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Was there confirmation that RSlaser is building a new factory? I thought last havoc said they still haven't started.There's been some talk here recently that SMEE wasn't getting the funding it needs from the government. I've been thinking about why that is and I think I've come to a good theory.
In my view, the best industrial policy funds the most upstream and most downstream players in a supply chain. You fund the most downstream so they can stay in business and provide the ultimate source of demand for the technology you want to dominate. If they have to use foreign inputs today, so be it; price of entry. You fund the most upstream because they're the ultimate source of supply for that demand. If they can't produce the technology at requisite scale, no amount of funding downstream will help you because there's nothing for that money to buy.
Here we come to SMEE's dilemma: it's stuck in the middle. The upstream suppliers like RSLaser and Guowang don't have the scale to produce the components SMEE integrates and the downstream customers like SMIC and other fabs aren't satisfied with the performance of its machines. Pouring a lot of money into SMEE doesn't make sense until two conditions are met:
1) Its suppliers are ready.
2) Its customers can live with its product.
Some money is surely needed to keep SMEE alive and up its game, but it may seem paltry in comparison to what other players are getting.
In contrast to SMEE, RSLaser and Guowang don't seem short of money. The former is building a new factory and the latter is moving into its new facility this year. I would be much more concerned if players like them were short of money, but that doesn't seem to be the case.