From all-round academic master to chief scientist - Chapter 241 The anxiety of Japanese silicon wafer manufacturers

Japan, Nissin Semiconductor.

Nissin Semiconductor is Japan’s largest silicon wafer manufacturer. Likewise, it is also the world’s largest silicon wafer manufacturer, accounting for nearly 30% of the world’s output. It can be said to be a world-class giant.

However, at this moment, Nissin Semiconductor is a little anxious.

In the conference room at the headquarters of Nissin Semiconductor Company, an emergency meeting was being held.

“China’s silicon industry is expected to produce 12-inch large silicon wafers with an annual output of tens of millions? What’s going on?”

Chairman Kojimamura Arata frowned and asked the others.

A minister of the company stood up and reported: “Mr. Chairman, according to our investigation, this is because this silicon industry uses several technologies that China made breakthroughs a few months ago, mainly their silicon purification process and The most critical CMP polishing materials, in early August, their first batch of production plants for CMO polishing materials were officially completed, and then they directly supplied these materials to the silicon industry.”

“All factories in the silicon industry have been undergoing upgrading and transformation in the past few months. Now with these new materials, their production speed has become faster, reaching the current level. Their original monthly output was only 30 Thousands, if we now receive an additional 800,000 pieces per month, it will be 800,000 pieces! The output of a single production chain is not lower than ours at all, and is even two to three thousand pieces higher on average!”

“In addition, the silicon industry has also expanded 20 production chains, which are expected to be completed by the end of the year. By then, their second batch of polishing fluid and polishing disk production lines will also be set up, and they are expected to be able to supply more by then. .”

Speaking of these investigation news, the minister looked very ugly, because they all know how big the impact will be on them once the output of the silicon industry catches up.

They all know how big the gap is between them and China in terms of cost advantage. In the past, they could rely on China’s technology to make up for other costs and achieve advantages from the technology cost. But now that China has the technology, who can How can it be compared?

Just think about the TBM. In the past, there were no TBMs in China. The TBMs from Japan, Germany and other countries are the most mainstream in the world. One machine is worth hundreds of millions of yuan. It can be said that developed countries are trying to trick developing countries. Sharp weapon.

As a result, after Huaguo developed the shield machine, each one cost millions, and no one wanted to use it. So now Huaguo’s shield machine has a market share of more than 60% in the world, and it is sold all over the world. everywhere.

Such a case is before us. Of course, they are afraid that they will lose their previous status and their profits will be greatly reduced.

It can be said that as long as they have more production chains, they will lose a lot of orders from TSMC, the world’s largest silicon wafer foundry.

After all, the closest port city in China to Taiwan is only 300 kilometers away, and how far is their Japanese port from Taiwan?

There is also the distance between Northeast China and South Korea, which Japan cannot compare with.

It can’t be compared anywhere!

At that time, they will be disabled based on price advantage alone.

As for product quality?

A silicon wafer is not a TBM. A TBM is a large machine, and it is difficult to detect if there is a problem inside it. However, the quality of a silicon wafer can be known by just checking it. The silicon industry has been selling it for so many years, although in the past They don’t like it, but the quality of the silicon wafers is definitely no problem.

If there are any quality issues, they are not included in the factory yield rate.

So from this point of view, it is impossible for them to look for trouble.

Suddenly, everyone present panicked.

“what to do?”

“How did their technology achieve this breakthrough?”

“Do you want to contact the chip foundries in Taiwan and Samsung? Tell them not to buy from China?”

“How is that possible? Do you think they would agree to such a thing? Don’t buy the cheap ones but the expensive ones?”

…

Suddenly, everyone present started to quarrel.

But at this moment, Kojima Village patted the table, frowned and said, “That’s enough, stop arguing.”

After hearing the chairman’s words, everyone present suddenly became quiet, and then all looked at him.

The chairman definitely has more solutions than them.

Kojima Arata said: “We cannot solve this matter. The patents of these key technologies belong to the Chinese. It is impossible for us to restrict them from patents.”

He thought for a moment and said, “I’ll call the Americans to see if they can do anything.”

Hearing what the chairman said, the eyes of everyone present suddenly lit up. Yes, just ask the Americans for help.

Maybe the Americans can help them.

