Technological Hegemony

Star Technology's high-intensity research and development regardless of cost has finally begun to pay off.

In late August, the semiconductor division led by Fang Yuanchu took the lead in completing the driver IC design.

After seeing the design, Luo Jia felt very satisfied, and it was almost exactly the same as what he imagined, so he decided to send it directly to SMIC for tape-out.

Tape-out is an industry term, which means that the design drawings are passed through the semiconductor assembly line to create chips that can be used for later testing.

Tape out is expensive.

How expensive is it?

As far as the price of SMIC is concerned, a 45NM wire tape-out is 120,000 yuan per square millimeter.

Yes, the unit is square millimeters, one millimeter by one millimeter, a small piece that is almost invisible to the naked eye costs 120,000 yuan.

Many consumers think that the black semiconductor chips in mobile phones are not worth a few cents.

It is not entirely wrong to say this, because the chip itself is really not expensive, but the design cost and manufacturing cost are extremely staggering.

This is only a 45NM production line. If the 28NM line is taped out, it will cost as much as 230,000 yuan per square millimeter.

As for the most advanced 7NM line and 5NM line in the industry at present, it costs more than one million yuan per square millimeter. If a tape-out fails, hundreds of millions will be lost.

"I suggest using a 45NM wire to tape out, after all, it is cheaper." Fang Yuanchu said.

Although he is already a veteran in the semiconductor industry, every time it comes to tape-out, he is still extremely nervous.

After all, it is too expensive. If the tape-out fails, the manufactured chip cannot be used, or the performance is not up to standard. If you have to go back and redesign it, it will be a loss of hundreds of millions.

For some smaller companies, there may even be cases where the company went bankrupt because of a tape-out failure.

Although it is crazy, this is the semiconductor industry. People see the inconspicuous black silicon wafers behind them, which are completely piled up with gold.

Luo Jia thought for a few seconds, "Let's use 28NM cables. After all, we are designing driver ICs for mobile phone screens, and miniaturization is more competitive in the market."

Fang Yuanchu nodded, "Understood, then I will go to SMIC now."

"I'll go with you," said Rodya.

In fact, he was also nervous, not because of the design and tape-out costs of more than 200 million yuan behind him, but because this chip was his first piece of the huge blueprint of the display industry, and it was of historic significance.

 …

Pudong, Zhangjiang Hi-tech.

Luo Jia drove, together with Fang Yuanchu, to the largest semiconductor factory in China.

SMIC can be called the most important weapon of the country. It is not a place where you can go in and have a look. They wait outside the door for the people inside to pick them up.

Looking at the huge white factory building, Fang Yuanchu said with emotion: "This is the temple for those of us who are engaged in semiconductors. In the field of display, there are thirteen foreign giants blocking the way in terms of raw materials, and in terms of panel manufacturing equipment. More than a dozen big mountains, adding up to more than 30 giant companies, control the entire display industry."

"In the field of semiconductors, there are more than a hundred mountains standing in front of us. From the most sophisticated lithography machines, to silicon wafers and abrasives, the world is dominated by giants!"

Luo Jia smiled. People who engage in semiconductors in China have a dream, when will the localization of the semiconductor field be realized.

Fang Yuanchu was probably looking at the inside of the company, sprinting with all his strength to show the scene where the industry was in full swing, and thought of his old business, so he felt sympathetic.

"I know." Luo Jia said, "If the five-axis linkage machining center is the brightest jewel in the crown of the machinery industry, then in the semiconductor industry, the crown belongs to the wafer machining center. Don't worry, we have entered the technology industry after all. The industry is only a few days away, so we can't aim too high.

"

Fang Yuanchu shrugged his shoulders, "Yeah, to show, we have already invested almost 20 billion, and we only won a 8.5 generation line. I don't know how much more we will invest in the future. A lot of the money is borrowed. , the company is under a lot of pressure."

"And if you are engaged in semiconductors, this number will be at least ten times higher. It is really scary. When I was in HiSilicon, the parent company was Huawei. It is a real giant in the domestic technology field, right? When it comes to semiconductors, The bosses are also helpless."

"In the field of semiconductors, few people in the world can afford it. It is big news to invest tens of billions in machinery, but in semiconductors, every day when you open your eyes, you don't know how many billions of funds have gone out."

Luo Jia is also very helpless. It's not that Xingchen Technology has no money, but that it can't afford it right now.

Now every month, the Big Four and Xingchen Technology alone have more than 20 billion bills, of which 40% is profit.

Assuming that Luo Jia asked the Big Four to settle the accounts for one year in advance, then he would have a huge amount of funds to call in an instant, but the same thing, the Big Four would go bankrupt.

There are billing periods for commercial activities. Luo Jia can only earn a little money now, so he just invests a little money in it to let the funds in his hand roll.

Unexpectedly, Tang Boyun, the boss of SMIC, came out to greet him in person, startled the guards at the gate, asked Luo Jia and Fang Yuanchu to swipe their faces, and handed them visitor IDs.

"Mr. Tang, you are too polite. It would be better if the secretary couldn't do this kind of thing." Luo Jia said with a smile.

Tang Boyun looked serious, "That's okay, you are distinguished guests, I must come to greet you in person, this is a courtesy."

"You know, in the past two months, we have received orders and received soft hands. It is all due to your credit. Laymen praise the Big Four for their strength, but in my opinion, it is your Xingchen Technology that is amazing! Even energy wave wireless charging is so powerful. All of your black technology has been invented by you."

Luo Jia said with a smile, "Actually, what you should thank is domestic consumers. No matter how good a product is, someone must pay for it."

"Consumers think that they just bought a domestic mobile phone. In fact, they are supporting the entire mobile phone industry chain. You SMIC, our Xingchen, and at least thousands of other domestic companies have all developed because of this."

"What you said is very profound." Tang Boyun said, "This is the power of industrial clusters. When an industry rises, it will drive the entire industrial chain behind it. As the saying goes, one trick can eat all over the world."

"Take Sweden as an example. It is nothing more than IKEA furniture, Scania heavy trucks, SKF bearings, Ericsson, Electrolux home appliances and other giants. This is the power of industrial clusters.”

Luo Jia shrugged, "And South Korea, Samsung itself accounts for more than 20% of South Korea's GDP."

Luo Jia and Tang Boyun chatted all the way, the production line was still under intense preparation, Luo Jia went to his office first.

After the tea was served, Tang Boyun suddenly asked a question unexpectedly.

"Why don't you publish SCI?" Tang Boyun asked curiously, "Not only domestic academic circles, but also foreign academic circles are going crazy now. The whole world is waiting to read your papers."