China's Shanghai Jita Company recently said that it has obtained 6 sets of EUV lithography equipment, marking that China's 7nm-level EUV lithography equipment is about to enter the mass production stage. This news embarrassed Biden's staff very much, and foreign ** even shouted: The US blockade finally failed!
The United States** has tried to keep China out of the semiconductor industry through an embargo on China's semiconductor industry and the purchase of high-grade semiconductor products from China. From last year's alliance of the four giants of Maxim's to the chip deal reached by the United States, Japan and the Netherlands this year, the United States not only banned China's purchase of high-end lithography machines, but also threatened to suspend the maintenance of thousands of lithography machines purchased from China. But instead of being frustrated, China has stepped up its own innovation.
At present, Huawei and Harbin University of Science and Technology and other national key research institutions have achieved more than 20 core technologies in extreme ultraviolet light sources, SMO technology, and breaking the beam diffraction limit. While the United States has been cracking down on China's high-tech companies, that has not stopped China's efforts to localize. A few years ago, China only mastered lithography machines with a 96 nm process, and now it is now developing high-end EUV processes, which has surprised manufacturers such as ASML.
ASML's return to China has played a great role in promoting the development of China's integrated circuits. Compared with the world's semiconductor industry, China is lagging behind it step by step. Although China is still below the United States, Europe and the United States in some key processes, China's high-tech giants have been working tirelessly to promote the progress of process technology in recent years, and now have full control of the 7nm process. Although we have made great progress in many aspects, we still lack an advanced lithography equipment. ASML had previously been forced to withdraw due to the high-tech war between China and the United States, resulting in only three extreme ultraviolet lithography machines sold in the third quarter of this year, failing to leave the Chinese market. At present, 6 EUV lithography equipment produced by ASML has arrived in Shanghai, which is not only a major contribution to the development of Chinese chips, but also plays a great role in promoting the development of Chinese chips.
The importance of local production in China and the problems it faces.
The world's semiconductor industry has been developing for several years, while China's industry is relatively backward. Although China is still behind the United States and other developed countries in Europe and the United States in some key links, China's high-tech enterprises have improved their chip manufacturing level to a new level through unremitting efforts in recent years, and have begun to set foot in the field of 7nm process. However, at present, China still faces the biggest weakness of the chip industry, that is, the lack of advanced lithography equipment.
The lithography machine is an indispensable and important instrument in the production of chips. The accuracy and stability of the lithography process are the key to determining whether it can be successfully produced. However, at present, domestic high-end lithography machines are mainly controlled by foreign companies, of which the Netherlands accounts for more than 90%. Therefore, China's integrated circuit industry has always been in a situation of being controlled by others.
In the face of the "embargo" and "embargo" imposed by the United States on China, China has strengthened its own scientific and technological research and development, and is committed to solving some core lithography process problems. Huawei, Harbin University of Science and Technology and other research institutes have made important progress in the fields of extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) lithography light sources, SMO processes, and overcoming beam diffraction limitations. China's integrated circuit industry has ushered in an unprecedented development opportunity.
However, the domestic production of domestic lithography machines is not so easy to achieve. High-end lithography machines are technology-intensive and capital-intensive industries, and have extremely strict requirements for the technical level of manufacturers. ASML is one of the world's largest lithography machine manufacturers, and its technical strength and patents are highly competitive, but Chinese companies still have some shortcomings in their research and development and market share.
This requires China to speed up its investment, improve its own technological level, and shorten the distance between it and foreign-funded enterprises in Europe and the United States as soon as possible by learning and absorbing the world's best technology. Only by straightening its back can China make its own chips completely independently, without having to rely on others.
China's chip development prospects.
China's integrated circuit industry has entered a peak period of development, and the development direction of China's integrated circuit industry is "domestic substitution". Chinese chips must continue to make more contributions and devote more to their own research and creation. With advanced lithography technology, China can achieve greater autonomy in the development of the chip industry.
Through continuous technological breakthroughs and continuous improvement of the level of independent research and development, it is expected that Chinese chips will achieve breakthrough development in more aspects and become a world leader. Chinese chips will play an increasingly prominent role in artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, 5G, new energy, etc., driving the rapid development of the entire industry.
While achieving scientific and technological breakthroughs, Chinese chips must also strengthen their own "innovation ecology". Cultivate and support a number of integrated circuit enterprises with strength and innovative consciousness, establish a sound industrial chain, and promote the development of the entire integrated circuit industry.
First of all, it is necessary to strengthen support for the semiconductor industry. China's chips will comprehensively enhance the competitiveness of the chip industry by introducing more measures to encourage technology, finance, taxation and other aspects, so as to effectively promote the development of the chip industry.
It can be said that "China Chip" has entered an era of historical significance. China's chips will lead the world in the world and play a leading role in scientific and technological innovation and industrial development. We firmly believe that "China Chip" will bloom more brilliantly and make due contributions to the development and progress of mankind.