RBCT Chapter 1404 Attitude
Chapter 1404 Attitude
Chapter 1404 Attitude
On the second day of March, there was a drizzle in Shanghai.
The atmosphere of the Spring Festival is still there, and the Lantern Festival has not yet arrived. The temperature at night is only four or five degrees, and the cold wind and drizzle blow on the face, which inevitably makes people feel cold.
But Zhang Rujing didn't feel that way at all. He hurried from one conference room to another, his mind spinning with the current situation, including the problems facing the industry as a whole and the practical problems he faced.
boom!
The door was pushed open, and the cold air that swept into the office made everyone frown unconsciously.
Zhang Rujing strode in and asked in a hoarse voice, "How is it going? How is the discussion going?"
No one answered, only the secondhand smoke filled the air again.
Zhang Rujing didn't sit down at the desk. Instead, he pressed the table with one hand and leaned forward to say again, "I'm not asking you to work on EUV photoresist, nor to get ArF ready right away. You're working on it and building it at the same time. Is this so difficult?"
The main purpose of his visit to Shanghai this time was to research and develop ArF photoresist. Just like the large silicon wafers he had developed in Qindao before, high-end photoresist is also a link that is relatively lacking in China.
Although this has not been affected yet, the ice core is on the list and more stringent measures will most likely be added in the future.
Core Materials Company is a technology research company jointly established by Big Fund, Bingxin, Nanjing University of Science and Technology Optoelectronics, Jingrui Electronic Materials and other companies. Its main goal is to achieve a breakthrough in ArF photoresist.
However, anything that requires a breakthrough will be difficult. ArF photoresist is the most advanced precision chemical material before the EVU solution is put into commercial use, and there is currently no sign of progress among domestic manufacturers in this field.
Core Materials was established in 2012, and a lot of effort was put into it at that time. The companies in this link are in competition with each other, and there are problems with profit distribution in joint research and development.
Before Zhang Rujing came this time, he asked about the relevant situation and learned from the secretary-general in charge of the wafer manufacturing alliance that it was Bingxin who pushed for this cooperation with a slightly tough attitude.
Bingxin has a considerable dominance in the mainland semiconductor industry, which is due to both its own technological level and the help of the wafer manufacturing alliance in doing a lot of integration after the financial crisis.
Whether it is Nanjing University of Science and Technology Optoelectronics or Jingrui Electric Materials, they cannot avoid ice cores in the mainland.
In addition, Mr. Fang actually carried out a partial "same-spirit" integration in July 2011, and Bingxin and SMIC have become the existence that mainland semiconductor companies cannot avoid.
It is based on this situation that the "core material" was born.
From 2012 to 2015, Core Material has focused on the research of ArF photoresist. The progress has been quite good. Several small-scale tests have been conducted, and the adjusted formula ratio has also significantly improved the photochemical reaction performance.
However, this improvement has not yet reached the ideal state. When it moves out of the laboratory and is expanded to the pilot scale, problems arise in the evaluation of the industrial adaptability of the process flow.
This means that we cannot move forward in big steps. Moreover, there are many hurdles ahead. We need to conduct long-term storage stability and batch-to-batch consistency tests, do wafer fab compatibility verification, ensure that the production processes of photoresist and ice cores are seamlessly connected, and do a lot of repeatability and reliability tests.
After all this, a stable production process must be established to ensure consistent performance of each batch of photoresist produced on a large scale.
“The core material is on the right track.”
This is the evaluation from the Wafer Manufacturing Alliance.
Unfortunately, the current situation is a bit urgent.
The pressure from ArF has already been exerted, and subsequent additional measures are also looming. In view of this situation, Bingxin hopes that "Core Material" can first invest in and build the factory. As long as ArF produces results, it is no problem if the initial cost is higher.
However, companies involved in the research and development, such as Nanjing University of Science and Technology Optoelectronics and Jingrui Electronic Materials, are reluctant to agree to such reckless behavior.
