RBCT Chapter 1420 Checking for deficiencies and filling gaps (4k)
Chapter 1420 Checking for deficiencies and filling gaps (4k)
Chapter 1420 Checking for deficiencies and filling gaps (4k)
On the penultimate day of June, Yike officially obtained the second temporary license from BIS and continued its cooperation with Bingxin.
It was also on this day that Fang Zhuo waited for Zhang Rujing who had flown back from Qindao. He happened to see a logistics truck carrying domestic large silicon wafer samples for inspection at the door, so he pointed it out to Mr. Zhang.
"The quality of this batch of samples is good. The defect rate, thickness uniformity, resistivity and other indicators are very high. The next step is to see how it performs in the production line process." Zhang Rujing looked at the car, happy and worried, and said, "I hope the stability and reliability of the small batch trial production are good enough."
This is exactly the 12-inch wafer developed by the company he founded after leaving SMIC. It has been supplied to SMIC in the past two years, but Bingxin's advanced process requirements are very high, and it was not until this time that a new evaluation was made.
After the evaluation is completed, Bingxin will conduct a small-scale trial. If the performance of this process meets the requirements, large silicon wafers can be supplied on a long-term basis.
"Even if this batch doesn't work, it should be possible within this year. Your cooperation with SMIC is very good." Fang Zhuo said with a smile, "Do you want to go and see the new factory?"
"All the famous people in the country are being messed up by you." Zhang Rujing suddenly sighed.
Luzhou has been building the semiconductor industry with ice cores as the center. With the advancement of ice core manufacturing processes and its increasingly important position in the mainland, the intensity of this construction and policy support are also increasing.
When more external pressure emerged and when Amei's carefully selected list appeared, new projects have been launched frequently in Luzhou since February.
Up to now, Luzhou has planned four parks around Yuhu Road, namely equipment industrial park, material industrial park, manufacturing industrial park, and packaging and testing industrial park, covering the industrial links from top to bottom. Seven of the top ten domestic semiconductor equipment manufacturers have set up R&D centers here, and the top ten chip design companies all have R&D centers and branches here.
Since the ice core was built, this place has gradually become the region with the most complete domestic semiconductor industry chain, the most advanced comprehensive technology level, and the strongest independent innovation capabilities in the past twelve years.
After Zhang Rujing was invited by Fang Zhuo to become Bingxin's consultant, he traveled all over the country during this period, but he was able to feel the development of Bingxin better through his contacts with different manufacturers.
The market value of Bingxin may fall, but its promotion and development of the industry are firmly based on this land.
"It's not tinkering, it's called unity is strength." Fang Zhuo corrected Mr. Zhang's words.
"Yes, unity is strength. Let's go and lend some strength." Zhang Rujing spoke quickly without much greeting. While following Mr. Fang to the destination, he chatted about his trip to Qindao.
The large silicon wafers and ArF photoresists required for advanced processes are both raw materials and are monopolized, but the former has now basically confirmed a breakthrough. The samples given to the ice core trial production this time are the final run-in.
Zhang Rujing has been focusing on this since he left SMIC and is quite confident about it. He also came back today for the basic field.
At ten o'clock in the morning, Zhang Rujing and Fang Zhuo met with the team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences who had come from afar, and held a simple unveiling ceremony with them to announce the establishment of the integrated circuit public service platform.
The main body of this public service platform consists of two parts: one is the R&D team from Bingxin and Yike, and the other is the Luzhou EDA Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. They will rely on this platform to provide SoC/IP common technology R&D and technical services, PCB design and consulting, EDA tool services to the domestic semiconductor industry, as well as assist enterprises in planning suitable chip design environments and provide complete chip design solutions.
Simply put, the main purpose is to serve as a backup for EDA tools.
EDA tools are quite basic and are known as the mother of chips. They run through the entire process of chip design, from logic design to mask generation. Without them, modern complex chip design is almost impossible to complete.
This field is basically monopolized by three American companies: Cadence, Synopsys, and Mentor, while Yike and Bingxin have maintained cooperation with them and obtained long-term software licenses.
However, with Bingxin joining the list, the three companies successively interrupted their cooperation with Bingxin in the first half of the year.
This means that Bingxin can still use EDA tools, but cannot obtain new tools, new upgrade services and related technical support.
However, although Bingxin also has design work, this is mainly YiKe’s field, and the three companies are still YiKe’s partners.
This situation requires us to be on guard. Fortunately, Yike and Bingxin have already developed alternative solutions. Now as the situation changes, they can further gather their strength and increase investment.
Not only that, in addition to its own research and development, Yike has not stopped investing in this area to prevent future risks.
