Rising geopolitical tensions and defense demand are intensifying pressure on compound semiconductor supply chains powering next-generation RF systems.
The stock market’s volatility index, or VIX, has had an eventful 2026 so far, beginning with uncertainty over trade tariffs and most recently due to the conflict in the Middle East. Also known as Wall Street’s fear gauge, the VIX has been spiking around 30, which is a significant psychological threshold for investors. There have been sharper increases in the past, during the notorious financial crash of 2008 and, of course, in the pandemic. While those historical events sent investors dashing for traditional areas of cover, normally to buy bonds and sell stocks, the current situation is more complex, combining the threat of inflation and supply disruptions.
AI server growth could boost PCB and copper-clad laminate demand more than 200% by 2027, straining global materials supply.
The global excitement surrounding AI has certainly caught my attention for many reasons. However, I was taken aback by an analysis indicating that increasing demand for new infrastructure will significantly boost growth rates for copper-clad laminates (CCL), which are expected to rise by over 200% in 2027, as reported by Goldman Sachs in January.
From x-ray hype to AI black boxes, progress works best when curiosity is paired with caution.
Throughout history, our enthusiasm for new technology has often outpaced our ability to fully comprehend its risks. From the industrial revolution to the digital age, we have repeatedly embraced innovations with excitement while ignoring caution, sometimes overlooking potential hazards in our eagerness to advance. In healthcare, where technological breakthroughs promise transformative benefits, new capabilities can come with severe risks that demand careful scrutiny.
Under Foundry 2.0, the semiconductor value chain is moving back into strategic focus.
When Joni Mitchell recorded Big Yellow Taxi, singing “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone,” she was reiterating the proverbial warning that we often appreciate things properly only after losing them. It’s an observation that transcends context and can be applied even in today’s electronics industry. For decades, Western companies have outsourced significant parts of their value chain to achieve cost-down and to focus on core competencies in pursuit of efficiency. Today’s geopolitical tensions are drawing attention to the loss of sovereignty that results from exporting control of critical processes like packaging and testing as part of the semiconductor value chain.