"The company's operation is doing well, we have thoroughly mastered the 14N process technology, and the expansion of production capacity is also smooth.Recently, however, I have clearly felt the strain in the supply chain, and in addition to the lithography machine, there are some problems with some equipment and materials. ”Wei Jianjun told Xiao Bai that although Lao Mei has not directly done anything to Times IC Co., Ltd., there are many small actions in secret.In order to deal with some problems in the supply chain, he is increasing his efforts to carry out domestic substitution.He actually started this work very early, but changing the supply chain requires more time and adaptation, and it is difficult to complete it overnight.As a mature IC manufacturing company, it takes a long time to replace equipment or raw materials, and it will also increase the cost of the enterprise.Generally speaking, no business is willing to change suppliers if it is not subject to extreme variability.But the current situation is not whether Wei Jianjun is willing to reconstruct the supply chain, but that people have begun to target his supply chain.At this time, the security of the supply chain is placed in a prominent position, and other problems can be ignored.After listening to Wei Jianjun's words, Xiao Bai felt that the other party's response was decent and there was no problem, so he nodded and said, "It's good, hurry up." ”Time is particularly important to the Department of the Times, including but not limited to Wei Jianjun, who is racing against time.The restructuring of the supply chain has been going on for so many years, and the work has been carried out early, but in practice, it has not been very smooth because of such and such problems.It can be expected that the United States will further intensify its efforts to crack down on domestic high-tech enterprises.The two communication giants and Times Communications will suffer the most serious existential crisis since their creation, and Times IC Manufacturing Co., Ltd. will not have a good time.At this time, the importance of "self-reliance" becomes apparent, if the entire industrial chain can be localized, what restrictions and suppression are you afraid of?
Xiao Bai and Wei Jianjun chatted for a long time, and then the two went out for dinner together before leaving.Following.Xiao Bai came to Pudong Microelectronic Equipment Company early in the morning."
Dong Xiao, you also think too highly of me!
To be honest, we don't even have a 14n (DUV) lithography machine now, so we expect us to be able to conquer the EUV lithography machine?
”Fan Donglin poured bitter water as soon as he saw Xiao Bai, and it could be seen that the pressure on his body during this period of time was almost to the limit.There is no need to say that there is a big gap between the technical level of Pudong microelectronic equipment and ASML.But now there are many voices in the society, and they all have a lot of unrealistic expectations for the company, which makes Fan Donglin have a hard time.Technical matters, the problem of huge capital investment, and the pressure of the company's existing projects all show that it is not a good time for the company to launch the EUV lithography machine project now."
Fan Dong, we all know your difficulties.However, you are also well aware of the current situation, EUV lithography machines will sooner or later become a roadblock for the entire industry.Seriously, I didn't expect you to win EUV lithography technology in two years, or even five years.But someone has to carry the burden for everything, doesn't it?
It's hard at the beginning, but you have to do it.My opinion is that you can carry out the preliminary work of the project in the first two years, some pre-technology, and you can cooperate with domestic scientific research institutes. ”Xiao Bai empathizes with Fan Donglin's situation, but the EUV lithography machine project must be launched.This is not only related to the future development of the enterprise, but also to the development of the entire semiconductor industry, especially for IC manufacturing enterprises.If the lithography equipment is stuck by the United States, in a big way, the domestic industrial upgrading will be interrupted.To put it mildly, the closed-loop industrial chain of the era system will collapse.Xiao Bai had always thought that EUV lithography was not a top priority, but recently he has changed his attitude.So many people are paying attention to EUV lithography machines, and the suppression of domestic enterprises by the United States is also constantly escalating and becoming more intensified.Now is the best time to gather popularity, and Xiao Bai's suggestion has also been approved by the relevant departments, and a technical research conference has preliminary conditions.Therefore, at this juncture, even if it is a hard head."
