The news that Kechuang Bio is making a major foray into the semiconductor industry is no secret.
They have been frequently making big moves to poach talent from leading AI-related companies such as Huawei, Cambricon, and SenseTime.
The starting salary offered to poach talent is at least 1.5 times the base salary, and double the base salary is offered to top talent.
Kechuang Bio's moves in the semiconductor field have prompted industry insiders to cry wolf.
Since Kechuang Biotechnology is already listed on the Science and Technology Innovation Board, some retail investors have asked the company secretary on the platform:
"Does the company plan to enter the semiconductor industry? And if so, which specific area within the semiconductor industry are you planning to focus on?"
"Dear investors, please refer to the company's official announcements for any information regarding the company's performance. Thank you for your attention and understanding!"
Generally, a company secretary's response will only be a mechanical, official answer, making it almost impossible to obtain any valuable information.
IDG, as a shareholder in the Series B round of investment in Sci-Tech Biotech, has been continuously increasing its holdings in Sci-Tech Biotech since its listing.
Young, the person in charge of the Kechuang Bio project, made a special trip to Suzhou to communicate with Cheng Gang:
"Mr. Cheng, according to my latest information, if Kechuang Bio insists on entering the semiconductor industry, we will be included in the unverified list."
"It is highly likely that it will be added to the Entity List in the future."
Cheng Gang was a little surprised, but not particularly odd.
Because in his view, it was only a matter of time before the company was included on that list.
In 2019, Hikvision, USTC, Megvii, and SenseTime were all added to the Entity List, which means they are unable to import components from America.
Although Goldman Sachs has a stake in Kechuang Bio, Goldman Sachs is only a small shareholder with a 5% stake, which does not affect the fact that Kechuang Bio is essentially a Chinese company.
Cheng Gang said calmly, "It's just an unverified list, so the impact won't be significant."
Cheng Gang was not worried about the accuracy of IDG's information.
Young asked, "The main reason is that Kechuang Bio is too eager to develop semiconductors, so America wants to impose restrictions on you."
“If Kechuang Bio hadn’t been so eager to get into the semiconductor and AI industries, America wouldn’t have included you on the unverified list.”
America is concerned that Kechuang Bio will use its advantages in the field of brain-computer interfaces to collect users' brainwave data and then use this data to develop artificial intelligence technologies that combine with brain-computer interfaces.
The American hypothesis suggests that the massive amount of brain neural signals is data that only currently available to innovative organisms on Earth, and it may have unique value.
Although Kechuang Bio and major mobile phone manufacturers have claimed that they do not store users' brain nerve signals, Amerike does not believe it, and believes that if it were them, they would definitely store users' brain nerve signals.
Just because it doesn't happen now doesn't mean it won't happen in the future.
The unverified list was just a test, and it is hoped that Kechuang Bio will back down when faced with difficulties.
Cheng Gang explained, "We have already made it very clear at the board meeting that Kechuang Bio's entry into the semiconductor field is to serve the development of brain-computer interfaces."
"We need specialized brain-computer interface chips to iterate brain-computer interface technology and bring a better experience to users."
Young reassured them, "I understand what you're saying. As a shareholder of Kechuang Bio, IDG naturally hopes that Kechuang Bio can have a better future."
"I'm here to talk to Mr. Cheng about this not to get you to give up on semiconductors, but to encourage you to prepare contingency plans."
"What if America bans TSMC from manufacturing for you?"
Cheng Gang replied, "Actually, we had already considered the blockade of America, and it is a highly probable event for Kechuang Bio."
"Currently, SMIC in China can already manufacture 14nm chips, which is more than enough for brain-computer interface chips."
"Brain-computer interface chips don't even need 5nm, 28nm is enough."
"Moreover, Shenhai Microelectronics has already developed a 28nm lithography machine. Even if brain-computer interface chips require 7nm chips in the future, 7nm chips should be in mass production by then."
Cheng Gang primarily invests in the biopharmaceutical sector, while Young, as a partner at IDG, focuses on more than just biopharmaceuticals.
Young had a deep understanding of the domestic semiconductor industry during the boom years ago.
He was nothing like Cheng Gang, who was optimistic.
"The domestic lithography machine is not as optimistic as the outside world has. At present, the domestic lithography machine has achieved a 28nm process, but the yield rate is far lower than that of ASML."
"More importantly, 28nm is easy to research, but if we want to go further, 14nm and 7nm lithography will be extremely difficult."
"Currently, the specifications for lithography machines include node CD and half-pitch CD."
"Half-pitch CD is a technical specification used in the field of lithography to describe the resolution of lithography. For example, the previous generation 193i lithography machine had an HP CD limit of 38 nm. The current EUV NXE 3400B can achieve a limit of 13 nm."
"Node CD and HP CD are not the same thing."
“Node CD is a concept of semiconductor device, and the technology node that mainstream media is currently referring to is this node CD.”
"Generally speaking, a node CD is approximately equal to 1/2 * HP CD."
CD stands for Critical Dimension.
"In 2011, Intel was the first to introduce FinFET technology to the 22 nm node."
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