However, someone else raised concerns: “Will the Americans help? They are always very shameless and will not do anything even if they take our money.”

Xiaodao Cunxin waved his hand, “Wait for me to make a call first.”

Then he took out his mobile phone and started making calls.

“Hello, Mr. Wilson! I am Arata Kojimamura from Nissin Semiconductor. I met you before, and it was like this, China…”

“Can’t solve it? Mr. Wilson, this is a very important issue! It is related to the structure of the world’s semiconductor industry chain! Once China’s semiconductor industry chain rises, it will pose a great threat to us! You must think carefully!”

“…I’m sorry, my tone was a little bad, please forgive me!”

Before Kojimamura finished speaking, the phone was hung up.

No one present said anything, because they knew from Kojima Arata’s conversation just now that nothing good happened.

After Kodamura Arata hung up the phone, his originally apologetic expression immediately turned gloomy.

He slammed the table and snorted: “These shameless Americans really want to drop two atomic bombs on Washington and New York.”

The people present looked at each other.

It seems that their chairman is indeed very angry and can even say such things.

However, being angry is of no use.

You can’t go to the Americans to cause trouble, right?

Thinking that the country across the coast was increasing its efforts to build semiconductor production lines, they became increasingly panicked.

…

The news of the announcement of the silicon industry spread quickly, at least in the semiconductor industry, the news basically spread quickly.

Ever since, everyone knew that China’s silicon wafer production technology had truly achieved a soaring breakthrough.

Although there have been rumors before, such as the breakthrough of polishing disc materials, the polishing fluid material has also achieved important breakthroughs, in addition to the silicon purification process.

But no one cared about it at that time, because at that time it happened that Dow Chemical hired media reporters to publicize China’s technological backwardness in the semiconductor industry and that all it produced were industrial defective products. For a while, many people were confused. They expressed contempt, but even those who did not think that China’s silicon wafer production technology could really have an impact on them.

Unexpectedly, in just four months, China’s silicon industry has made a counterattack.

Suddenly, the Shanghai Silicon Industry attracted countless attention, so the press conference that the Shanghai Silicon Industry planned to hold also attracted many people at home and abroad.

For the silicon industry, this time it can be regarded as a proud moment, and it was directly boasted at the press conference.

Yu Jiancheng’s face glowed brightly and he said with a smile: “We can announce that our 12-inch silicon wafer production will reach 20 million in 2022 and 40 million in 2023! We have not received an order yet. Friends, hurry up if you want to buy.”

“In the future, our silicon industry will be sure to become one of the top manufacturers in the world. At the same time, we will also consider establishing factories around the world to meet diversified needs.”

…

Even though he was bragging, he did not forget about the well digger.

“In addition, at this press conference, I also need to thank one person, that is, Professor Lin Xiao. If it were not for Professor Lin Xiao’s technological breakthrough, we would not be able to do this at all.”

“In 2020, our annual silicon wafer production was less than 3 million, and this year it reached 3.6 million. However, the world’s top manufacturers, such as Nissin Semiconductor, achieved an annual production of 12 million in 2007. Above, the average monthly output is 1 million.”

“Now, we finally see an opportunity to keep up with these foreign players.”

“This is all the credit of Professor Lin Xiao. Unfortunately, Professor Lin Xiao is not here, but please allow me to pay tribute to him.”

“…”

After paying tribute, he continued to boast.

After the blow is finished, it is natural to leave various related manufacturers to discuss cooperation matters. In fact, those Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in Taiwan, Samsung in South Korea, and China’s Huaxin International, Huahong Group, etc. are ranked among the world’s top manufacturers. Ten wafer foundries have sent people here.

Wafer foundries are factories that produce chips. They are not wafer manufacturers, but specialized in consuming silicon wafers.

There has been a shortage of silicon wafers in the past two years, which has led to an international chip shortage. For foundries like them, the losses are profits, depreciation rates of instruments and equipment, wasted worker wages, etc.

After all, they can’t produce chips without silicon wafers, and it’s hard for a clever woman to make a meal without rice, but those expenses have to be spent.

Therefore, sufficient silicon wafers are the “meter” that allows them to increase their power to produce chips.

As a result, the orders for the Shanghai Silicon Industry were quickly filled up, and they even directly booked the output after the completion of their production line.