The unveiling ceremony was very simple, with no media participation. It was just a symbol of going through the motions. However, many important figures from the Chinese Academy of Sciences came this time to support the ice core.
Near noon, Bingxin CTO Hu Zhengming showed up, took over Mr. Fang's work, and exchanged views on Bingxin's situation and industrial development with helpers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Zhang Rujing looked at the harmonious situation and couldn't help but say: "Yike and Bingxin have really made a complete industrial chain layout. We just need time."
"People have said that there is not much time left for Yi Ke." Fang Zhuo smiled, "It is definitely impossible to prepare everything thoroughly, but I still have some confidence."
Zhang Rujing nodded silently, having realized that the integration strategy backed by Yike and Bingxin was aimed at a full-scale conflict.
Like this public platform, Yike and Bingxin have developed nearly 16 software and hardware development tools for 40nm. There is still a gap from complete replacement, but this is a lot of preparation.
This is the case with EDA tools, our own large silicon wafers, and the photoresist produced in the joint venture with Xinyang.
The upstream and downstream of the entire industrial chain are very clear, and the weaknesses that Bingxin needs to keep running are also very clear. This is not only known to the outside world, but also to Bingxin or Mr. Fang.
The problem is... this work did not start this year, or even last year.
As far as Zhang Rujing knows, this kind of work has been slowly being carried out since 08.
As the saying goes, one should always be on guard against others, but Mr. Fang doesn't seem to be the slightest bit elated by the success of the global division of labor!
Zhang Rujing felt that this was not in line with human nature, but then he thought, if it was Mr. Fang, then it would not be in line with human nature.
"Mr. Fang, when Mr. Qiu goes to Germany and France this time, in addition to the factories there, will he also discuss the stability of supply with Linde Group and Air Liquide Group?" Zhang Rujing suddenly thought of Qiu Ciyu who was going abroad when lunch was about to end.
Fang Zhuo looked at Mr. Zhang strangely and nodded, "Of course."
Germany's Linde Group and France's Air Liquide Group are suppliers of specialty electronic gases to IceCore.
In this field, four major groups occupy most of the market in the world, one from Germany, one from France, and two from the United States. Bingxin deliberately avoided the United States when selecting suppliers.
Generally speaking, during the chip manufacturing process, even a slight deviation in gas purity may cause the entire batch of products to be scrapped, so people will not easily change suppliers.
Based on this situation, Bingxin's choice is still to support domestic enterprises on the one hand, and on the other hand...
Fang Zhuo added: "CEO Qiu is trying to persuade Linde and Air Liquide to build a joint venture in Luzhou. There is no specific news yet, but from previous contacts, Air Liquide probably has some intention."
Zhang Rujing perked up: "Is Air Liquide willing?"
"We still need to negotiate, just like when we built factories in Germany and France to get subsidies and loans from there, there will be conditions for both sides to negotiate." Fang Zhuo lowered his voice, "Autonomy and controllability, Europe is not affected now, but with a factory here, autonomy and controllability are more secure."
This is different from manufacturers of core equipment, photoresists, etc. Both Linde and Air Liquide operate globally and also have localized joint ventures to build factories in China. Therefore, Qiu Ciyuen will go to negotiate with them for Bingxin.
"You really went through it thoroughly from top to bottom, including R&D, investment, factory construction, cooperation, and hostile takeover. It's amazing, amazing!" At this moment, Zhang Rujing clearly felt the overall rhythm of the Yike system.
Although there are storms outside, the Yike Department has been doing its own work steadily.
Fang Zhuo seemed to have heard an inappropriate word, so he didn't dwell on it and just said, "It's not 'you', it's 'we'. We should work together to find out the shortcomings and minimize the impact."
The restrictions imposed by Meilijian still had an immediate impact on Bingxin. The biggest problem was the reduction in yield. However, over the past four months, the technical support from American equipment has provided some support, and the yield is slowly recovering.
Zhang Rujing patted Mr. Fang's arm and said nothing more.
The establishment of the integrated circuit public service platform did not cause any waves, and the last two days of June ended uneventfully.
Fang Zhuo got up early and returned to Shanghai on the first day of July.
Unlike his usual routine of reading documents and newspapers or making frequent phone calls, he slept the entire way this time, as he was indeed very tired recently.
But when he arrived at Yike headquarters, Fang Zhuo became energetic again after finishing a cup of bitter coffee.
He greeted his colleagues along the way and took the elevator to the 23rd floor amid their surprised and delighted looks.
After sitting in the president's office for about half an hour, Executive Vice President Yu Hong ended the meeting and met his own boss.
"A little thinner," she commented.
