Use wechat to scan QR code < / P > < p > to share with friends and circle of friends < / P > < p > China and the United States < a target = "_ blank" href=" https://news.163.com/news/search?keyword=%E5%8D%8A%E5%AF%BC%E4%BD%93 "> after several rounds of discussions and consultations, the semiconductor industry association announced today that it will jointly establish the" Sino US working group on technology and trade restrictions in semiconductor industry ", which will establish a timely communication information sharing mechanism for the semiconductor industry of China and the United States, and exchange information on export control, supply chain security, encryption, etc Technology and trade restrictions. < / P > < p > the association of the two countries hopes to strengthen communication and exchange through the working group to promote deeper mutual understanding and trust. The working group will follow the rules of fair competition, intellectual property protection and Global trade, address the concerns of the semiconductor industry of China and the United States through dialogue and cooperation, and make joint efforts to establish a stable and flexible global semiconductor value chain. < / P > < p > the working group plans to meet twice a year to share the latest progress in technology and trade restriction policies between the two countries. According to the areas of common concern of both sides, the working group will explore the corresponding countermeasures and suggestions, and determine the contents that need to be further studied. This year's working group meeting will be held online. In the future, face-to-face meetings will be held depending on the situation of the epidemic. < / P > < p > according to the results of the consultation, the associations of the two sides will appoint 10 semiconductor member companies to participate in the working group, share relevant information and have dialogue with each other, and the associations of the two sides will be responsible for the specific organization of the working group. Related reading: < / b > < / P > < p > < p > < / P > < p > < b > can lithography save China Semiconductor? < / b > < / P > < p > < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > 2021 may be a "lucky year" for China's semiconductor industry. < / strong > < / P > < p > in January, trump, who was determined to block Chinese technology, lost the election and left the White House in dismay. After all, no matter who becomes president in the White House, the situation is much better than that of trump. < / strong > < / P > < p > yesterday, another good news came that SMIC has just obtained the supply license of 14nm photoresist, and this year it plans to spend $1.2 billion to buy the photoresist of ASML (ASML) in the Netherlands. After the summer full of turbulence and sanctions last year, China's semiconductor industry seems to be back on the normal track of development. < / P > < p > < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > but the problem is: lithography can't save China semiconductor. < / strong > < / P > < p > maybe the lithography machine is so special that we have regarded it as the synonym of "life-saving straw" in the semiconductor industry. But in fact, < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > photoresist is just a part of a long chip production line < / strong >. There are at least dozens or hundreds of kinds of equipment in a production line. It is obvious that simply importing one lithography machine can not fundamentally solve the problem. < / P > < p > when the public focus all their attention on the lithography, we unconsciously "lose focus" - we gradually ignore the semiconductor equipment that is as important as the lithography, but not as famous as it. < / P > < p > as the saying goes, "if you want to do a good job, you must sharpen your tools first". In the semiconductor industry, you believe in < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > "generation of equipment, generation of chips" < / strong >. The level of semiconductor equipment determines the level of chips. < / P > < p > when people are still worrying about "Chinese chip", the focus of the old companies has long been on such enterprises as Huachuang in the north and microelectronics in Shanghai. To paraphrase that famous saying is - < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > "don't ask about the chip, ask about the device!" How complex is the semiconductor equipment system? < / strong > < / P > < p > < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > semiconductor equipment is an extremely complex system. < / strong > < / P > < p > generally speaking, large-scale Fabs such as TSMC and SMIC often divide into seven independent areas to complete different processes of chip manufacturing. In different areas, the corresponding equipment and materials for installation are not the same. < / P > < p > the seven regions are: < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > thermal process, photolithography, etch, ion implantation, dielectric deposition, CMP, metallization < / strong >. < / P > < p > specifically, each area needs the following equipment to complete the corresponding process: < / P > < p > roughly speaking, there are at least 20 kinds of semiconductor equipment, and the lithography machine is just one of them. "Next generation devices, next generation chips", in addition to lithography, < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > other devices also need to reach a sufficiently advanced level to meet the needs of advanced process chip production < / strong >. < / P > < p > take SMIC's T3 12 inch IC production line project in Tianjin as an example: < / P > < p > < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal; "> in a mature production line with 10000 pieces of 12 inch wafers