May 21, 2026

Electronics Policy Council to Unite Industry on Trade, Investment & Supply Chain Policy Global Electronics Association launches the Global Electronics Policy Council, uniting electronics firms across the value chain to coordinate global policy advocacy It targets trade, tariffs, and supply-chain resilience amid regulatory pressure. Global Electronics Association

Sponsor iX7059 Series by Viscom: Inline X-ray Inspection Power High-performance Inline X-ray Inspection Systems for complex electronics, semiconductors, and power modules up to 200 kg. Seamless integration, AI-powered accuracy, and maximum reliability for every application. Viscom SE

China Is Leading the AI Supercycle — and the Distance Is Growing China accelerates its AI supercycle, shifting from infrastructure build-out to enterprise-scale applications as robotics, agents, and token-driven economics surge. IDC highlights rapid industrial adoption, efficiency gains and widening global gap. IDC

Scaling SMT Traceability High-mix electronics manufacturing requires precise material control. This whitepaper explains how Tecnimaster improved traceability, inventory accuracy and picking efficiency through integrated automated storage and reel-level tracking. Technical Paper

Nvidia says it has 'largely conceded' China's AI chip market to Huawei Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says the company has largely conceded China's AI chip market to Huawei as U.S. export restrictions intensify. Nvidia still posted strong revenue growth, unveiled a massive buyback, and maintained cautious expectations for China's future reopening. CNBC

Sponsor Copper Stud & CTE Nano Tech Underfill AIT's proven flip-chip and BGA multi-level underfills offer both 18 ppm/°C copper CTE matching fine-pitch & nano-pitch with 10 µm & 0.3 µm respective cut-off particles. AI Technology, Inc.

SpaceX is poised to be the biggest IPO ever. Here are the top U.S. deals to date SpaceX prepares Nasdaq debut under ticker SPCX and targets about $75 billion, which would dwarf Alibaba's $22 billion record. The offering could revive a sluggish IPO market as investors weigh renewed risk appetite alongside booming AI-driven private valuations. CNBC

Adding OSP to Pads that are Missing ENIG Plating Process A fabricator notified us that during the ENIG plating process, several pads had been “skipped”. The fabricator would like to add OSP to the pads that are missing the ENIG. Board Talk

Technical Papers ■ Evaluation of Techniques for Intentional Contamination of PWB Substrates for Quantitative Cleanliness Analyses ■ Scaling SMT Traceability ■ The Drawbacks of Internal Recycling Systems for Solder Dross ■ Engineering ESD-Safe PCB Assembly for High-Reliability IoT and Industrial Electronics ■ The Analysis of Variance: Drawing Conclusions from Data That Are Correct, Unambiguous, and Defensible ■ PCB Rework Evolves, With X-ray a Constant Support ■ How pH Cleaning Agents Affect Production Performance ■ A Universal AI-Powered Segmentation Model for PCBA & Semiconductor ■ RAIG Minimizes Corrosion, Allows Higher Gold on ENEPIG ■ High Reliability Lead-Free Solder Paste with Rosin and Anti-Crack Resin MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

Sponsor AIT ORMET® TLPS for Thermal Conductivity AIT ORMET® TLPS is proven with stress relief for stable long-term metallic thermal conductivity & low thermal interface resistance for high temp >175°C Ormet TLPS

Space-Station Tech Pivots to Cool AI Data Centers Mikros Technologies and Carbice Corporation are adapting International Space Station cooling tech for AI data centers, combining liquid cooling and carbon nanotube materials to curb overheating, prevent chip throttling, cut outages, and support denser AI hardware. EE Times

Jeff Bezos isn't worried about the AI bubble: "the good ideas will pay for all of the losers" Jeff Bezos downplays fears of an AI bubble, arguing massive spending by OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Anthropic could still drive lasting innovation even if speculation collapses, as hyperscalers pour hundreds of billions into infrastructure and startups surge. TechSpot

Engineered Flux for Low Temperature Solders The advantage of engineered flux for low temperature solders in achieving critical properties of the solder paste is summarized in this paper. Technical Paper

Sponsor Dedicated Tool for Process Development Advanced plating capability at Uyemura Tech Center: Process Development, UBM, pilot production. ENIG, ENEPIG, EPIG/EPAG, RAIG immersion gold; all substrates. On-site analysis. Uyemura

Going electric Foxtron Vehicle Technologies began accepting pre-orders for its Cavira all-electric SUV in Taipei, pricing rear-wheel-drive models at NT$1.239 million and dual-motor versions at NT$1.389 million, with the vehicle scheduled to launch on June 17 in Taiwan. Taipei Times

Samsung reaches tentative deal with union, averting crippling strike Samsung Electronics Co reached a tentative wage and collective bargaining deal with its labor union, averting a planned strike by 48,000 workers that threatened global chip supply, after mediation and resumed talks; members will vote on the agreement next week. Taipei Times

Filling of Microvias and Through Holes by Electrolytic Copper Plating This paper describes the reasons for development and a roadmap of dimensions for copper filled through holes, microvias and other copper plated structures on PCBs. Technical Paper

Sponsor 100+ Expert Repair & Rework Guides - All in One Place Take the guesswork out of circuit board repair. This guidebook delivers proven methods to help you repair and rework assemblies to IPC standards. Circuit Technology Center

I'm an AI Engineer — These Are the Mistakes I See Every Company Make When Adopting AI Companies chasing language models often ignore the infrastructure needed to run them. Gartner predicts 30% of generative AI projects will fail after pilots by 2025 as poor data, controls, high costs, and unclear ROI expose engineering gaps. Entrepreneur

Bezos says 2-3 year timeline for space data centers is a 'little ambitious' Jeff Bezos said space-based data centers could become a major industry, though high energy, chip, and launch costs remain hurdles. As SpaceX prepares for its IPO, Blue Origin and rivals are accelerating plans for orbital infrastructure, lunar industry, and AI-powered space expansion. CNBC

Sponsor Precision Cleaning. Maximum Reliability. Gain ZESTRON insights to improve cleaning, reduce residues, and ensure long-term electronics reliability. Learn more. ZESTRON Europe

Will Robotics Have a ChatGPT Moment? AI-powered robots attract record funding as firms push to real-world deployment, but experts warn humanoid demos rely on scripted control. Real economic impact requires coordinated AI systems that safely handle unpredictable environments. IEEE Spectrum

Automated Optical Inspection Performance with Different Solder Alloys This paper presents the performance of AOI systems when applied to PCBs soldered with SAC305 and a third-generation, low-silver, bismuth-containing alloy. Technical Paper

Gartner Warns of Agent Washing Risks in Supply Chain Planning Technology Market Gartner warned that hype and "agent washing" around AI could mislead supply chain planners into costly investments. The company urged organizations to prioritize proven use cases, strengthen governance & data foundations & adopt AI gradually while the technology matures. Gartner

Why AI cannot do good science without humans AI-driven systems like FutureHouse's Robin and Google's Co-Scientist speed drug discovery by generating hypotheses, analyzing data, and guiding experiments, but researchers stress human expertise, oversight, ethics, and creativity remain vital. Nature

Sponsor Buy SMT Dispensing Needles Online EZ-FLO needles are machined from stainless steel with smoother internal profile for improved material flow. Chamfered needle tip is finely ground for better release. Buy online. DL Technology

AI Search Is Growing — But Most Companies Aren't Tracking It. Here's How to Turn That Gap Into a Real Advantage AI-powered search platforms such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, Perplexity AI, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini and Anthropic Claude are reshaping brand perception by directing users to websites daily and influencing consumer decisions well before they click or make purchases. Entrepreneur