Chapter 674: Accept or Ban? $70 Million per Unit? GlobalFoundries' Secrets!
At eight o'clock in the evening, Chen Yansen drove to Luzhou Xinqiao Airport, and then took a Gulfstream G500 directly to Yanjing to prepare to attend tomorrow's Yanjing Internet Conference.
at the same time.
Across the ocean, in Beverly Hills, lies Sixty Private Club.
A group of bigwigs from the North American semiconductor industry once again gathered in a magnificent private room under the pretext of exchanges with the International Semiconductor Industry Association.
But the atmosphere in the room was far less relaxed than last time.
"You think this is true?"
Qualcomm Chairman Paul snorted and asked nonchalantly.
"Eric, didn't Saigao plant more than a dozen nails in Xingyuan Technology?"
Intel's CEO Brian asked the head of Saigao Optics across from him, and subconsciously shook the wine glass in his hand while speaking.
Eric looked serious, then nodded emphatically. "This lithography machine is named Dawn A220. It has a maximum power of 220 watts and can support process technology up to 7 nanometers."
After hearing this, Sanjay, the head of GlobalFoundries, took a deep puff of his cigar and exhaled a wisp of white smoke, with a slightly complicated look in his eyes.
Half an hour ago, Chen Yansen called him and asked him if he needed a more efficient lithography machine, which would only cost US$70 million, 12% cheaper than ASML's selling price.
It can process 235 wafers per hour, which is 1.3 times more efficient than the Twinscan NXT 1980i.
You are a world-leading chip manufacturer, so why would you buy lithography machines from China?
This magical sense of dislocation made him feel extremely unreal.
But he learned from his own sources that the Dawn A220 EUV lithography machine was powered on for the first time on August 23, and the entire system was running stably.
This shows that China has already mastered the core technology of the entire chain of lithography machines, from light sources to optical systems to the precision of the dual worktables.
At this time, ASML had just launched the NXE 3300B lithography machine, with less than 5 units delivered.
The reason is very simple. The current mainstream chip manufacturing processes are mostly 28 nanometers and 20 nanometers. Using Twinscan NXT 1980i is sufficient, with a production efficiency of 180 wafers per hour.
Although the NXE 3300B is an EUV lithography machine with a manufacturing capacity of up to 9 nanometers in a single exposure, its initial power supply is only 80 watts and it can only process 20 wafers per hour.
The efficiency is too low and the production cost is too high!
Apart from TSMC and Samsung symbolically purchasing two machines for process improvements in more advanced processes, GlobalFoundries and UMC had no intention of purchasing any.
In Sanjay's opinion, ASML's NXE 3300B is obviously an immature first-generation product, and anyone who buys it will be a sucker.
Unless the design side can come up with a super processor with twice the performance, and this processor can be recognized by the market and users, to the point where EUV lithography machines must be used for production, they will actually place an order.
Thinking of this, Sanjay secretly looked at the heads of Qualcomm, Micron, Saigao and Intel.
Qualcomm is the most hostile to Star Source Technology!
Because the parent company of Xingyuan Technology is Senlian Capital, it also has a world-class chip design company under its umbrella.
Once Star Technology rises, Qualcomm's business volume in Asia will probably shrink by more than half.
In fact, since Tiangong joined forces with Nvidia and MediaTek to compete with Qualcomm for the market, Qualcomm's market share in China has dropped by 40%.
This is also the main reason why Paul actively encouraged everyone to suppress Xingyuan Technology and Tiangong Technology!
Micron's main business is flash memory and storage chips. There is competition between it and Tiangong Technology, but the conflict between the two parties is not big.
After all, Tiangong Technology had previously said that it would develop flash memory chips, but half a year has passed and there has been no progress on this matter.
This is like someone shouting, "Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west, don't bully the young and poor," and then disappears without a trace, and most people won't take it too seriously.
However, when Micron CEO Mark learned that Star Source Technology had jointly developed EUV lithography machines with the China Science and Technology Association, as well as optical and optoelectronic institutes across China, his attitude immediately changed, and his vigilance against Star Source Technology instantly rose to the highest level.
As for Saigao, it claims to suppress Xingyuan Technology, but has yet to produce any results.
After sending more than a dozen commercial spies, they only came up with a bunch of useless technical solutions.
Sanjay was extremely suspicious that Eric from Saigao was probably just working without putting in any effort, and was up to some unknown evil plan behind the scenes.
Brian from Intel has the strangest attitude. He agrees with everyone he meets, like a fence-sitter.
The remaining Nvidia, Texas Instruments, AMD and Broadcom all had a look of wandering in the sky.
"Sanjay, what do you think?"
