Chinese semiconductor industry

WTAN said:

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This article states that SMEE had in April of 2020 made a breakthrough and developed a 22nm DUV Litho machine (SSA1000) that will be able to produce Chips in 5nm node. Machine just developed & will take time to be released.

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Thank for the link and excellent article detailing the struggle that Chinese upstream semiconductor has to face . Considering that they have to start from scratch and facing technical embargo it is miracle that they have came sofar . So I expect that they will progress even faster now that they have the backing of state. And and as well the technical base have improved considerably since 20 years ago.

From Dr Qin xueshen(Rocket pioneer) to Dr Yin Zhiyao( etching machine pioneer), overseas chinese has always been at the forefront of Chinese technology drive.

Reading this article below seem like lithograph machine is the only bottle neck

SMIC is the only foundry company in China that can provide a 14-nanometer process. In the face of the recent US ban, it is now a “go-to” company for many Chinese OEMs. Recent reports show that Shanghai SMIC’s 14nm chip is swiftly moving to full capacity. However, the company is already looking forward to other advanced processes.

SMIC’s 7nm process has been in development for a long time. However, due to the lack of high-end lithography machines, the progress of research and development has been slow.

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Employees of SMIC’s 14nm production line revealed that SMIC’s 7 ~ 8nm research and development progress is not very fast because of lack of equipment. This also means that the end-product is not presentable. An anonymous source said

“To complete, we may need three or four steps. The lack of high-end lithography machines is the most critical problem. Except for lithography machines, our current equipment can solve the other issues”

Well, SMIC recently imported a huge lithography machine from the Netherlands. While this machine will go a long way to solve its problems, it is not a EUV lithography machine.

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Interesting read. It’s a long shot, but if possible, then the company would reap huge rewards.

Canuck place said:

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Interesting read. It’s a long shot, but if possible, then the company would reap huge rewards.

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We have to wait and see on this. If such a supply chain exists for 10nm or smaller node, SMIC needs to get on it.

Canuck place said:

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Interesting read. It’s a long shot, but if possible, then the company would reap huge rewards.

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to me, it is just a matter of time and once they are successful to develop it without US tech, thats it, it won't come back .......

Hi guys, just found this, an interesting read, but not sure how much this will help with the current situation with us controls.

Canuck place said:

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Interesting read. It’s a long shot, but if possible, then the company would reap huge rewards.

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If they pay the money, they might do it...

But why don't they ask a Chinese company to do the same?

WTAN said:

Nice article by Dutchman but he doesnt know much about SMEE. SMEE is a relatively new company. It developed and released its 90nm DUV Lithography equipment recently in 2017-2018.

End of this year it will release its 28nm DUV Litho machine SSA800.

In April this year it has developed a 22nm DUV Litho machine which will be able to make chips in the 5nm node.

I also note that the US Government has recently sanctioned the Harbin Institute of Technology along with 33 other companies. Harbin has developed the DPP EUV light source. This goes to show that the US Govt and US Semiconductor Industry is worried about the development of a EUV Litho machine by China. This whole sanctions idea is based on fallacy that China will never be able to develop advanced litho machines. Once China develops EUV, their whole game plan falls apart with huge losses for US & EU companies.

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They will no longer have a share of the Chinese domestic market for their sophisticated goods.

Weaasel said:

If they pay the money, they might do it...

But why don't they ask a Chinese company to do the same?

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Because there are no chinese company with the know how. Also access to non US equipment is still difficult as some non us companies also refuse to sell to China.

Just found this, not sure how legit the info is, but could buy some crucial time for Huawei if true, tho not much but still something.

Does anyone have updates on the progress of Chinese IC chip manufacturing equipment makers and applied research in that area, particularly with regards to lithography? In November 2018 there was a report that the Institute of Optoelectronics at the Chinese Academy of Science had produced equipment/processes of lithography intermediate in range between DUV and EUV that would allow for 10 nm chips. What further progress has been made on it? Has it been commercialized yet? If this capability does indeed exist, I wonder why SMIC, Yangtze Memory, or HiSilicon are doing to help ensure its commercialization, especially now that the United States is clearly hell bent on prevent China from acquiring chips and chip making equipment from abroad and will even threaten other countries that absolutely use not a single piece of American technology to make chip making equipments and the chips themselves.