Reinventing the Millennium

The second round of restrictions from BIS on November 24th made Yike and Bingxin face more urgent problems, which is also the strategic direction that Fang Zhuo has been emphasizing this year.

At the corporate level of Bingxin, what needs to be done is to ensure operation, even if it sacrifices yield and profit.

Similarly, BIS is indeed heading in this direction.

This is not because Fang Zhuo is so far-sighted, but the operation of Yike-Bingxin belongs to an inverted pyramid structure, and the smaller Bingxin is the bottom and more important support.

This is consistent with the structure of the entire industry, and the semiconductor equipment, components and materials that support the operation of Bingxin are also at the bottom.

In this way, layer by layer, coupled with the property of photoresist with a shelf life, it naturally becomes a priority weapon to restrict Bingxin.

BIS amended the law and drove photoresist manufacturers. These were all expected, but what was beyond expectation was the speed and efficiency of its actions this time.

Because of his American friends, Fang Zhuo usually knows the situation earlier, learns about the measures that are likely to be implemented earlier, and can even ask people to mediate, but this time he only received the notice one day in advance.

Fortunately, Bingxin has been purchasing more photoresists recently, and with conscious prevention of this situation, there will be no obvious problems in the short term.

However, the photoresist market is now occupied by 4 Japanese manufacturers and 1 American manufacturer. Once the production inventory is exhausted, Bingxin may not be able to maintain even the minimum production operation.

This time limit is six months, and when it comes to Yike, although it can mass-produce the second-generation FinFET 16nm chip in advance, it will not be outdated in the competition throughout the next year, but no matter how frugal it is, it will probably only last for a year.

Originally, considering that it involves Japanese manufacturers, even if BIS expands its jurisdiction, such restrictions will take some time to come, which will buy more time for Xinyang Luzhou's research and development, but...

Fang Zhuo really can't ask his opponent to play according to his own ideas.

Therefore, according to Su Wei's words, "You have frowned more these days than in the past ten years."

Fang Zhuo has determination and confidence, and is also encouraging and motivating Yike, Bingxin and more people to face challenges, but these must return to reality and must solve problems.

This problem caused by factors other than business has also been reported and protested by higher levels. China also has more basic materials to fight back. However, the target targeted by BIS this time is not expanded, but is focused on Bingxin.

This involves a more overall strategic change. If we focus on the semiconductor industry in the mainland, SMIC, which is not involved now, should also quietly develop technology and processes to avoid being affected.

SMIC has begun to communicate with Bingxin on the first generation of FinFET technology. According to the current progress, it may take until Q4 of 2016 to have commercial attempts at the earliest.

This is the value of time.

In addition to supplying Yike, Bingxin must at least guarantee the production capacity of AMD, a closely connected customer. Fang Zhuo did not tie AMD to the ship before to die with it, which would be meaningless.

The technology of SMIC and Bingxin is gradually inheriting the same line. If the first generation of FinFET 16nm can be launched in Q4 of 2016, it can also be used as a youth version of AMD chips.

In addition, unconventional channels can also solve some inventory problems in an emergency, which is a temporary solution.

Fang Zhuo suppressed his irritability and remained patient. He did not urge Xinyang Luzhou's R\u0026D at all. After seeing the latest measures of BIS, they naturally understood the situation and did not need to add unnecessary pressure.

In addition to the photoresist link that can help achieve the phased goals, he also inspected the A/B/C lines of Huali Phase I in Shanghai. The localization of the C line is still difficult, but the debeautification of the B line has a relatively high yield on 45nm.

Although 45nm is now only a mature process, it is not easy to beautify and run out of competitiveness.

Fang Zhuo does not seek quick success, but only hopes to complete the phased goals as soon as possible, and then use the point to lead the whole to gain greater development space.

However, China is facing strong pressure, and there are some unexpected situations in Silicon Valley.

Although Schroeder, the US president, has confirmed that he will incubate projects in the new track, his current main task is to deal with the finishing of Yike in the United States, including Yike's Silicon Valley R\u0026D center.

Many of Yike's technologies and patents were born in the center of Silicon Valley, where the most cutting-edge scientific research is also carried out. However, after BIS took action, it faced a shock.

The company's response to this was that some people were transferred back to China, for example, the artificial intelligence research and development team, which was mainly composed of Chinese people, many of whom were willing to return to China for development, and another part was transferred to different research institutes in Europe.

Yike also has a research and development center in Europe, but under the current situation, the general office has discussed several times and believed that only "research institutes" should be used to undertake research projects, which is smaller in scope and more focused in direction, and can better undertake related work.

For example, Yike's research institute in Stockholm, Sweden, focuses on the research and development of communication technology.

In this way, the transfer to China and Europe, the last part will still remain in Silicon Valley. Yike will retain the research center here, and is also willing to invest and help establish new companies, and still provide funds and resources.

This is an important thing Schroeder needs to be busy with.

However, on November 30, Schroeder received a phone call at the company notifying him that a project team that was about to fly to China was detained and required not to leave the country before obtaining permission.

This news shocked Schroeder. All the procedures and processes of the team were reasonable and legal. Is there any law? Is there any law?

Schroeder immediately called his boss to reflect this special situation.

"Okay, I know, it's too much. Don't worry, calm everyone down first, and I'll ask about the situation." Fang Zhuo on the phone gave such a response.

Schroeder was a little depressed, but he could only cheer up and comfort his own people first.

As for this time... Considering the deterioration of Washington's relationship with the boss, I really don't know if it can be handled well.

There was no movement for two days.

On December 3, Schroeder suddenly saw a news in the media that the NBA Rockets were about to change owners, and the overall price was lower than the previous market value expectation of 1.25 billion US dollars, only 1.15 billion, and the major shareholder Fang Zhuo accepted the delivery method of some virtual currency.

Only in the evening, Schroeder received a notice to release the R\u0026D team.

He combined the two pieces of news together, and his mood was particularly complicated. He knew the owner's willingness to sell the team before. The price of $1.25 billion was not high. Now it was $100 million less, and he accepted payment in virtual currency. This was simply a ransom!

When Schroeder thought of this, he drank a few glasses of red wine, and his eyes were tearful in the dead of night. According to the Chinese saying, a tiger in the plain is bullied by a dog!

However, Schroeder, who was busy at work, suddenly saw a report from Bloomberg two days later. The price of virtual currency BTC soared 15% from $410 to $471 in the past two days. It may continue to usher in a wave of rising prices. One important reason is that a well-known team used a large amount of virtual currency in transactions.

15%... Did the less funds rise back in two days?

Is there still money to be made?

This, this...

Schroeder suddenly felt that his tears were a bit cheap. Mr. Fang seemed to be quite fancy, and the fancy was quite useful...