per month, < / strong > < / P > < p > diffusion equipment needs 22 sets, CVD equipment needs 42 sets, < / P > < p > gluing and degumming equipment needs 15 sets, lithography equipment needs 8 sets, < / P > < p > etching equipment needs 25 sets, ion implantation equipment needs 13 sets, < / P > < p > PVD equipment needs 24 sets, grinding and polishing equipment needs 12 sets, and < / P > < p > cleaning equipment needs 17 sets , 50 sets of testing equipment, < / P > < p > 33 sets of testing equipment and 17 sets of other equipment. Therefore, the semiconductor industry is a heavy asset industry to the letter - < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > the money is basically spent on buying equipment. < / strong > and the above wafer processing equipment is the most important part of the equipment, < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > accounts for 80% of the total equipment investment < / strong >. < / P > < p > if there are only many kinds of equipment, it's not surprising. However, as the process technology of chips is more and more moving towards the physical limit, with the development of TSMCBig companies like Samsung begin to trial produce 5nm process chips. The complexity of chip processing technology is getting higher and higher, and more and more processes are needed. < / P > < p > especially when the manufacturing process reaches below 22nm, the traditional immersion lithography technology has been unable to do anything, so the multi exposure technology must be used. Therefore, the whole chip process steps directly broke through the 1000 step mark. < / P > < p > with more processes, more complex processes and longer production time, the factory must install more equipment on the production line to ensure the production capacity. Therefore, under the same production capacity, the number of equipment required by advanced technology production line is much higher than that of non advanced technology production line. < / strong > < / P > < p > at present, the manufacturing process of most products in China's domestic Fabs is still relatively backward. Even for the head-on Fabs like SMIC, the products with < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > 14nm / 28nm process only account for 14.6%, and the products with 45nm process still account for the vast majority. < / strong > < / P > < p > from this, we can also infer: < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > domestic wafer factories really lack high-end and advanced production equipment < / strong >, and the overall level is relatively backward compared with the counterparts such as TSMC and Samsung. < / P > < p > at the moment when the external blockade is becoming more and more severe, if the domestic semiconductor equipment industry can't provide enough advanced equipment one day, then the domestic wafer factories can't produce more advanced chips one day. < / P > < p > < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > domestic semiconductor equipment < / strong > < / P > < p > < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > development situation < / strong > < / P > < p > based on the information in the figure above, we can probably draw two conclusions: < / P > < p > < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;"; "> first, China's semiconductor equipment industry chain is complete. < / strong > diffusion, lithography, etching, film growth... We can produce all kinds of core equipment in the semiconductor industry. < / P > < p > < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > Second, China's semiconductor industry as a whole lags behind foreign countries by 1-2 generations, and some products lag behind foreign countries by more than 3 generations < / strong >. The international leading level has reached 7Nm, while our overall level is still at 28nm. A small number of products have reached the international advanced level (medium and micro semiconductor etcher), while the other few products lag behind the foreign three generations (domestic photoresist). < / P > < p > < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > to tell you the truth, I am very glad to analyze this result at last < / strong > - < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > it doesn't matter if you fall behind, it's only the science that kills you < / strong >. Although our current level is not as good as the old semiconductor powers like the United States and Japan, the integrity of our industry is not weak compared with them. < / P > < p > nowadays, the process of integrated circuit is approaching the physical limit more and more. Every step forward requires great efforts, and the research speed of foreign manufacturers has slowed down. Objectively speaking, China's semiconductor industry has gained a very short and valuable window period. < / P > < p > < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > as long as we can keep going, we will catch up sooner or later. < / strong > < / P > < p > US sanctions are like a spring - if you are strong, it will be weak, if you are weak, it will be strong. If we don't have an advanced piece of equipment, the big stick of sanctions and blockade will fall on our heads. And if we have it, the other side will lift the restrictions in a moment. < / P > < p > on February 4, 2015, the Bureau of industrial security under the US Department of Commerce signed an order to lift the "etcher ban" against China for the reason of "< strong style =" box sizing: inherit; font style: normal; "> China has actually obtained etching equipment from Chinese enterprises with the same quantity and quality as the products of the United States. It is meaningless to continue to implement the national security export control measures." < / strong > < / P > < p > we are confident to catch up with the world's advanced