SMIC Expected to Breach Sanctions, Jiang Shangyi Said to Buy EUV Online | TechNews

Although there are opinions that it is not a good move to let Jiang Shangyi come back and force Liang Mengsong to leave, now there is news that the main reason SMIC invited Jiang Shangyi is EUV.

According to Chinese sources, under the leadership of newly appointed vice president Jiang Shangyi, Zhongxin will negotiate with ASML for EUV equipment, which is crucial for the development of advanced SMIC processes. Although at present, DUV can use 7nm, but below 5nm, EUV is still needed. Even if it is not mass produced, if there is no EUV for theoretical verification, Chinese semiconductor wafers can only stay at the 7nm stage.

However, at present, ASML still intends to sell more advanced display machine equipment (lithography machines) to China, but due to the international situation and the restrictions of the US regulations, it should be considered. However, Jiang Shangyi seems to have a certain degree of confidence that can be negotiated with such confidence, which is quite worthy of attention. This is not something that can be negotiated through personal friendship alone, but as long as you can sit down and chat, it is possible to look for shipments that circumvent regulations. Method.

Especially now that Trump has resigned, Biden is generally seen as less aggressive. If ASML finds a pipeline for shipments, the US response may not be as quick. Today, there are even rumors that the Wuhan Hongxin core team really is EUV, but the official is unwilling to confirm it. Of course, such rumors are not credible, but it still shows that Jiang Shangyi is supplying the display machine. There are deep connections in the chain.

It is worth noting that immersion lithography technology is also heavily promoted by Jiang Shangyi and Zhang Zhongmou. Its inventor Lin Benjian, vice president of R&D at Front-end Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, once said that if Dad Jiang had not backed him behind his back and convinced ASML that the idea was correct, it would have otherwise been spent. Those who have a big budget on dry exposing machines will not be so easy to accept.

Still, the main reason for SMIC’s return to Jiang Shangyi was that it should not be unfounded in response to US sanctions. However, laws and regulations can be circumvented by a complete breakdown. It is not impossible to source enough components through Jiang Shangyi’s extensive contacts and convince ASML to assist in the assembly in China. Of course, the difficulty is extremely high, no less than that of making a space shuttle, but the resources that China is willing to invest for this cannot be underestimated. Follow-up is worth watching.

(Source of the first image: Science and Technology Newspaper)

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