Xiao Dong, I understand what you said, I just complained casually.By the way, if the EUV lithography machine project is finally implemented, the Times Science and Technology Research Institute will actively participate in it. ”Fan Donglin knew that he couldn't refuse the EUV lithography machine project falling on his head, and he complained about it, but he wouldn't pick on it.So in front of Xiao Bai, he hoped to get the full support of the Times Science and Technology Research Institute.At present, in China, there are only two units with strong technical strength for lithography equipment, especially high-end lithography equipment.One of them is Pudong Microelectronic Equipment Company, and the other is the Times Science and Technology Research Institute.Times Science and Technology Research Institute, due to its abundant R&D funds and its backing on the big tree of the Times Department, is stronger than Pudong microelectronic equipment in terms of technical reserves.After all, Pudong Microelectronics is a commercial company, and it will inevitably be constrained by costs in R&D investment.In addition, the company's R&D projects are very targeted, and the pursuit is generally short cycle and high returns.The Times Research Institute has no pressure of performance, and it is much stronger than ordinary enterprises in terms of the breadth and depth of R&D.This is the fundamental reason why the Times Science and Technology Research Institute greatly surpasses Pudong microelectronic equipment in terms of technical strength."
That's certainly no problem!
I will discuss it with Dean Zhou in the future, and when the EUV lithography machine project is launched, I will send another technical team to be stationed in the magic capital. ”The technical cooperation with Pudong Microelectronics is also very beneficial to the Times Science and Technology Research Institute.R&D work combined with production practices often results in twice the result with half the effort."
Dong Xiao, it's almost time, let's go to the city?"
Fan Donglin knew Xiao Bai's itinerary in the past few days, so he greeted the city early."
Okay, let's go!"
Xiao Bai was not verbose, and then went out with Fan Donglin and went straight to the city hall by car.The city is still very supportive of the EUV lithography machine project, and is willing to pay a subsidy of 3 billion yuan to Fan Donglin.At the same time, the leaders of the city are also actively communicating with relevant departments, hoping to take the lead in organizing all parties to tackle key problems at the national level."
Xiao Dong, the city has held a special meeting to study the issue of EUV lithography machine project approval.We have set up a coordination working group, and I am named as the leader of the working group, and Director Feng is the deputy leader of the group, who is responsible for specific matters. ”Xiao Bai was a little moved by the attitude and efficiency of the city, and it seemed that all parties attached great importance to this matter, and the early progress of the project was much faster than expected.Fan Donglin immediately expressed his willingness to undertake the heavy responsibility of project research and development.Of course, the conditions that should be mentioned are indispensable, and in summary, they want money, people, and policies.There is nothing to say about asking for money, and you need to have enough money to do anything.In the past, he may need to look at the faces of others when he goes to find others, but with the leadership of the national level, the cooperation will be much smoother."
Lao Fan, I can only give you 30 billion funds, and you need to solve the rest yourself.Here I will first reveal to you a piece of news, regarding the package of support for the listing of Pudong Microelectronic Equipment Company, the city has submitted it to the relevant departments.As for the collaborating units, we will have to wait a little longer.After the relevant state departments and a large number of scientific research units have discussed it, you can go and contact them.As for the policy, the state is considering some measures, as you will see shortly. ”The city leaders talked with Xiao Bai and Fan Donglin for an hour, and this hour was full of dry goods, and there was nothing to be empty at all.Subsequently, Xiao Bai and Fan Donglin expressed their gratitude to the city for their strong support, then got up to say goodbye and left the city government building."
Dong Xiao, Director Ma happened to be absent today, I'll let you know when he comes back in a few days, and we'll go talk to him together at that time."
Fan Donglin now has mixed feelings, on the one hand, because the (EUV) project has won a lot of substantial benefits for the company, and on the other hand, he feels a lot of pressure and has little confidence in the success of the project.But even if it was to catch the ducks on the shelves, he would have to do it.Fan Donglin has no way out."