level, and we know that as long as we can do it ourselves, the ban will be lifted. Then, there is only one problem left for China's semiconductor equipment enterprises --- how to catch up with the advanced level as soon as possible. < / P > < p > < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > conclusion: how to catch up with < / strong > < / P > < p > the development speed and R & D strength of China's semiconductor equipment industry are very strong. In fact, we don't have to worry about the level of Chinese researchers and the support of national policies. < / P > < p > < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > what China's semiconductor equipment enterprises lack most is opportunities. < / strong > < / P > < p > according to Zhao Jinrong, chairman of North Huachuang, the strength of China's semiconductor equipment industry lies in R & D speed and service quality, while the weakness lies in its late start and lack of reputation and influence in the industry. < / P > < p > the semiconductor industry is an absolute heavy asset industry, so the wafer factory must be cautious in purchasing equipment. Once there is a problem, the loss will be immeasurable. In addition, the wafer factory has a high demand for technology upgrading, so it is necessary to choose the most advanced technology within its capability. < p > < p > under the effect of such factors, the wafer factory is more concerned about the reliability and advanced degree of equipment, and the key is to realize the mass production of advanced technology quickly and stably. As a result, Fabs have strict requirements for equipment quality and tend to buy mature foreign equipment. < / strong > < / P > < p > due to the late start of domestic equipment, on the one hand, it generally lags behind the world's advanced level, on the other hand, it is also lack of reputation in the industry, so it is difficult to enter the purchasing list of large wafer factories. < p > < p > large manufacturers such as TSMC and Samsung do not buy domestic equipment. After seeing this, domestic wafer manufacturers naturally "seek stability" and choose to buy imported equipment. Therefore, the market share of domestic semiconductor equipment is not very good even in the Chinese market. < / P > < p > < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > the negative impact of this phenomenon is very serious < / strong > - the production of chips can not be started immediately when the equipment is in place, and the processing technology is different for different chips. There are dozens or hundreds of kinds of equipment on the production line. According to what order, when and how to use these equipment, complex and strict demonstration and trial production are needed. < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > if domestic equipment is not purchased, there is no chance for trial production, so there is no chance for rapid improvement in practice. < / P > < p > in the semiconductor industry, < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > there is a close cooperation relationship between equipment manufacturers and Fabs < / strong > -- equipment manufacturers need to improve their design according to the first-line production information fed back by fabs, and Fabs will also invest in equipment manufacturers to develop equipment that is ahead of their competitors. ASML, the Dutch photolithography giant, has successively accepted over 3.9 billion euros of investment from Intel, TSMC and Samsung, which is exactly the embodiment of this relationship.

objectively speaking, the US blockade provides excellent opportunities for Chinese semiconductor manufacturers < / strong > - Chinese wafer factories affected by the ban have to cooperate with domestic equipment suppliers because they are difficult to purchase foreign equipment, and the whole industry chain is actively carrying out" domestic substitution "-- < strong style =" box sizing: inherit; font style: normal; "> under normal circumstances, things that need to pay a lot of cost to be done have been rapidly promoted under the ban < / strong >. < p > < p > SMIC, as China's largest fab, has been sanctioned by the United States, and now it can only purchase domestic semiconductor equipment. With the help of SMIC international, domestic equipment will be more recognized in the industry, and major manufacturers will be more willing to choose domestic equipment. Now, many domestic Fabs have taken the initiative to seek cooperation with such enterprises as Huachuang and Zhongwei semiconductor. < / P > < p > now, the products of domestic equipment enterprises have begun to show the iterative characteristics of "0-1-n". After the breakthrough of core technology "from zero to one", the remaining "from 1 to n" improved progress will be much faster. < / P > < p > as we said earlier, China's semiconductor equipment industry chain is very complete, and certain breakthroughs have been made in various fields, and the overall gap with foreign countries is gradually narrowing. Domestic equipment manufacturers are currently in the region between "from zero to one" and "from 1 to n". In time, they will be able to enter the international advanced level. < / P > < p > < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > China's semiconductor industry is about to enter its own virtuous circle. < / strong > < / P > < p > now SMIC can purchase ASML's 14nm process lithography machine normally. This is not because of the compassion of the American people, but because SMIC is ready to mass produce 14nm process chips. < / P > < p > the photoresist imported from Holland is the result, not the cause. < / P > < p > < / P > < p > < strong style = "box sizing: inherit; font style: normal;" > lithography can't save China semiconductor, but the wisdom and sweat of Chinese people can.