Chinese semiconductor industry

Jita Semiconductor announced the cooperation with Huada Jiutian!​

On April 1, Jita Semiconductor signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Huada Jiutian. The two parties will deepen cooperation through the "CIDM" vertical integration model, and carry out comprehensive cooperation around the development and verification of Foundry EDA tools, and the development and adaptation of automotive-grade chip process platforms.

Jita Semiconductor’s official Weibo news shows that for this cooperation, Jita Semiconductor invited Huada Jiutian to join the Lingang Automotive Specification Semiconductor Innovation Consortium led by it. The two parties will take advantage of technical synergy to accelerate the deployment of Foundry EDA tools and accelerate the manufacturing production line. Adaptation, speed up demand traction and program implementation, provide support and guarantee for the sustainable and healthy development of my country's domestic automotive-grade chip manufacturing industry, and improve the continuity, stability and competitiveness of the domestic automotive-grade semiconductor industry chain and supply chain.

It is reported that Jita Semiconductor is a research and development and manufacturing base focusing on the characteristic technology of semiconductor integrated circuit chips. It has two factories in Lingang New Area and Xuhui District of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, for automotive electronics, industrial control and In the field of high-end consumer electronics, it provides core chip characteristic process manufacturing platforms and technical services such as microcontrollers, analog circuits, power devices, and sensors.

CETC is building a second R&D and manufacturing facility for lithography equipment.

China University of Science and Technology realizes a two-dimensional single-layer magnetic semiconductor with five-fold functional integration through the design of intermetallic linker spin state and lattice symmetry

Risky Route to 14nm and below.

Single patterning NIL or 0.33 NA EUV (FEL or SSMB or LPP)?

28nm ArF immersion lithography.
ArF dry lithography.
KrF lithography
I-Line lithography

Why is there so much money going into chip design and dozens of chip design companies and so little going to equipment or other necessary stuff like photoresist, optical systems and masks? Really seems like for every equipment manufacturer, there's like 5 semiconductor design companies. Seems like a big waste, do you really need so many design companies?

If you want have reductant companies, why not have a competitor to SMEE? Seems insane that such a vital part of the supply chain is in the hands of a underperforming company. I feel like the size of china's semiconductor industry could easily have allowed for two or even three companies dedicated to lithography systems, maybe even private ones. It's not like the need for DUV machines will go away even if you get access to EUV. They will always be used for mature chips.

tacoburger said:

Why is there so much money going into chip design and dozens of chip design companies and so little going to equipment or other necessary stuff like photoresist, optical systems and masks? Really seems like for every equipment manufacturer, there's like 5 semiconductor design companies. Seems like a big waste, do you really need so many design companies?

If you want have reductant companies, why not have a competitor to SMEE? Seems insane that such a vital part of the supply chain is in the hands of a underperforming company. I feel like the size of china's semiconductor industry could easily have allowed for two or even three companies dedicated to lithography systems, maybe even private ones. It's not like the need for DUV machines will go away even if you get access to EUV. They will always be used for mature chips.

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This is exactly my frustration as well. I am very much pleased with overall progress Chinese SME are making and I noticed for almost every sector (say Etch, Heat treatment, CVD, PVD) there are more then one companies. But when it comes to the most crucial part of the Semiconductor supply chain that is Lithography machine all I hear is SMEE. This company supposedly developing 90nm ArF Lithography since 2011 and still haven't been able to make them acceptable in any major Foundry and mass production. Talk about being incompetant. These days whenever I hear about SMEE I'm like not again..... They were supposed to be delivering the 28nm ArFi in late 2021 or something and here we are..... Absolutely nothing from the company statement regarding any progress whatsoever, all are just bunch of rumors and what not.

Wahid145 said:

They were supposed to be delivering the 28nm ArFi in late 2021 or something and here we are..... Absolutely nothing from the company statement regarding any progress whatsoever, all are just bunch of rumors and what not.

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And what makes you think they have any obligations to tell you where their progress is? Even SMIC financial reports who is a public company only tell the bare minimum now.

tacoburger said:

Why is there so much money going into chip design and dozens of chip design companies and so little going to equipment or other necessary stuff like photoresist, optical systems and masks? Really seems like for every equipment manufacturer, there's like 5 semiconductor design companies. Seems like a big waste, do you really need so many design companies?

If you want have reductant companies, why not have a competitor to SMEE? Seems insane that such a vital part of the supply chain is in the hands of a underperforming company. I feel like the size of china's semiconductor industry could easily have allowed for two or even three companies dedicated to lithography systems, maybe even private ones. It's not like the need for DUV machines will go away even if you get access to EUV. They will always be used for mature chips.

Click to expand...

Wahid145 said:

This is exactly my frustration as well. I am very much pleased with overall progress Chinese SME are making and I noticed for almost every sector (say Etch, Heat treatment, CVD, PVD) there are more then one companies. But when it comes to the most crucial part of the Semiconductor supply chain that is Lithography machine all I hear is SMEE. This company supposedly developing 90nm ArF Lithography since 2011 and still haven't been able to make them acceptable in any major Foundry and mass production. Talk about being incompetant. These days whenever I hear about SMEE I'm like not again..... They were supposed to be delivering the 28nm ArFi in late 2021 or something and here we are..... Absolutely nothing from the company statement regarding any progress whatsoever, all are just bunch of rumors and what not.

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The money for equipment is being allocated to the fabs so the fabs ultimately make the decisions about which equipment providers and types of equipment get funding. The equipment providers aren’t being shortchanged on support. Most of the funding to the fabs are meant for the equipment suppliers. It’s just that the funding structure puts the fabs in the drivers seat on decision making for equipment funding allocation. This isn’t a bad thing. For one it incentivizes equipment providers to compete for funding, especially on customer and service oriented product requirements, which is essential for ensuring the equipment suppliers are prioritizing the operational efficiency necessary for adoption and market competition. Secondly, it ensures whatever spending on equipment actually has a market and customers so the money is not just wasted on poorly defined development and product requirements.

Wahid145 said:

Lithography machine

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Projection Lithography to be more specific.

Wahid145 said:

They were supposed to be delivering the 28nm ArFi in late 2021 or something and here we are..... Absolutely nothing from the company statement regarding any progress whatsoever, all are just bunch of rumors and what not.

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stop this nonsense. how many times our experts cleared your doubt.

you should have known one thing. SMEE will never announce anything related SSA800i until they start mass production. this is how Chinese works. they have different philosophy.

SMEE have successfully developed 28nm DUVi .. currently under validating process. if everything goes well then small scale production can start at the end of this year.

@latenlazy described really well.

The money for equipment is being allocated to the fabs so the fabs ultimately make the decisions about which equipment providers and types of equipment get funding. basically indirectly money given to equipment makers. this is the best way to use the money. you just can't throw money blindly. last year Chinese tools makers won record bid in mainland.

AMEC, NAURA and other Chinese tools makers also generate million of RMB through local government incentives.