Discrete Semiconductor Market Trends

Key Emerging Trends in the Discrete Semiconductor Market

Many trends that are currently shaping the semiconductor market and directing its future can be seen. One notable trend is the growing call for products to be miniaturized and parts integrated. As electronic devices get smaller and more convenient to use, there's surging demand for semiconductors with higher performance in a small space. This trend is leading to developments in packaging technologies and bringing pressure on semiconductor manufacturers to produce products of better power efficiency with smaller footprints.
Another major trend is the increasing use of wide-bandgap semiconductors such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN). These materials have electrophysical properties far superior to traditional silicon, and are applicable for high-power and high-frequency uses. Electric vehicles (EVs) and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are taking off, with their corresponding rise in the automotive industry helping power growth across discrete semiconductors.
This trend toward energy efficiency is sweeping through the discrete semiconductor market like a gale. As concerns about the environment and sustainable technologies have grown, energy-efficient semiconductors are being given increased emphasis. This trend goes hand in glove with world efforts to reduce the power consumption of electronic gadgets, and it naturally drives designers of transistors, diodes among other discrete components toward energy-efficient products.
Demand for discrete semiconductors is being pushed to new extremes by artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). As such technologies also become increasingly mainstream others require specialty semiconductor applications to support AI calculations, as well as chip designs that ensure smooth interconnection between IoT devices. This trend is encouraging the evolution of application-oriented discrete semiconductors that are optimized to meet the specialized needs required by AI and IoT applications.
The automotive industry is going through a change, with the development of electric and autonomous cars. This transformation is a big trend in the discrete semiconductor market, pushing up demand for power semiconductors, sensors and other discretes essential to EVs or autonomous vehicles. In response to this trend, semiconductor manufacturers are now developing automotive grade discrete components meeting very strict reliability and performance standards.
When it comes to discrete semiconductors, which are an integral part of industrial automation and communication infrastructure, concerns about cybersecurity also influence design. The cyber threats are gradually becoming more technical, making it increasingly important to boost the security capabilities of individual semiconductor elements. This trend includes integrating encryption and secure boot mechanisms, as well as other security measures, to protect electronic systems from possible cyberattacks.