Electronics

The world's most important chipmaker has managed to walk a fine line between China and the U.S., but that will become increasingly difficult as time goes by. (Nikkei Montage/Reuters)
Business Spotlight

Chip titan TSMC caught in crossfire between US and China

Geopolitical risks mount for Taiwan group after Trump's crackdown on customer Huawei

15 May 2020
TSMC says it will build a factory in Arizona to produce the world's most advanced chips. (Source photos from Reuters/TSMC)
Trade war

TSMC to build $12bn cutting-edge chip plant in US

Taiwan chipmaker answers Trump's 'made in America' call with production set for 2024

15 May 2020
SMIC is China's biggest contract chipmaker and a key part of Beijing's goal of building a domestic semiconductor ecoystem. (Photo courtesy of SMIC)
China tech

China's top chipmaker bullish as new US export rules loom

SMIC to more than double capex in 2020 as Jan-March revenue jumps 35%

14 May 2020
Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida pictured last year. The group on Wednesday reported a fall in net and operating profit.
Companies

Sony reports annual profit drop after coronavirus disruptions

Weak sales in electronic products and gaming drag profit down amid lockdowns

13 May 2020
TSMC's headquarters in Hsinchu: replacing American technology would be a difficult task.
Opinion

Taiwan's semiconductor industry is stuck between Trump and Huawei

US president wants to stop manufacturers supplying chips to blacklisted companies

12 May 2020
Shoppers try out smartphones at Huawei's global flagship store in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China.
5G networks

China closes in on 70% of world's 5G subscribers

The country has sprinted ahead in deployment of the technology

12 May 2020
A customer shopping from home via avatarin's avatar talks with a clerk. (Photo from company's Facebook account)
Technology

Sony to develop avatar robot with ANA startup

Customer service and nursing care among envisioned roles

11 May 2020
Malaysia remains a major foothold for Japanese companies looking to penetrate international markets.
Electronics

Malaysia factories spring back to life for Japanese electronics

Sharp, Sony and Panasonic reboot production in key export hub

9 May 2020
Apple is mass producing AirPods in Vietnam for the frist time. (Nikkei Montage/AP/Reuters) 
8 May 2020
With Fujifilm's reagent, samples can be screened in just over an hour, compared with four to six hours for conventional tests.
8 May 2020
Samsung's de facto leader, Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, abruptly announced that his children will not take over from him at the South Korean conglomerate. 
Companies

Samsung chief rules out children inheriting control of chaebol

Scion Lee Jae-yong vows not to 'cause controversies over succession anymore'

6 May 2020
The Dai-ichi Life Research Institute estimates the initial cost of online meetings at about 4.9 million yen a year per company. (Photo by Yoshiyuki Tamai)
Business trends

'Work from home' to cost Japanese companies $12.1bn, study finds

Effort to halt coronavirus could reshape work, but productivity is a challenge

5 May 2020
Despite the state of emergency, many people are still commuting to work on trains in Tokyo. (Photo by Makoto Okada)
Business trends

Toshiba's new shift: fewer days, less commuting, longer hours

Japanese company introduces four-day workweek from June

5 May 2020
Canon Chairman and CEO Fujio Mitarai will fill in for the president. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Companies

Canon Chairman Mitarai, 84, doubles up as president again

Heavyweight of business world will serve both roles until replacement found

1 May 2020
Workers for JD.com at a parcel collection point in Beijing. China's e-commerce companies are collecting customers' online preferences and feedback, which they pass along to factories that produce household goods.
China tech

China's e-commerce companies draw consumers closer to product-makers

Pinduoduo's $200m investment in Gome heats up competition with Taobao and JD.com

1 May 2020
Omron's HeartGuide is the first FDA-approved wearable blood pressure monitor.
Electronics

Omron prescribes telemedicine for growth in the 'new normal'

Remote heart monitors offer new profit driver as sales stagnate

1 May 2020
Nidec CEO and chairman says the company must not be afraid to act amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Screenshot from Nidec website)
Electronics

Nidec chief sees opportunity amid coronavirus uncertainty

Japan's M&A maestro still keen for deals as motor maker aims for 10tn yen in sales

30 April 2020
About 20 Japanese companies will cooperate to release hundreds of thousands of patents to develop new treatments for the coronavirus. (Nikkei Montage/Source photo by Reuters)
Coronavirus

Toyota and Canon among companies freeing patents to fight virus

Hundreds of thousands are expected to be released to develop new treatments

30 April 2020
Huawei is working more closely with its longtime supplier STMicroelectronics as potentially tougher U.S. restrictions loom. (Source photos by Reuters) 
Huawei crackdown

Huawei strikes European chip tie-up as fears rise over US curbs

Collaboration with Tesla supplier STMicro also set to aid self-driving goals

28 April 2020
Taiwan Stanch makes up to 1 million masks a day to support the island’s fight against the coronavirus outbreak. (Photo by Lauly Li)
Business Spotlight

Taiwan's 'hidden champions' help coronavirus fightback

Machine tool makers' race to boost mask output underlines importance to economy

24 April 2020
Samsung Biologics benefits from the clean room expertise of fellow group member Samsung Electronics. (Photo courtesy of Samsung Biologics)
Pharmaceuticals

Samsung Biologics bumps Hyundai from Korean market's top 3

Drugmaker's market cap surges to $31bn on lucrative virus treatment deal

24 April 2020
The new facial recognition system can be used at train stations, office buildings, shopping malls and other places where large numbers of people congregate.
Coronavirus

Japan chipmaker unveils AI face recognition tool to detect fever

THine touts software for public venues, screening people with masks

23 April 2020
SK Hynix expects strong demand for servers in the mid- to long term.  
Technology

SK Hynix Q1 profit beats estimates thanks to robust server demand

South Korean chipmaker sees profit fall 40% on year but rebounds from previous quarter

23 April 2020
iFlytek was placed on the so-called U.S. entity list after it was implicated in human rights violations against Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.
China tech

Earnings hit stings China's iFlytek in wake of US blacklisting

Voice recognition specialist first to reveal cost of sanctions for alleged abuses

22 April 2020
This NEC-developed satellite is scheduled to be sent into orbit in 2023. (Image courtesy of NEC)
Aerospace & Defense Industries

NEC wins $190m deal to supply satellite to Vietnam

Export package reveals edge large companies have over startups during crisis

22 April 2020