It's a matter of debate, but the No. 1 story of the year seems obvious: What happened to the anticipated recovery in the semiconductor industry in 2002? Earlier this year, analysts predicted an IC recovery in 2002, after the industry experienced a horrific year in 2001. But the much-anticipated recovery never really happened and the IC industry was another major disappointment in 2002.

There was also a tie for 10th place, which actually created 11 stories in SBN's Top 10 list for the year. Tying for 10th place included the ongoing legal battle between two lithography giants--ASML Holding NV of the Netherlands and Nikon Corp. of Japan.

The other 10th place pick was a sleeper: the new replacement for the GDSII data file format. Earlier this year, SBN broke the story that the industry was readying a new data file format--a technology that could help drive down the soaring costs of photomasks.

I'm sure some readers will disagree with our choices. SBN would like to hear from anyone who has a different opinion, comments, or even a list of top news stories for 2002. E-mail us at mlapedus@cmp.com and PClarke@cmp-europe.com

Click headline for details on each of the top 2002 news stories:

No.1
What happened to the IC
recovery in 2002?

No.2
Chip equipment business:
More pain. No gain.

No.3
The 'Year of Alignment' between
silicon foundries and IDMs

No.4
Micron Technology's 'love-hate'
relationship with South Korea

No.5
Japan Inc.: The realignment continues
in the nation's IC industry

No.6
IC makers roll out 90-nm processes
but struggle at 130-nm

No.7
Intel's 90-nm bonanza...
and CapEx cuts

No.8
Infineon's soap opera: Finding the right
partners in semiconductors

No.9
China's wild roller coaster
ride in the semiconductor business

(Tie) No.10
ASML vs. Nikon: Battle of the
lithography titans

Guess who's coming to dinner?
Son of GDSII file format

(Click here for look back at Top 10 news stories of 2001).