A "cross-border marriage" has stirred up the entire semiconductor circle once it was announced. On June 23, SMIC announced that it has jointly invested with Huawei, Belgian Microelectronics Research Center and Qualcomm to establish SMIC International New Technology R&D (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. to develop next-generation CMOS logic technology.
The new company is owned by SMIC, Huawei, Imec and Qualcomm. The initial company focused on 14 nanometer logic technology research and development. Zhongxin CEO and executive director Qiu Ciyun is the legal representative, and SMIC Vice President Yu Shaofeng is the general manager.
In terms of volume, the above four companies are the world's leading semiconductor companies in their respective fields, and in the new era of international semiconductor industry competition in the oligarchy, "oligopoly" and "oligarchal alliances", the cooperation between the four parties has more Cross-era significance. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Belgian King Philip witnessed the signing ceremony.
"China Core" project landing
Different from previous cooperation methods, this cooperation is the first time that fabless semiconductor manufacturers are added to the process of R&D as a shareholder, thus shortening the product development process and accelerating the time of advanced process node placement.
"The characteristics of integrated circuit manufacturing companies determine that they will always face fierce competition in the global market. Only companies with the most advanced technology can enjoy high profit margins, and the demand for capital from integrated manufacturing companies will continue to evolve with the process. The 14-nanometer process has significantly increased the difficulty compared to 28 nanometers, and the investment in equipment has doubled. How to gather the upstream and downstream power of the industry chain, shorten the research and development time, and save costs is the appeal of SMIC.†Close to SMIC Said to reporters.
Huawei believes that this cooperation can build China's most advanced integrated circuit research and development platform.
"Huawei has always adhered to the principles of openness, cooperation and mutual benefit. We believe that this cooperation will integrate the advantages and capabilities of the global integrated circuit field and enhance the overall level of China's IC industry, thereby benefiting more operators, enterprises and consumer customers. And industry chain partners." Huawei told reporters.
However, for the investment ratio, Huawei said that it is not convenient to disclose it. In the view of Wang Yanhui, secretary-general of the China Mobile Alliance, Huawei’s cooperation with SMIC is more of a strategic investment. At present, the main foundry partners of chip vendors including Qualcomm and Huawei Hisilicon are still TSMC.
"And Qualcomm should also be able to give technical assistance to SMIC." Wang Yanhui told this reporter that when TSMC and Samsung develop 20nm and 14nm processes respectively, Qualcomm will assist the two in technology. Qualcomm is also SMIC. The earliest customers of the international 28-nanometer process also contributed to the rapid maturity of its process.
"The other important consideration for Qualcomm to join this time is to draw closer to mainland China. Before 2013, Qualcomm played more roles in selling chips and collecting royalties in China, but since last year, it has clearly felt that Qualcomm The strategy is changing and more involved in projects led by the Chinese government or Chinese companies.†Wang Yanhui said that since last year, the state has strongly emphasized information security and introduced policies to support the development of the local integrated circuit industry. Some foreign-invested companies began to adapt to the new policy situation and won the government's trust through localization strategies.
Last year, Qualcomm encountered an anti-monopoly investigation in China. At that time, as part of the game, Qualcomm chose to manufacture some of its products from SMIC.
The above-mentioned close to SMIC officials told this reporter that for fabless semiconductor manufacturers, from the perspective of the development of the integrated circuit industry, the ideal digital circuit model is gradually dying, the simulation trend is becoming more and more obvious, and the fabless semiconductor manufacturers need Having a deeper understanding of processes and devices, the introduction of new processes and new materials requires them to work closely with manufacturing companies, so both Qualcomm and Huawei have such appeals.
Imec is the world's leading microelectronics research center. After IBM withdrew from the semiconductor manufacturing business, it became the industry's only independent research and development organization with 14nm and below, and has independent intellectual property rights. SMIC is the most capable manufacturing company in China with 14nm process development. One can provide technology and one is in urgent need of technology. Both sides also have strong cooperation intentions.
At the same time, in a sense, the technology of the joint venture company also represents China's national industrialization level, and thereby achieve more commercialization.
Catch up under the tide of industrial integration
"While the Chinese market is booming, we should also see some difficulties faced by domestic IC manufacturing companies, including the gap in technology level, and because of the existing gap, domestic manufacturing companies can not enjoy advanced technology. The dividends make the equipment investment return rate low, operating costs remain high." The above-mentioned close to SMIC officials told this reporter.
This also directly led to the "Chinese core" is generally small and scattered. Today, small mobile phones, tablet computers, and large passenger airliners and missiles are inseparable from large-scale integrated circuits. According to statistics, in recent years, the total value of integrated circuit chips imported by China in recent years has exceeded that of oil imports. In this industry, China's technical level is at least 3 to 4 years behind the international leading level.
From a global perspective, TSMC, the semiconductor foundry giant, has upgraded from 28nm to 20nm, 16nm and nearly 14nm. After the rise of Samsung, the transition directly from 28 nanometers to 14 nanometers. The integrated circuit manufacturing process has been iteratively fast in recent years.
As a leading manufacturer of integrated circuits in the mainland, SMIC's mature manufacturing process is still 28 nanometers. In June last year, the State Council triggered the "National Integrated Circuit Industry Development Promotion Outline" and proposed to achieve mass production of 16/14 nanometer manufacturing process by 2020.
Close to SMIC officials told reporters that the cooperation of the four companies, through technical cooperation and capital means, to open up the basic research and development resources of the industrial chain layout, develop advanced technology self-research capabilities, and catch up with the first stage in the key stage of node evolution below 20 nanometers. Capabilities, and can be licensed to other domestic industry companies to use, while enhancing the company's own strength, it is also easy to promote the development of China's integrated circuit industry. Even if it is unable to catch up with competitors Intel and Samsung, if it is mass-produced before the end of the year, it is expected to surpass the mass production of TSMC and UMC and enter the first group of global crafts.
However, Wang Yanhui said frankly that it is not easy to "overtake the curve". "It should be said that SMIC's development of 14 nanometers is a bit late. If it is completely developed by itself, it will take a long time. The joint venture will play a catalytic role and will accelerate the maturity of the 14-nanometer process." Wang Yanhui said.
At the same time, TSMC and Samsung can achieve mass production of 14nm process this year. By 2020, 10nm and 7nm manufacturing processes may be launched. At present, the main foundry partners of Qualcomm chips are still TSMC. Huawei HiSilicon is also a strategic partner of TSMC. When TSMC developed the 16-nanometer process, HiSilicon was its first customer.
"In the foundry industry, the success or failure of competition depends on price and technology leadership. After the future of SMIC's 14-nanometer process matures, it can only be said that in the same 14-nanometer manufacturing competition, the industry will have one more choice." Wang Yanhui said.
Heavy Cage Roller Frame,Roller Frame,Heavy Duty Frame,Cage Roller Frame
Ningbo Beilun Gelei Plastic Parts Co.,Ltd , https://www.paintwelltools.com