At this time, Paul from Qualcomm looked at Sanjay and asked.
Sanjay was stunned when he heard this. He was so busy thinking that he didn't hear what Paul said at all.
"I have no opinion, it's up to you to decide."
Sanjay responded in a very perfunctory manner.
GlobalFoundries is the largest foundry in the United States, but its market position in the Fab factory industry is far inferior to TSMC in Taiwan.
He wanted to overtake others with the help of Star Source Technology's Dawn A220 lithography machine.
If the benefits were tempting enough, he would even dare to organize everyone's current conversation and sell it to Chen Yansen.
In this world, it all comes down to money. He will favor and support whoever can bring him huge benefits.
For the EUV lithography machine that can process 235 12-inch wafers per hour, whoever can get it first will occupy a key position in the field of high-end chip foundry.
"We must act quickly! Given the previous collaboration between Jensen Huang and Jensen Chen, there's no telling whether Nvidia will seize the opportunity to enter the chip manufacturing field."
Of course, he is also very likely to hand over Nvidia's GPU business to Star Source Technology."
Sanjay pondered secretly.
"Idiot!"
Seeing this, Paul couldn't help but curse inwardly.
He originally hoped that Sanjay would take the lead in expressing his stance. After all, as the largest chip foundry in the Lighthouse Country, if GlobalFoundries could clearly stand in the camp of boycotting Star Source Technology, it would be able to put pressure on Asian semiconductor companies such as TSMC and Sanxing, thereby forming an offensive alliance.
But Sanjay's unyielding look clearly shows that he values his own interests much more than the industry consensus.
He suppressed the urge to slam his glass on the table, glanced at everyone present, and said in a serious tone: "Everyone, we are not facing an ordinary competitor now!
"Star Source Technology has the backing of China's scientific research power. Once the A220 reaches mass production and delivery capabilities, they will dare to lower the price of the lithography machine to US$30 million or US$20 million. Even if they don't make a profit, they will use low prices to break down our industry barriers and seize dominance in the global chip industry chain!"
These words were like thorns, which made Eric, the CEO of Saigao, frown.
Sanjie gripped the cup and snorted inwardly: "Do you really think you're the industry leader? You're not the head of a business association, so don't act like you're working for the benefit of the entire industry!"
If Sunlink Capital cuts off its chip design business and focuses on chip foundry, and then offers lower processing fees than TSMC, I'm afraid Paul will be the first to turn against it.
"Paul has a point," Intel's Brian said, putting down his glass and nodding. "If Star Source Technology's lithography machines go into mass production and Tiangong Technology's memory chips hit the market, our market share in China will likely drop another 20%. By then, not only will we lose profits, but even our factory's production capacity will be cut in half."
His words made the atmosphere in the private room even colder!
The head of Texas Instruments finally snapped out of his trance and squinted his eyes as he said, "But we have to find a way to resist! We can't just impose another technological blockade like we did to Kahua companies before, right?
Now that Star Source Technology has achieved breakthroughs in full-chain technology, a blockade is completely useless and will only help them build their own supply chain faster.”
These words hit everyone's soft spot!
Previously, they were able to suppress Chinese companies by relying on their technological advantages because the other party was restricted in key links such as light sources, optical lenses, and double worktables.
Now Star Source Technology has even produced EUV lithography machines, which means that all these "bottleneck" links have been overcome. Trying to use the same tricks again is tantamount to deceiving oneself.
Eric sat in the corner with a flickering look in his eyes. He knew better than anyone that Saigao Optics had no technical confidence at all.
The "multi-layer coated aspheric lens" launched by Xingyuan Technology's Optical R&D Center not only exceeds Saigao's similar products in terms of light transmittance, but also has a production efficiency several times faster.
You should know that the polishing and coating process of an aspheric mirror needs to be precise to the picometer level, and the production time usually takes 2 to 4 months.
Xingyuan Technology completed the polishing, coating and assembly of the six-sided mirror group in just one month.
What made him most uncomfortable was that the "spy" he had planted had probably "betrayed" him.
So far, no useful information has been revealed, nor has a decent technical solution been brought back.
"Perhaps, we can start from the market side."
Intel's Brian suddenly spoke up, then paused before continuing, "For example, we could work with downstream electronic device manufacturers and ask them to prioritize purchasing chips using our technology. If they dare use chips manufactured by Star Source Technology, we will stop supplying them with patent licenses."
"Will this trick work? Chinese mobile phone manufacturers have long been stockpiling Tiangong Technology's chips. Last time Qualcomm cut off supply, they turned around and used Tiangong Technology's processors, and their shipments actually increased by 15%. Do you think they'll be afraid of patent licensing?"
