As a mage, I just want to pursue the truth

Chapter 96 Domestic Semiconductors

It is not a secret in the industry that Kechuangbio is aggressively entering semiconductors.

Frequent large-scale poaching from AI-related leading companies such as Huawei, Cambrian, and SenseTime.

The salary for poaching is at least 1.5 times the salary, and the salary for high-end talents is twice the salary.

Kechuang Bio's actions in the semiconductor field have made the industry call wolf.

Since Kechuang Bio has already been listed on the Science and Technology Innovation Board, some retail investors asked the Secretary of the Board on the platform:
"Is the company planning to enter the semiconductor industry? And what specific direction is it planning to do in the semiconductor industry?"

"Dear investor, hello! Regarding the company's performance, please refer to the company's announcement at that time. Thank you for your attention and understanding of the company, thank you!"

Generally, the answer from the secretary of the board will only be a mechanical official answer, and it is almost impossible to get valuable information.

IDG, as the shareholder of the B-round investment of Kechuangbio, has been increasing its position in Kechuangbio after the listing of Kechuangbio.

Young, the person in charge of the Kechuangbio project, went to Gusu to communicate with Cheng Gang:
"Mr. Cheng, according to my latest news, if Kechuang Bio insists on entering the semiconductor industry, we will be included in the unverified list."

"It is very likely that it will be included in the entity list in the future."

Cheng Gang was a little surprised, but not particularly surprised.

Because in his opinion, it will be a matter of time before the science and innovation creatures are on the list.

In 2019, Haikang, HKUST, Megvii, and SenseTime are all on the entity list, which means that they cannot import parts from American.

Although Kechuang Biotech has Goldman Sachs as a shareholder, Goldman Sachs is only a 5.00% minority shareholder, which will not affect the fact that Kechuangbio is essentially a Chinese company.

Cheng Gang said calmly: "It's just an unverified list, so it won't have much impact."

Cheng Gang was not worried about the accuracy of IDG's news.

Young asked: "The main reason is that Science and Technology Biotech is too eager to develop semiconductors, so American has to restrict you."

"If Kechuang Bio was not so eager to start the semiconductor and AI industry, American would not have included you in the unverified list."

American is worried that Kechuangbio will take advantage of its advantages in the field of brain-computer connection to collect user brain wave data, and then use these data to develop artificial intelligence technology combined with brain-computer connection.

American speculates that the massive amount of brain nerve signals is the data that Bluestar Science and Technology can only obtain at present, and it is likely to have unique value.

Although Kechuangbiology and major mobile phone manufacturers claim that they will not store users' brain nerve signals, American does not believe that if they are, they will definitely store users' brain nerve signals.

Not now does not mean not in the future.

The unverified list is just a test, and I hope that the science and technology innovation will retreat.

Cheng Gang explained: "We have explained very clearly on the board of directors that Kechuangbio's entry into the semiconductor field is to serve the development of brain-computer connections."

"We need a dedicated brain-computer connection chip to iterate the brain-computer connection technology and bring users a better experience."

Young reassured: "I understand what you said. As a shareholder of Kechuang Bio, IDG naturally hopes that Kechuang will have a better development."

"I came to tell Mr. Cheng about this, not to make you give up on semiconductors, but to hope that you will make a plan."

"What if American forbids TSMC to do your foundry?"

Cheng Gang replied: "Actually, we have considered the blockade of American for a long time. This is a high-probability event for Kechuang Bio."

"At present, SMIC in China can already manufacture 14nm chips, and 14nm brain-computer connection chips are more than enough."

"The brain-computer connection chip does not need 5nm, and even 28nm is enough."

"What's more, Shenhai Microelectronics has developed a 28nm lithography machine. In the future, even if the brain-computer connection chip needs a 7nm chip, then the 7nm should be mass-produced."

Cheng Gang is mainly engaged in investment in the field of biomedicine, while Young, as a partner of IDG, not only focuses on the field of biomedicine.

When domestic semiconductors were on fire a few years ago, Young had in-depth research on the domestic semiconductor industry.

He is not as optimistic as Cheng Gang at all:
"Domestic lithography machines are far less optimistic than the publicity. At present, domestic lithography machines have achieved a 28nm process, but the yield rate is far lower than that of ASML."

"The more important thing is that 28nm is good for research, but if you want to go further, 14nm and 7nm lithography opportunities are extremely difficult."

"The current lithography machine indicators include node CD and half-pitch CD."

"Half-pitch CD is a technical indicator dedicated to the lithography field to describe the lithography resolution. For example, the previous generation 193i lithography machine, the HP CD limit value is equal to 38 nm. The current EUV NXE 3400B can achieve a limit of 13nm."

"Node CD and HP CD are not the same concept."

"A node CD is a concept of a semiconductor device. The technology node currently referred to by the mainstream media is this node CD."

"Generally speaking, node CD is about equal to 1/2 *HP CD."

The full name of CD is critical dimension
"In 11 years, Intel first introduced Finfet technology to the 22nm node."

"22nm requires 44nm lithography HP CD. This requirement is difficult to achieve in the actual process, and it is too close to the limit of 38nm."

"So Intel took the lead in using double patterning technology. This technology decomposes very close photolithographic patterns on the same layer onto two masks. It is realized in two exposures."

"Similarly, self-aligned technology has also been introduced, and three exposures and four exposures have become possible."

Cheng Gang's face was full of question marks, and he was shocked by Young's profound knowledge in the semiconductor field.

The 50-year-old is familiar with cutting-edge technology, and the partners who can make IDG are indeed ruthless.

He didn't interrupt Young because he was interested in that too.

"So as far as lithography is concerned, resolution is not a big problem. Especially in self-aligned technology. Deposition deposition can achieve very good precision control, especially ALD, which can achieve precise control of atom on atom."

"Since the lithography pattern needs to be decomposed into multiple masks, the chip pattern cannot be drawn by the chip IC designer at will, and it must follow the rules of lithography."

"Huawei HiSilicon's department is in Shenhai, and some are in Pengcheng. None of them are in Wanwan."

"And the rules of this lithography layout are undoubtedly the top secret of the chip foundry. TSMC cannot disclose it to customers. Hisilicon can only hand over the logic design to TSMC, and TSMC will optimize the manufacturing."

"Hisilicon's original design has no way to consider these lithography rules. This is why the industry has always believed that in the long-term competition, Intel and Samsung have the advantage."

"Samsung introduced three or even four exposure (self-aligned) technology into nand flash production very early."

"So when TSMC was still at 22nm, Samsung started to advertise that we already had 14nm or even 10nm technology. It was about 13 years ago."

"Samsung and TSMC are competitors in chip foundry. Of course, TSMC can't lose. It quietly relaxed the definition of node CD, and also blew its own technology from 22nm to 14nm."

"This exaggeration has continued to the present. In fact, Samsung and TSMC's 7nm is only a little stronger than Intel's 14nm, and the strength is limited."

(End of this chapter)