94: Chapter 94: News of the cooperation with TSMC!

Loongson International Research Lab.

Looking at the set of experimental data that had just been completed, the researchers all looked a bit grim, and the atmosphere was very heavy.

"It's still not working. The synthesis of high-order constant materials lacks key technology. Continuing experiments using our traditional deposition methods is meaningless!"

Tang Manager spoke in a low voice, his tone carrying a hint of fatigue and filled with helplessness.

"Then we can only develop new deposition technology, or perhaps import it from abroad..." a researcher spoke up tentatively.

"It's useless. The technology we are developing is still in the exploration stage abroad as well. Otherwise, new memory standards would have come out long ago. If we want a breakthrough now, we can only rely on ourselves!"

Tang Manager shook his head.

"Then what do we do now? Without new deposition technology, the project will grind to a halt!"

"We can only shift our focus to the research and development of deposition technology... Our technical accumulation is still insufficient; getting stuck here is truly frustrating..."

"We're clearly just one step away. As long as we complete the synthesis of high-order constant materials, we can produce samples that meet second-generation memory technology..."

"Manager Tang, isn't Fanmi also researching technologies related to high-order constant materials? Has there been any progress?"

"..."

The researchers all looked at Tang Manager, a glimmer of hope in their eyes.

Tang Manager fell into silence and shook his head slightly.

"I'm not too clear on the specific situation, but President Shi is already in contact with them!"

Just as he finished speaking, the laboratory door was pushed open, and Mr. Shi walked in with a smile on his face.

"President Shi!"

Everyone greeted him one after another.

Tang Manager also looked over.

"Good news, Fanmi's President Lei just got back to me. Their chief technology officer is on his way!" Mr. Shi said with a smile.

"Really!" Tang Manager's eyes immediately lit up, and he involuntarily took a step forward.

"That's right. Come on, let's go welcome him together!" Mr. Shi nodded affirmatively.

"Let's go!"

Tang Manager didn't hesitate for a moment and walked out of the lab with Mr. Shi.

The researchers looked at each other.

"Is that chief technology officer from Fanmi really that impressive to make the two bosses so excited?"

"I'm not sure, but with this kind of technology that even foreign countries don't have, and we're stuck, it must be very difficult for Fanmi Technology to pull it off..."

"I feel like the hope is slim. Even if there are some breakthroughs, as long as the new deposition technology isn't developed, it still won't play a decisive role."

"Technical accumulation is insufficient; there's nothing we can do..."

"..."

The low-voiced discussions made it clear that several people's mindsets were not optimistic, and their expressions remained serious.

The strategic cooperation between Loongson International and Fanmi Technology was a commercial secret and had not been announced to the public.

Therefore, they didn't actually know that the laboratory's technical breakthroughs during this period were all because of the R&D direction given by Zhou Fan.

At this time, pessimistic emotions were inevitable.

...

In a black SUV, Lei Jun was taking Zhou Fan and Zhou Guangming toward Loongson International.

"How much have you absorbed of the issues I discussed with you last time?" Zhou Fan asked, looking at Zhou Guangming.

"With a clear direction, the laboratory's progress has been very fast. We have already made breakthroughs in some key core technologies for second-generation memory!"

Zhou Guangming's tone was serious as he spoke in a deep voice.

"What about the deposition technology for hafnium-based oxides?" Zhou Fan thought for a moment and asked again.

With Fanmi and Loongson International establishing strategic cooperation, Zhou Guangming was mainly responsible for the R&D of core material technology, while Loongson International was responsible for advancing the manufacturing process.

Now that the project was stuck, it was certainly due to the core material technology.

Zhou Fan had guessed earlier that it was most likely because of high-order constant materials. Without developing this material, it would be almost impossible for memory technology to break through to the second-generation standard.

"Our main focus during this period has been the deposition technology for hafnium-based oxides. Now, atomic layer deposition technology has already seen a major breakthrough!"

When Zhou Guangming spoke of this technology, a smile unconsciously appeared on his face. He knew very well the importance of this technology; he had even specifically researched it before. Even abroad, this technology was only in the exploration stage.

And yet, they had already made a major breakthrough. This was undoubtedly heartening news.

"Not bad. Your team's capabilities are becoming more and more mature!" Zhou Fan also smiled and nodded with satisfaction.

He had originally thought he would have to use his special ability again for this visit to Loongson International, but now it seemed it might not be necessary.

Zhou Guangming's progress here had exceeded his expectations.

This also meant that Fanmi's hardware R&D team had now truly been cultivated. Their strength would not even be inferior to some top-tier foreign teams. In the future, he could let go of many R&D tasks.

Although some key technologies would still need his guidance, as long as the general direction was correct, there would be much less for him to worry about.

"This is all thanks to President Lei; he recruited many excellent talents for us. Coupled with the original foundation, Fanmi Technology's hardware R&D team is indeed very good now!" Zhou Guangming didn't feign modesty and said with a smile.

He actually had deep experience with this point. In the past, whenever he encountered a problem, he had no one to discuss it with except for Zhou Fan.

But now, as the R&D department continued to expand and absorb many capable researchers, whenever a problem arose, holding a meeting could basically solve most of it.

As long as Zhou Fan gave the broad research direction, they could implement it step by step. This feeling of things falling into place was something he hadn't dared to imagine before.

"The phones have been selling well lately. After the supply chain was refined again, production capacity is no longer an issue. We can produce at least a million units' worth of components every month!"

"So far, we have sold nearly four million fanmi 1 phones, so we have some liquid capital... otherwise, how would I dare to recruit talent so aggressively!"

Lei Jun smiled, quite satisfied with the company's development.

"Isn't Likely a semiconductor company name over there unwilling to cooperate deeply with us?" Zhou Guangming suddenly felt a bit confused and couldn't help but ask.

"They are unwilling to cooperate deeply, but the fanmi 1 chips don't require special customization from them, so they haven't restricted their supply to us!"

"That's right. I was so disgusted by those guys a while ago that I almost forgot!" Hearing this, Zhou Guangming immediately reacted.

Because the fanmi 1 system was connected to the android port, it was compatible with Likely a semiconductor company name chips. If there was money to be made, Likely a semiconductor company name naturally wouldn't turn it down.

"That is indeed good news!" Zhou Fan also smiled, but he thought of more.

From Likely a semiconductor company name's current attitude, there were clearly internal differences regarding Fanmi. One part wanted to limit Fanmi's technological development, while another part couldn't bear to lose Fanmi's orders.

After all, an order of a million chips a month was no longer small.

"I've recently been in contact with TSMC, and we've already established a preliminary intent for cooperation. Once our self-developed chip architecture is ready, we can put it into production!"

Lei Jun shared another piece of good news.