"Mr. Zhang, the conclusion of our last test has come out. The existing process is not suitable for large-scale production. The most important thing now is to find out the problem and see how to fine-tune the proportions of the components in the formula. Otherwise, we can't maintain the same chemical properties and lithography performance... At this time, we are talking about whether to build a factory or not..." Li Yalei, the R&D leader of Nanjing University Optoelectronics Core Materials, said hesitantly, "It's not appropriate."
Zhang Rujing frowned, and before he could retort, he heard the voice of Wu Yanjie, the head of another company, Jingrui Electric Materials.
"Yes, Mr. Zhang, our project is not suitable for rapid development. There are always unknown factors in the subsequent verification process. I understand Bingxin's urgency, but this matter cannot be rushed!" Wu Yanjie said earnestly.
Zhang Rujing heard what the two said, and seeing that the others in the office were silent, he slowly said: "Building a factory will not delay you from finding problems and adjusting the formula. You guys are doing your job. Now we should build a joint venture factory and develop two lines simultaneously."
Seeing that the old man was stubborn, Wu Yanjie said helplessly: "Mr. Zhang, this is not your SMIC. You can't expand it quickly. If you can't produce suitable products, the factory will not be profitable. You are rich and powerful, but we can't do that."
SMIC was developing very fast in those days and developed a strategy of deploying in multiple locations. However, after losing the lawsuit against Taiwan News and encountering the financial crisis, it had to cut losses and shrink.
Zhang Rujing was not angry. He said patiently, "The situation is different now. Core Materials has been in business for more than two years. The Wafer Manufacturing Alliance helped us find resources, and Ice Core and the Big Fund invested money. We could do it slowly at that time. Now we don't know when we will be tripped up. It's not just you. Other alternative companies are like this. I know how you feel, and I know that each of your companies has its own ideas, but I still have to say that the situation is different now."
Wu Yanjie didn't say anything. The ArF being developed now is mainly for the needs of ice cores. The company's main business is in g-line and i-line photoresists. ArF is indeed advanced, but the company has to do a good job in its own business before it can move forward.
Seeing that no one expressed their opinions, Zhang Rujing said slowly again: "If no one agrees to build factories in parallel, it probably means that the joint research and development of 'core materials' is not feasible. I am not forcing you. If it really doesn't work, I will return to Luzhou tomorrow to report. This must be done by Bingxin itself. I don't believe that they can't handle the material issue even though they have already developed 16nm and the world's first!"
As he spoke, he couldn't help becoming angry again.
"Hey, hey, Mr. Zhang, please sit down, please sit down, let's study together." Li Yalei of Nanjing University of Optoelectronics heard Mr. Zhang's statement and advised, "Mr. Zhang, I don't mean that. I just think we don't have to be so anxious. Being anxious may not be helpful. Even if Bingxin buys the 'core material' back, it can only make an ArF photoresist, but can it make everything else? This is a matter for all of us to do together."
"Bingxin will do whatever it can do. If it can make one, then it will make one." Zhang Rujing said with a cold face, "If it doesn't work, don't join it, just switch to direct sales."
Li Yalei rolled his eyes. This statement was quite vivid.
He gave a slightly stronger statement: "Mr. Zhang, I will call again and talk to the company about this matter. Where to build it, how to build it, how to divide R&D and production... these are all things."
There was a burst of responses in the office. It was all business, all business.
Zhang Rujing acquiesced to this attitude, which was not wrong to some extent.
However, when he finished the discussion in the office and called Mr. Fang, he couldn't help but feel disappointed: "Here on the core material side... everyone has their own little thoughts! They almost said that it was Bingxin that was on the list, not them!"
"Hey, Mr. Zhang, look at you, you are judging others by their own standards." Fang Zhuo was not angry about the situation he relayed. Instead, he smiled and said, "Before your call, I received a call from many manufacturers who told me that they would definitely stand together with Bingxin this time."
Zhang Rujing immediately asked, "Who are they?"
Fang Zhuo mentioned the names of several manufacturers and smiled, "They are quite excited. This is an opportunity. The ice core is limited, so the spare tires must be turned into regular ones. There are many opportunities for everyone."
Zhang Rujing listened to these words and sighed, "You are not much better, and you have been judging others."
(End of this chapter)