274: Lithography machine and etching machine

One step behind, always behind!

If Shuguang Technology waits half a year to research semiconductor production equipment, and then spends one or two years bypassing the technical patent barriers of Western semiconductor production equipment to complete the research and development of 90nm process production equipment.

By the time Shuguang Technology completes the research and development of 90nm process production equipment, it will definitely be the day when others' 65 nanometer process equipment is mass-produced.

It's frustrating to finally complete the research and development of the 90nm process, only to fall behind the West again; it's enough to make one vomit blood.

In this situation, while it's possible to delay the research and development of semiconductor production equipment by half a year, the negative impact is actually quite significant!

Therefore, Shuguang Technology must resolve the 90nm process issue as soon as possible, and with the inability to procure the relevant semiconductor production equipment currently, independent research and development is the only path.

"Alas."

Facing Lin Chen's words, Lei Bu Si also sighed deeply.

Lei Bu Si naturally knew Lin Chen's concerns, but the research and development of semiconductor production equipment is truly too expensive.

It would require at least a dozen billion US dollars per year to even start, and burning two to three hundred billion US dollars a year is a terrifyingly normal level!

The reason so much money is needed is that semiconductor production equipment is mainly divided into three major parts: wafer production equipment, chip production equipment, and testing equipment.

Among them, the core equipment includes single crystal furnaces, vapor phase epitaxy furnaces, oxidation furnaces, molecular beam epitaxy systems, low-pressure chemical vapor deposition systems, chemical mechanical polishing machines, wafer cutting machines…

According to statistics from semiconductor professionals, the production of a chip requires over a thousand processes, and there are as many as 17 core pieces of equipment for chip production!

No single country can encompass all 17 core pieces of equipment for semiconductor chip production.

Currently, semiconductor production equipment is handled by various developed countries, with each responsible for a portion, ultimately coming together to form the world's most advanced 90nm process chip production line.

Therefore, wanting to solve the problem of semiconductor production equipment to produce 90nm chips is not just about solving the problem of a single lithography machine.

And the most tragic part is that these 17 pieces of semiconductor production equipment are almost complementary; for example, even if you solve the problem of the lithography machine.

But if other core equipment doesn't meet standards or its performance parameters can't keep up with the demands for producing 90nm chips, then you won't be able to produce 90nm chips or even more advanced 65-nanometer chips.

So, claiming to have solved the 90nm process by simply developing a lithography machine is definitely a joke.

Of course, among the 17 core semiconductor production pieces of equipment, the lithography machine is indeed the most crucial and the most difficult to develop.

It can be said that as long as the problem of the lithography machine is solved, it's almost equivalent to having one foot already in the 90nm process, which is also a fact.

"Lei Bu Si, we are indeed short on funds, but we don't need to tackle so many pieces of equipment all at once right now; we can prioritize the research and development of more critical etching machines and lithography machines."

Lin Chen paused slightly here, seemingly lost in thought, but soon continued:

"For the etching machine, we can collaborate with Zhongxin International on its research and development, so we don't have to bear the entire burden ourselves.

Although we and Zhongxin International are competitors, we can still cooperate on the research and development of the etching machine and then share the equipment. The sales profits of the etching machine can be distributed according to shares.

As for talent in etching machines, I have a recommendation: Yin Zhixiao, who reportedly worked at United States's Applied Materials and Lam Research, has returned to China under the persuasion of Jiang Haizhou from Zhongxin International.

He has led the research and development of etching machines many times and holds over 200 etching machine patents.

Moreover, he didn't return alone; he also brought back 10 veteran core talents from Applied Materials.

I heard they are planning to establish a semiconductor equipment company called Zhongwei in Da Xia to thoroughly address the issue of Da Xia's backward semiconductor equipment.

Currently, their company is in the planning stage, and perhaps we can get involved, investing alongside Zhongxin International to support the research and development of domestic etching machines.

After all, a joint effort by our three parties is the optimal choice; only this way can we more quickly resolve the issue of domestic etching machines being put into production."

Lin Chen was filled with emotion as he spoke.

In his previous life, the Zhongwei Company founded by Yin Zhixiao and his team was a beacon in the domestic semiconductor equipment industry; after all, they successfully researched and produced etching machines applicable to the 5-nanometer process, which is undoubtedly a source of pride for Da Xia's semiconductor equipment.

However, while Da Xia's etching machine technology is not behind others and is even world-class, chip production is a holistic process; one or two outstanding pieces of equipment are useless on their own.

After all, there are as many as 17 core pieces of equipment for chip production; solving one still leaves 16.

Moreover, in his previous life, there was no significant breakthrough in the more crucial lithography machine.

"Yin Zhixiao? I understand."

Lei Bu Si, having received the information from Lin Chen, nodded gently in agreement; he would handle this matter next.

Seeing this, Lin Chen continued:

"As for the lithography machine, we can only rely on ourselves, but we cannot solely rely on ourselves without external assistance.

Lei Bu Si, contact the Xia Academy of Sciences to see if both sides can cooperate. We will provide funding, and they will provide several Academicians, supporting research and development personnel, old lithography machine patents, and R&D instruments, and then together we will solve the problem of the lithography machine."

"Mmm."

Lei Bu Si nodded slightly. Although Shuguang Technology is under some pressure.

However, if it's just the research and development of lithography machines and etching machines, the current income can barely support it. As long as all 17 core semiconductor production pieces of equipment are not tackled at once, the financial pressure will be greatly reduced, and they can barely cope.

Seeing this, Lin Chen did not continue to chat with Lei Bu Si, because Lin Chen was very busy.

Mobile phone screens need Lin Chen to develop, mobile phone lenses need Lin Chen to develop, and future lithography machines also need Lin Chen to develop.

At this moment, Lin Chen deeply felt the pain of not having top-tier research and development talent. Now, Lin Chen only wants to tell the outside world that Shuguang Technology urgently needs top-tier R&D talent, and the compensation will definitely satisfy you.

But unfortunately, top-tier R&D talent is not so easy to acquire; true top-tier R&D talent either looks down on Shuguang Technology or is bound by contracts and cannot change jobs.

Therefore, it is quite difficult for Lin Chen to acquire top-tier R&D talent at this time, especially those Academicians-level top-tier R&D talents.

Lin Chen was already quite fortunate to have Academician Ni Guangnan; it's not easy to get another Da Xia Academician to join.

"Alas!"

Lin Chen sighed deeply, then stood up and left.

He hoped that when cooperating with the Xia Academy of Sciences on the research and development of the lithography machine, the Xia Academy of Sciences would allow several Da Xia Academicians to join the research and development of the lithography machine; otherwise, he truly wouldn't be able to handle it alone. (End of this chapter)