Okay, I won't be leaving the magic capital recently, if you have something, call me, I'm on call.In addition, Chairman Fan, I think you should think more about the company's listing, maybe there will be a result when Director Ma returns. ”Xiao Bai smiled at Fan Donglin, meaning something.Fan Donglin immediately understood what the other party meant, it seems that the company's state-owned major shareholders are not idle, and the listing is probably just as Xiao Bai said, it is already imminent.However, whether the company is listed or not, Fan Donglin does not have much say.Then wait for the company's shareholders to agree.Xiao Bai and Fan Donglin separated downstairs, each got into their own car, and left the city government.For the next period of time, Xiao Bai stayed in the magic capital.After Director Ma returned, Pudong Microelectronic Equipment Co., Ltd. held a board meeting and passed the company's proposal to increase capital and shares.According to this proposal, the integrated circuit development fund will increase its capital by 27 billion yuan to Pudong Microelectronic Equipment, and other shareholders will also increase their capital by a total of 27 billion yuan.In other words, the company's capital has increased by 54 billion yuan, and the company's financial strength has been greatly enhanced.This time, all shareholders participated in the capital increase and share expansion, and the amount of capital contribution varied.Xiao Bai now has abundant funds, but he only has a part of the funds flowing out with the big outflow, just a little more than other shareholders.After calculation, Xiao Bai's shares in Pudong Microelectronic Equipment Company have not changed much, and they are basically the same as before.Many of the original shareholders have shrunk their shareholdings because they have contributed less capital in this round.The proportion of the integrated circuit development fund in the company's shares has increased significantly.Like Xiao Bai, the major shareholder of state-owned assets has hardly changed its shareholding ratio."
Dong Xiao, we haven't seen each other for a while.How are you lately?
I know what happened to your company, and I think you can hold on. ”After the board meeting of Pudong Microelectronics, Director Ma took the time to meet with Xiao Bai.When it comes to the current environment, both of them are very emotional.Once upon a time, the wave of internationalization was still in the ascendant, and in the blink of an eye, many countries began to reverse again.Many high-tech enterprises in China have felt that winter is coming, and everyone has reconstructed their supply chains, and they are all guarding against the targeted attack of the United States.In this case, it is a bit ridiculous to talk about internationalization and international industrial division of labor.The big waves wash the sand, the leftover is king, and everything is for survival."
It's okay on my side, although there are many difficulties, but there are also many opportunities.Let me give you an example, although the performance of Times Communications under me was good in the past, many domestic companies looked down on their technology, even if the technical level of Times Communications was not bad.But now it is different, Times Communication's products are very cost-effective, the key is independent and controllable, unlike North American suppliers who may cut off supply at any time.Therefore, many domestic enterprises have now increased their cooperation with Times Communications, after all, the security of the supply chain is the most important. ”Xiao Bai did not show great pessimism in front of Director Ma, when things came to this point, he could only live to die.As the head of the Department of the Times, he is still somewhat confident.Times IC Manufacturing (Beijing) Co., Ltd. has advanced the process technology to 28n and gradually achieved mass production.There is a key problem here, not that Wei Xiaolou's technology is advanced, but that the 28N production line has basically been localized in key equipment (lithography machines, etching machines, etchings).What does this mean?
It shows that in the future, the United States will completely lose the capital to suppress domestic enterprises at the node of 28n and above.At this stage, the 28N process must be considered an advanced process, and the 28N process will still be the choice of most chip manufacturers in the next 10 years.With this huge market, the IC manufacturing of the times will not be beaten down.Wei Xiaolou and Wei Jianjun will definitely continue to advance the process technology on the existing basis until the limit of 7N.Under the 7n node, it is necessary to have an EUV lithography machine, and it depends on whether Fan Donglin can get it over the years."
Xiao Dong, I know that the EUV lithography machine project is a bit hasty now, and all the conditions are lacking.Fan Dong told me before, and both of you have reservations to varying degrees.However, the current situation is becoming more and more severe, and this project has the conditions to be launched, and there are no conditions to create conditions. ”What Director Ma said today was very straightforward, and similarly, very resolute.Xiao Bai smiled and nodded, probably understanding the other party's intentions.Haste is hasty, these are extraordinary times, and opponents will not wait for you to be ready to suppress.Therefore, it is necessary to seize the day.Three days later.Pudong Microelectronic Equipment Co., Ltd. held another board meeting, at which Fan Donglin formally proposed the EUV lithography machine project.