Reuters, the government in Hanoi is looking to build a plant for less advanced chips used in cars or telecom applications.

4. The Vietnamese government has said it wants to build its first plant by the end of this decade and  chip companies would benefit from “the highest incentives available in Vietnam”.

5. The move to attract chipmaking investors comes after a surge in FDI inflows in the country. According to national statistics, Vietnam attracted over $15.29bn in FDI between January and October 2023, marking a 54% year-on-year increase in the value of investments. Around $5.29bn was spent on 1,051 existing projects.

Total Economic Impact Study Reveals 304% ROI for Complex Manufacturers Using Supply Chain Sustainability Platform Software

1. Independent study highlights how manufacturers are leveraging product compliance and sustainability tools to improve supplier engagement and reduce non-compliance costs.

2. The findings of its commissioned Total Economic Impact™ (TEI) study. Conducted by Forrester Consulting, the study found that Assent’s Supply Chain Sustainability Platform provides customers with a return on investment (ROI) of 304% over three years with a payback period of less than six months.

3. The study also indicates that product compliance and sustainability management solutions can enhance and protect brand reputation, ease administrative burdens, and mitigate compliance risks and supply chain disruptions.

China’s Big Plan to Boost Data Center Computing Power

1. As China’s digital businesses continue to grow and as traditional sectors continue to digitize, there will be greater demand for data center infrastructure and high computing capacity.

2. The “Eastern Data, Western Computing” plan was first introduced at the end of 2020 when the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), and the National Energy Administration (NEA) jointly released the Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Construction of a National Integrated Big Data Center Collaborative Innovation System (the “guiding opinions”). These guiding opinions first proposed the construction of a nationwide integrated data center system. 

Is the US’s Position as a Global Leader for Data Centres Changing?

1. Of the world’s ten largest data centre companies, six are US multinationals and two are Japanese. Many are questioning, however, whether this crop of data centre corporates will maintain their dominance of the industry’s cross-border investment and global footprint – and what does this mean for companies planning corporate expansions overseas?

How Manufacturers in Less Developed Regions Accelerate the Adoption of Industry 4.0?

1. The manufacturing industry is well aware of the benefits Industry 4.0 technologies can offer. Connectivity, AI/ML, IoT, AR/VR and other technologies are available to provide data and streamline processes and improve manufacturing across diverse industry segments.

2. Yet whilst awareness is broad, uptake is less so. Industrial digitalisation in the UK can be London-centric, leaving regional manufacturing hubs further behind in the adoption of new technologies. The likes of Make UK and Innovate UK are making great strides in broadening adoption, but there is further to go.

3. Part of the challenge lies in regional skills gaps and talent shortages, with businesses outside of city hubs unable to realise the full benefits of Industry 4.0 technologies. There is a lot of incredible technology out there to integrate into manufacturing operations – but it is not always accessible. Regionally, there needs to be equal access to technology alongside abilities to upskill staff and train talent regionally.

IoT Is Changing the Semiconductor Industry; and How Big Data is Applied in Major Industries

1. The IoT semiconductor industry is in continually high demand, especially as people look for increasingly advanced and feature-filled connected devices. However, the specific reasons for the chip’s rise are more complex than some might think. Here’s a closer look at some of them.

2. On the other hand, there are some major big data applications where it has become a game-changer for increasing efficiency, enhancing customer service, reducing costs, making better products, and much more:

Key Trends in Food Processing & Strategies for Food Tech Companies

1. The impact of COVID-19  on the food supply cannot be overstated. The virus is widely believed to have originated in the food supply in China in 2019. It’s therefore not surprising that the resulting global pandemic has changed the food production industry forever.  

2. With on-going quarantines, lockdowns, restaurant closures and work-from-home, consumers had more time to research how their food is being produced and where it is coming from. From the place of origin of food products, to ingredients, to packaging and food safety, American consumers have drastically altered their perception of what a desirable, safe, and delicious food product is. 

3. There are six key trends that U.S. food producers are reacting to. 

4. BCI Global has defined four strategic directions for innovative food tech companies with clear international ambitions to establish the right manufacturing and supply chain footprint for the future. They are as follows:
• Differentiating between short-term capacity development and longer-term strategy
• Creating the right ecosystem
• Selecting the optimal location for new operations
• Footprint risk management.

Digital Twin - Dynamic Virtual Copy

1. A digital twin is a dynamic virtual copy of a physical asset, process, system or environment that looks like and behaves identically to its real-world counterpart. A digital twin ingests data and replicates processes so you can predict possible performance outcomes and issues that the real-world product might undergo.

2. The power of digital twins comes from connecting real-world assets with real-world data, so you can better visualize them. Digital twins enable cross-functional teams to collaboratively design, build, test, deploy and operate complex systems in interactive and immersive ways. They help companies understand the past, view present conditions, and prevent future problems. They inform decision-making through sales and marketing insights, analysis, 3D visualization, simulation, and prediction.

Key Differences Between Automation & robotics and How Robotics Solving Labor Shortages

1. Here are the key differences between automation and robotics and how to use them to your advantage.

2. Robots have emerged as the top solution to labor shortages. Persistent labor shortages have since debunked the idea that robots are somehow stealing jobs from humans. On the contrary “ robots are enabling humans to go after the jobs they truly want.

IoT and Big Data: Understanding the relationship between these two technologies

1. The IoT: definition - The Internet of Things (IoT) is a concept that connects physical or virtual objects to the internet. The technology very often used is the sensor, allowing to link a physical object such as a watch, a drone or even a speaker, to the internet. 

2. If for a long time the few objects connected to the Internet were the telephone and the computer, this is no longer the case today and every year new types of objects incorporating IOT technology are born.