Core Insights - The semiconductor industry is crucial for Taiwan's economic development, with a significant talent shortage of 34,000 positions as of May this year [1] - The most challenging roles to fill are in the "operation/technical/maintenance" category, with only 0.2 job seekers available per position [1] - To address the talent gap, the government is collaborating with universities to offer short-term training programs in semiconductor-related fields, achieving a 50% employment rate after 90 days and over 75% after 180 days [1] Talent Demand - The top three job categories with talent shortages are: - "Production/Quality Control/Cleaning" with a shortage of 10,000 positions - "Research and Development" with a shortage of 9,000 positions - "Operation/Technical/Maintenance" with a shortage of 7,000 positions [1] Salary Insights - In the non-managerial category, the median annual salary for IC design engineers is NT$1.78 million, the highest among semiconductor roles, followed by digital IC design engineers at NT$1.57 million [2] - Other high-paying positions include: - RF engineers at NT$1.43 million - Telecommunications system engineers at NT$1.32 million - Algorithm engineers at NT$1.29 million - The demand for professionals in 5G, AI, and smart applications is reflected in these salary figures [2] Educational Flexibility - For non-engineering graduates, the "operation/technical/maintenance" roles offer a 58% chance of employment regardless of major, while "production/quality control/cleaning" roles have a 38% flexibility in educational background [2] - In contrast, "research and development" positions require specific backgrounds in electrical, electronic, or materials engineering, with only 23% of roles being open to various majors [2]

Group 1 - HSBC Research initiates a "Buy" rating for Horizon Robotics with a target price of HKD 10.2 [1] - Horizon Robotics currently serves over 40 automotive manufacturers, including BYD, Geely, and Li Auto, with more than 310 vehicle models [1] - The company is expected to achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 64% in revenue from 2025 to 2027 and is projected to turn profitable by 2028 [1] Group 2 - Despite NVIDIA's dominance in the high-end automotive market, Horizon Robotics' lower chip prices are anticipated to enhance its market share in China, increasing from approximately 15% in 2024 to about 25% by 2027 [1] - The current trade tensions are believed to provide Horizon Robotics with higher supply chain security [1]