96: Chapter 96 Dry DUV Lithography Machine Project Officially Launched

"Because of the timing."

"Now is the most difficult time, but also the cheapest time.

Once we make it through this period, let alone a valuation of 500 million USD, even with 5 billion, you wouldn't be able to get this much equity."

Shen Fei once again recalled the development of the JD.com platform in his past life.

2009 and 2010 were indeed the most difficult times to get through; once their self-built logistics succeeded, what followed were many years of peak performance.

Due to the impact of other channels, although it began to go downhill, compared to the current valuation, it still increased more than tenfold...

This investment is very worthwhile!

"After their logistics are built, it will also benefit Transsion.

As a shareholder, in the future, our mobile phones will take as little as 24 hours to go from the factory to the user's hands.

This kind of experience is something no other partner can provide."

Huang Tianya understood. If considered purely as a financial investment, this business really couldn't compare to the layouts he had made in the United States, but in terms of strategy...

It was equally important.

"By the way, President Shen." Huang Tianya suddenly remembered something. "Lei Jun wants to arrange a meeting with you and me to discuss cooperation."

"Lei Jun..." Shen Fei smiled; as expected, it was within his predictions.

"Give him a reply. We are currently preparing for the launch of honor play 1 and don't have time for now. Let's talk after November 11th."

Huang Tianya nodded, thinking this was the reason because Shen Fei really valued honor play 1.

But what he didn't know was that Shen Fei simply wanted to see how Lei Jun would react when Big Mouth Yu announced the price of 1999 using Lei Jun's own presentation style.

Shen Fei's phone rang again. Huang Tianya prepared to get up and leave, but when Shen Fei saw it was a call from Academician Wu, he waved his hand to make him stay.

...

Beijing! Office of the National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund.

When Academician Wu pushed the door open and entered, the conference room was already full of people.

In addition to the fund's management team, there were also experts and representatives from Shanghai Micro Electronics, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Changchun Institute of Optics, and Huaxin International.

Everyone's face was filled with anticipation and worry.

After all, this is a Lithography Machine!

"Old Wu, you're here." Fund Chairman Zhang Xin stood up to welcome him. "What did Transsion say...?"

Academician Wu sat down, took a sip of tea, and said slowly: "Shen Fei agreed."

A commotion immediately erupted in the conference room.

"He really agreed? They are willing to put up that deposit?"

"Did he set any conditions?"

"Will they provide all the technical data?"

Academician Wu raised his hand to signal for quiet: "This young man, Shen Fei, has a vision so grand that we dare not even imagine it.

He said that the project's leadership belongs to the state, but Transsion acts as a technical consultant; just giving them some project equity is enough.

Secondly, after the 65nm Lithography Machine is built, Transsion gets priority procurement, and they will purchase at cost price.

This 1 billion deposit can be used directly for the purchase.

Finally, Transsion will have free use of the related patents developed."

"Just that?" Zhang Xin couldn't believe it. "He provides the technology and only wants this little in return?"

Academician Wu nodded, then picked up the teacup on the table and took another sip: "That is why I said his vision is grand, but he also asked for one promise."

"What promise?"

"If the 65nm Lithography Machine succeeds, you cannot give up. You must continue to accelerate the iteration speed and strive to catch up with international manufacturing processes as soon as possible.

And then realize a comprehensive catch-up in semiconductors."

The conference room fell silent again.

Compared to the current domestic manufacturing process, the 65nm dry Lithography Machine is a huge breakthrough.

A single exposure can reach up to 65nm, and through multiple exposures, it can even instantly pull the domestic process directly to 40nm...

It is only a 1-2 generation gap from the most advanced international processes.

But to go further, an immersion DUV Lithography Machine is needed. Although it is still called DUV, the technical content difference between the two is huge.

The investment at that time will certainly be an astronomical figure, but everyone nodded silently.

"I agree! And we cannot let them suffer a loss," Zhang Xin guaranteed.

Since Shen Fei has such a grand vision, they cannot just enjoy the benefits.

I heard he has a future father-in-law, so let the higher-ups accelerate Zhang Shiqing's promotion; his qualifications are sufficient anyway.

"Oh, right. Little Shen also has another idea: after the Lithography Machine project succeeds, we need to increase investment in the entire industrial chain.

Not just Lithography Machine manufacturing, but chip manufacturing—full process autonomy from sand to chip.

He says the Lithography Machine is just the biggest problem, but other problems cannot be ignored, otherwise others can easily throttle us."

Zhang Xin nodded again; this is all necessary. It is precisely because of this that the National Semiconductor Investment Fund exists.

Originally, they only wanted to support other industries first and didn't expect to start directly from the Lithography Machine... but due to the unexpected factor of Transsion, they chose to start from the most difficult part.

"He's crazy." The representative from Huaxin International frowned. "Does he know how many processes are involved in chip manufacturing? He wants to play with chip manufacturing? Does he know how deep these waters are?"

Originally, upon hearing that Transsion would have priority to purchase the Lithography Machine, the representative from Huaxin International couldn't help but feel annoyed. Clearly, they were the professional foundry, yet the first batch of machines wouldn't be given to them.

Now, after hearing about Shen Fei's layout, he understood completely.

They want to build the entire industrial chain, ridiculous! They luckily obtained some manufacturing blueprints for backward Lithography Machines and really think they've ascended to heaven!

At this moment, Academician Wu's expression changed instantly, and he pointed at him angrily: "Which company is this representative from?"

"Huaxin International's." Zhang Xin quickly explained.

"Oh! Your company's purpose is good, but after working for so long, you haven't produced anything, and you haven't made as much contribution as Little Shen.

Instead of spending time looking down on others here, you'd better go do some more R&D."

Zhang Xin was also very angry. On such an important occasion, Huaxin International didn't even send someone who knew how to behave.

He quickly waved his hand, signaling the people nearby to "invite" him out.

After he left, Zhang Xin spoke again: "Old Wu, do you think... is Transsion's technical data really that magical?"

Academician Wu did not answer, but took a document out of his briefcase.

"65nm Dry Lithography Machine Technical Proposal (Summary)"

It was only 10 pages long, but every page made the experts present exclaim in admiration.

"Dual-stage design... synchronous measurement and exposure... ultra-high precision temperature control. Why is there even pre-research on extreme ultraviolet light sources..." The expert from the Chinese Academy of Sciences was trembling. "Some of the technical routes on this, ASML is still exploring. How could Transsion have such a complete proposal?"

"Shen Fei said that this was obtained by their overseas investment team over half a year, through various channels—purchasing, investing, acquiring, or using some less conventional means," Academician Wu relayed.

"The technical routes might be a bit mixed, and it might not be completely perfect, but the framework is correct."

"Half a year... since the economic crisis began..." someone muttered. "Although the economic crisis caused most technology to become cheaper, wanting to obtain this data... it must have cost a huge amount of money.

President Shen, this person's vision is truly grand."

"That is why I said, Shen Fei's vision is not just a little bit grand." Academician Wu closed the files.

"But regardless of where the technology came from or how much it cost, it is now in our hands.

We cannot let them down. 8 billion—build China's own 65nm Lithography Machine. Are we doing this or not?"