Sanjay interjected, mockingly.
Brian was choked and speechless.
Paul's face was gloomy, as if he saw through Sanjay's little thoughts.
Then, he slammed the table, glared at Sanjay and demanded, "Whose side are you on? If GlobalFoundries dares to buy lithography machines from Star Source Technology, we will unite all chip design companies and stop supplying orders to you. By then, no matter how good your lithography machines are, they will be nothing but scrap metal!"
These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the box in an instant!
Everyone's eyes were on Sanjay, waiting for his reaction.
Sanjay slowly took out his cigar, lit it, and took a deep breath. The white smoke swirled in front of his eyes. He then said calmly, "Business is about mutual benefit and win-win, not a fight to the death.
Since Star Technology has created the Dawn A220 EUV lithography machine, proving they have the power to set the rules, why not try to adopt it? "Paul, what are you afraid of?"
Paul sneered and said, "What I'm afraid of is that they won't follow the rules! They'll just engage in a price war and make it so no one can make any money!"
The reason why Qualcomm can occupy a dominant position in the global communication chip field is due to the patent barriers and technological advantages accumulated in the early years. However, with the rise of Star Source Technology, this advantage is being eroded bit by bit.
Sangjie leaned back on the soft sofa and said lightly, "Do you have any logic? It's not difficult to see from the price standard of Tiangong processors that Orange Technology is a chip company that follows the laws of the market economy.
You always say you're worried Tiangong Technology will undercut you, but it hasn't done that. You're using a nonexistent market risk to deny a lithography machine manufacturer that's as powerful as ASML. Aren't you afraid they'll flip the tables and sell their lithography machines all over the world?
"Turn over the table?" Paul curled his lips, seeming to be very disdainful, but he couldn't think of any rebuttal.
"Stop arguing! I think the Business Association is also discussing this matter. Let's wait for notification from above."
Nvidia’s Jensen Huang persuaded.
"Jensen is right. There's no point in arguing right now. We should wait for news from the association."
Brian from Intel immediately agreed and took the opportunity to save face.
Everyone left in a bad mood.
Although most semiconductor companies in North America are hostile to Sesquicentennial, there are still many that want to cooperate with it.
From a macro perspective, everyone belongs to the North American Semiconductor Association and should be united in their hatred of the enemy and join forces to suppress Xingyuan Technology,
But from a micro perspective, each company has its own different interests and considerations.
Even brothers can have falling out, let alone companies that are not affiliated with each other.
Sang Jie left the club and got into his luxury car. Then he took out his cell phone and called Chen Yansen.
at the same time.
Drenstraße 6501, Eindhoven.
ASML's CEO Peter stared at an investigation report in a daze.
He doesn't understand!
How did China build a 220-watt EUV lithography machine despite a technological blockade?
What he found most difficult to accept was that ASML's NXE 3300B lithography machine was not as good as Star Technology's Dawn A220 in terms of power or production efficiency.
Moreover, just by looking at the name of Dawn A220, it can be seen that the other party is simply not hiding it, fearing that they are not aware of the power level of this equipment.
It's definitely a provocation!
He thought for a moment, picked up the internal phone, and ordered in a deep voice: "Notify everyone that the core members of the EUV project team will hold an emergency meeting in one hour.
Also, please connect me to JSR and TOK, as well as the CEO of Dow Chemical in the Lighthouse Country, and invite them to a video call, the sooner the better.
The other side.
On a daily basis, in the core laboratory of JSR Corporation, chief scientist Hiromasa Yamamoto personally operates the instruments to test a batch of high-purity photoresist samples that have just come off the production line.
The assistant walked in quietly and whispered a few words in his ear.
Yamamoto Hiroshi paused, slowly stood up, took off his goggles, and asked in disbelief, "Is the news confirmed?"
"After cross-verification from multiple channels, they have indeed achieved a breakthrough in the full-link technology of EUV lithography machines."
The assistant nodded and replied.
For a country that can independently develop atomic bombs and space stations, the field of photolithography machines does not seem to be a problem for them.
Yamamoto Hiro frowned and cursed under his breath.
The most advanced lithography process in China is only 28 nanometers, but China has actually produced an EUV lithography machine that can support a 7-nanometer process, which is a leading level far exceeding the current industry technology average!
"The president asked you to go to the meeting room." The assistant reminded.
JSR Corporation is also considering whether to provide photoresist and developer to Star Source Technology.
Similar conversations are being repeated in the conference rooms, private clubs and overseas phone calls of major semiconductor giants around the world.
To accept or to ban?
Everyone was thinking.
(End of this chapter)
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