"Not bad." Fang Zhuo said without looking up as he played with two phones from competitors. "Apple and Samsung didn't seem to bring any surprises. Oh, Samsung's curved screen is a bit interesting, but I still prefer straight screens."
Samsung released Glory in May, and Apple released iPhone 6S last month. Neither of them brought much shock to the market, but at least Mars 8.8 is no longer the only one, which is the greatest significance.
In addition to more or less functional updates, Samsung's curved screen solution has also been sought after by many, and it has always had an advantage in this regard.
"There really aren't any big surprises, and that's what many media outlets have said." Yu Hong nodded, "Everyone is waiting for our new phone to see what the impact will be."
Fang Zhuo hummed and said, "We are just doing regular upgrades, including full screen optimization, chip process optimization, and system function optimization."
This year is a regular upgrade year for Yike, but this "routine" is based on Mars 8.8, that is, Bingxin's 16nm second-generation FinFET will still be launched step by step.
Yike’s autumn conference is scheduled for September, four months after Samsung and three months after Apple.
In other words, Yike's Mars 9 will still have chip performance that is half a generation ahead.
This should be an excellent cycle, with stronger technology bringing better markets, and the latter continuing to drive the former, thus maintaining continuous market and product leadership.
"The market is waiting and watching." Yu Hong said thoughtfully.
Yike's stock price has been quite stable recently, but the U.S. stock market has been rising overall this year, and Yike has not grown despite the excellent market performance, which already shows the sentiment of the secondary market.
Fang Zhuo nodded and said meaningfully: "Not only the stock market is waiting, everyone is waiting."
Nasdaq is waiting, Samsung and Apple are waiting, TAIC, GlobalFoundries, UMC and even Intel are waiting, domestic competitors are waiting, and the administrative level is waiting.
Yu Hong understood what this man meant. Yi Ke was at the center of the storm.
Just as she was about to speak, her secretary Liu Zonghong walked in.
"Boss Fang, Boss Wang heard that you're back and is on his way to the company."
Fang Zhuo heard the secretary's tone and knew who it was. He smiled and asked, "What does he want?"
"It seemed..." Liu Zonghong recalled, "It seemed like nothing happened, so he just said he came to eat for free."
Fang Zhuo snapped his fingers and responded with a smile.
Yu Hong also knew who it was and said, "Wang Fengyi might have some investment matters. I know he went to see Qi He."
"Okay, show me the Kunpeng project you launched." Fang Zhuo mentioned a work matter. Without Xiao Yu's push, Yi Ke's decision would not have been passed. The voting gap was not big before.
Yu Hong asked her secretary to get the documents and chatted for a few more words about company matters before turning around to get busy.
Fang Zhuo was looking through project documents in the president's office, thinking about everyone's ideas and industry conditions while waiting for Wang Fengyi to arrive.
Near noon, Wang Fengyi walked in using facial recognition.
"Mr. Fang! I missed you so much!" He expressed his joy.
Fang Zhuo pointed to his watch and said, "If you have something to say, please tell me first. If not, I will hold a small meeting."
"Well, is it okay for me to just miss you?" Wang Fengyi felt that he should still exchange pleasantries first.
Fang Zhuo pointed at his watch for the last time.
"Ahem." Wang Fengyi saw that he was serious and said, "It's nothing serious. I was just looking at investment projects recently. I saw that you are back, so I wanted to ask you for your advice."
"Have you found Qi He?" Fang Zhuo mentioned the information he heard from Xiao Yu.
Wang Fengyi said, "I went to him. I wanted to ask Yi Ke if he would do it. There is a shared bicycle project in Beijing, and I think the idea is good."
He sat down after saying this: "Now is the era of you giants. Once the giants make a move, the rest will be in vain. So, if Yike does it, I won't invest."
"If you want to invest, just invest." Fang Zhuo said with a smile, "Does Shenxin need money?"
"We have money, but we don't want to waste our time. China's No. 1 investor wants to keep his eyes on the sky." Wang Fengyi said seriously, "Also, Alibaba seems to be somewhat interested in this field."
Fang Zhuo put down the documents in his hand and said thoughtfully: "I've been busy with Bingxin's business recently, but I've also been listening to Ali Ali. It seems that there is no news about this shared bicycle."
"Aren't you competing for payment scenarios? The last mile here should be similar, nothing more than a bicycle version of 'Kuaidi'." Wang Fengyi's understanding is from this perspective.
Fang Zhuo thought about the things at the end of the year, hesitated for a moment, and said, "I'll talk to Qi He later, you go talk to him, this matter is not urgent."
Wang Fengyi was delighted at first, then shocked. Then he looked at Mr. Fang's expression, which seemed to have something more sinister.
(End of this chapter)