The Pentagon’s push to rapidly field low-cost attack drones and a 25.6 percent jump in global semiconductor sales point to accelerating demand for scalable electronics, as defense programs and AI-driven workloads fuel momentum across chips, systems and manufacturing capacity.

Researchers at Edinburgh University developed a stable germanium–tin semiconductor with optoelectronic properties.

A new review highlights how 3-D printing is enabling scalable, flexible battery designs for wearable electronics.

BITS Pilani and Siemens launched a joint PCB design and analysis certification program to build industry-ready skills for India’s electronics and semiconductor workforce.

Michael Sivigny explains how validating machine accuracy and force compliance uncovers hidden process variation that drives defects, yield loss and long-term reliability risks in modern electronics manufacturing.

Registration is now open for PCB East 2026, the electronics industry’s East Coast conference and exhibition.

PCB East 2026’s exhibition hall is more than 95 percent sold out, reflecting strong exhibitor demand ahead of the April event in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Wally Rhines reviews the latest ECAD market data, including sustained year-over-year growth, regional sales shifts and employment trends across design and semiconductor tools on the PCB Chat podcast.

Looking for networking opportunities? Join the PCEA Discord server, bringing together engineers and designers from around the world on a private channel for discussing technical questions and career opportunities.

The US proposed forming a critical minerals trade bloc with allied nations, introducing coordinated price floors to reduce China’s influence over supply chains for semiconductors, EVs and advanced manufacturing.

The Pentagon selected 25 companies to compete in the first phase of its Drone Dominance Program, aiming to rapidly field large volumes of low-cost one-way attack drones for US forces.

Global semiconductor sales rose 25.6 percent to $791.7B in 2025, with industry forecasts projecting the market will approach $1 trillion this year.

Amazon announced plans to invest $200B in AI and infrastructure.

Mycronic posted full-year sales growth of 12 percent, hitting $748M, and forecasts 2026 revenue of roughly $780M.

India and Malaysia are moving to deepen semiconductor collaboration through a multi-layered framework, as New Delhi looks to strengthen regional partnerships ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kuala Lumpur.

Qualcomm warned that a tightening memory supply is weighing on its near-term outlook, as AI data center demand diverts DRAM capacity away from smartphones and other consumer electronics.

Merck KGaA appointed Benjamin Hein CEO of its Electronics business.

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PCB Update is a digital newsletter for PCB design, fabrication and assembly professionals, brought to you by Printed Circuit Engineering Association™. E-mail industry press releases or links to the editors of CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY or PCD&F: pr@pcea.net.