There is definitely no need to worry about quality. After all, if the quality is not good, you will lose money. Therefore, these foundries are not worried about the poor quality of silicon wafers in the silicon industry.

In this way, the press conference ended, which also represented that China has officially established a firm foothold on a project in the semiconductor industry chain.

And because of Yu Jiancheng’s “tribute” at the press conference, Lin Xiao’s name has once again become a thorn in the side of many foreign related companies.

…

Go to Beijing, go to Beijing University.

In Lin Xiao’s office.

He didn’t care too much about the silicon industry press conference. After all, he could guess the final result without even thinking about it, so of course he didn’t need to care.

Of course, even though he doesn’t care, things will still come to him.

Domestic and foreign silicon wafer manufacturers, as well as CMP material manufacturers, have approached his Dingguang Technology Company and Qizhi Technology Company.

Naturally, we were looking for the former to buy polishing discs and polishing fluids. Both materials are produced and sold by Dingguang Technology Company. We were looking for the latter to buy patents for polishing fluids and purification processes, especially the patents for the latter. It makes them even more greedy. This purification process can be regarded as the best in the world. It is a little faster than the best purification process abroad. Of course they are greedy.

But they had no choice but to ask Qizhi Company for authorization.

So Ning Yue and Luo Ming both called and asked him.

In this regard, Lin Xiao still said that foreign countries will not give it, domestic companies belonging to Chinese companies will give it, and joint ventures and foreign-funded companies will be slightly behind.

Unless their technology can be upgraded by one or two generations, they will consider licensing this technology that is one or two generations behind to these foreign companies.

“Well, you can just decide the rest. Hang up.”

After hanging up the phone, Lin Xiao suddenly heard a knock at the door.

“Please come in.”

The door opened, and a pretty figure walked in.

It was Zheng Ronger.

“Brother Lin Xiao! I’m coming!”

Zheng Ronger looked at Lin Xiao with a smile.

Lin Xiao walked up to him with a smile and said, “Rong’er, welcome to the School of Mathematical Sciences of Shangjing University.”

Today has arrived at the end of August, the first day of school for freshmen at Beijing University.

Zheng Ronger ranked fifteenth in the college entrance examination in Beijing and was admitted to the School of Mathematical Sciences of Beijing University.

Of course, there are ten or so people applying for the School of Mathematical Sciences at Beijing University this year. Among the top fifteen students in Shanghai this year, apart from Zheng Ronger, there are two other students who chose the School of Mathematical Sciences.

This was unimaginable in the past, because these top-ranked students first need to choose Qinghua University or Peking University, and maybe a few will choose to go abroad. But this year, among the top fifteen, It is surprising that three students all chose the same college at Beijing University.

Of course, the reason for all this is just because Lin Xiao joined Beijing University this year.

If Zheng Ronger hadn’t performed exceptionally well this time, she might have been transferred to another major.

As for why Zheng Ronger appeared at Lin Xiao’s place now, it was also because today was the first day of registration for their freshmen. Zheng Ronger had just put her luggage in her dormitory and then ran to Lin Xiao. It could be regarded as ” Worship the mountain.”

Zheng Ronger leaned on the sofa, looked at the office, and said, “Brother Lin Xiao, your office is bigger than my grandparents’.”

“Really?” Lin Xiao smiled, poured a cup of tea from the side, put it in front of her, and said, “How do you feel? How is college?”

“Thank you, brother!” Zheng Ronger took the tea with a smile, took a sip, and responded: “I haven’t been there for a few days, how do I know what it feels like?”

Lin Xiao smiled, then found a piece of paper and a pen from the side, and started writing something on it. Soon, he had finished writing, and then handed it to Zheng Ronger, and said with a smile: “Brother Let me let you experience it first, and test how well you are studying during the summer vacation.”

Zheng Ronger was stunned and stretched her head to take a look. It was a mathematical analysis question.

Suddenly, her little face dropped.

“Brother Lin Xiao, please be a human being!”

During the two-month holiday, she had hardly played anything. She was all studying mathematics. Lin Xiao also assigned her a few mathematics problems from time to time, which really tortured her.

But now I’m thinking about meeting Lin Xiao when school starts, but I still have to answer questions?