Kunpeng Project
Official announcement! Challenging ASML's position as a EUV lithography machine, the results of 15 years of lithography technology research were released.
Although the semiconductor industry is difficult to surpass, it is not without opportunities. For example, the lithography machine industry was once monopolized by Japanese lithography companies, but it was soon occupied by ASML, a little-known company, and even occupied EUV lithography machines all over the world. And now, with the suppression of ASML by the United States, ASML's influence in the international community is also getting bigger and bigger.
If there are no surprises, a new round of shuffling will begin.
According to the official statement of Canon, a Japanese high-tech company, a new and inexpensive nanoimprint lithography machine will be released within the year, competing with ASML for the supremacy of extreme ultraviolet lithography machines. It is reported that the nanoimprint lithography machine is the result of 15 years of research and development, and has developed a 5nm wafer process, and will also move towards a 2nm process in the future. And this new technology can also reduce the purchase cost and reduce energy consumption.
For now, new lithography technologies have a significant impact on the ASML market. Because the cost of EUV lithography machine is really high, the advanced technology used by ASML is only about 40%. Coupled with the fact that ASML itself is limited by American technology, many consumers have chosen to give up their monopoly on ASML as their businesses diversify.
But can Japan's tech giants win the competition?
For the author, this is somewhat difficult. Many Japanese IC designers say that they are not much better than ASML. The problem is in the number of users. Therefore, their original plan was to use Chinese lithography machines to narrow the distance between them and ASML.
However, although Japan has opened up the restrictions on "chips**" to Japanese companies, for Canon, this new technology product is still subject to restrictions. This means that Sony's position in China is far inferior to ASML.
Second, to do this, customers must be convinced that they can use two different lithography processes.
ASML is a very capable lithography company and has a long-standing and deep relationship with a large number of users. Once Canon's lithography machine is used, whether it can meet ASML's requirements in terms of product quality and other aspects is another question. If there are such concerns, it means that Canon will not be able to shake ASML's market position, so they must find ways to convince consumers.
What's more, although this new technology has great benefits, no one will want to be this early bird. Canon will have to face such problems in the future. But one thing is certain, that is, if they can send the products to China, then their burden will be reduced a lot, because ASML can no longer be sold, and we also want to develop advanced chips, so domestic manufacturers are still happy to sell products to Canon.
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