章節 1401: Chapter 1401: Lithography machines, chip design and wafer factories
"Dr Hu, take me to the semiconductor office, I want to talk to you about something.'
'Yes, Chairman, please follow me!'
Hu Zhengming is a typical researcher with a gentle and easygoing personality. After hearing Xia Yu's words, he smiled and led Xia Yu and Huo Jianning into the elevator to the floor of the Tiangong Semiconductor Laboratory.
'Dr. Hu, this time the group will set up a new series of companies, and the semiconductor field will be the top priority.'
'So soon, the pressure on your side of the work will be much greater, and you will also need to lead the team well.'
Hu Zhengming froze for a moment, but his smile grew even brighter. Without hesitation, he said, 'Chairman, for people like us who do research, the thing we're least afraid of is having research and development projects. What we're afraid of is having the power but no way to use it.'
'You've provided us with such a good research environment that we can devote ourselves to research. We will definitely do our best to complete the tasks assigned by the company.'
Xia Yu nodded with satisfaction.
At that moment, the elevator arrived at the designated floor. He smiled and said, 'Let's go to the lab first and I'll explain to you in detail.'
'Okay, this way please!'
Hu Zhengming then led Xia Yu in a certain direction.
Soon, the three of them arrived at the preparation room of the laboratory. After changing their clothes, they entered.
'Chairman, this is the largest laboratory, where most of the researchers conduct their research,'
'For experiments with special requirements, they will go to some of the smaller laboratories,'
After entering, what immediately catches the eye is a group of researchers in white lab coats gathered in twos and threes, surrounding a machine or instrument. Hu Zhengming immediately introduces them.
'Let's go take a look.'
Xia Yu nods slightly and steps forward towards a group of people.
'Chairman!'
'Teacher!'
'Chairman... Director...'
Seeing Xia Yu and the others arrive, the researchers who were studying immediately greeted them, with one of them shouting 'Teacher Hu Zhengming'.
Xia Yu looked at him and it was indeed Liang Mengsong, with the exact same schoolboy hairstyle as in later generations.
'Hello.'
'What area of research are you mainly working on at the moment?'
'Chairman, we are currently working full steam ahead on the development of a 3-micron chip manufacturing process...'
Liang Mengsong was the main force behind this research and he reported directly to Xia Yu.
Xia Yu listened quietly, although he did not understand all the abstruse technology, he did know some common sense.
After Liang Mengsong finished speaking, Xia Yu suddenly asked a key question: 'What level has the mainstream international chip technology reached?'
Liang Mengsong was a little embarrassed, but he answered honestly: 'Chairman, the world's top chip companies have already entered mass production of 1-micron chips.'
'In October last year, the 80386 processor released by Intel in the United States used a 1-micron manufacturing process.'
'Our current research and development progress is indeed lagging behind, but we will do our best to break through. The 1-micron manufacturing process project has been underway for some time now, and we have developed seven technical patents in this field.'
'I see.'
'It's good to feel the pressure, and turn it into motivation to forge ahead,'
Xia Yu said with a smile, encouraging him.
'Carry on.'
'Dr Hu, let's go over there and have a look.'
...
Xia Yu spent almost an hour in the Tiangong Semiconductor Laboratory.
In that hour, he also got a general idea of the situation in the Tiangong Semiconductor Laboratory.
Currently, the Tiangong Semiconductor Laboratory has 37 researchers, but the personnel structure and research direction are somewhat complicated.
In terms of personnel, more than half of them are researchers poached from the mainland, generally older, and the leading technical expert is a 51-year-old professor named Su Mingsheng, from the Hancheng Radio Component Factory No. 3 in Hubei Province, who is very strong in the field of lithography machine research and development.
The reason why this old professor was poached to Hong Kong is very realistic but also very helpless.
Because the mainland needs foreign exchange in all aspects, and since the 1960s, the Hancheng Radio Component Factory No. 3, which has been engaged in the independent research and development of lithography machines for more than 20 years, has also been scrapped due to the lack of national funding support, resulting in the stagnation of technology research and development for more than 20 years. Therefore, Su Mingsheng, who has learned everything, has nowhere to apply his knowledge, and was only recruited by Tiangong Technology Laboratory to come to Hong Kong.
From his conversation with Su Mingsheng, Xia Yu learned about the independent research and development of lithography machines on the mainland. In 1965, the Chinese Academy of Sciences developed the 65-type contact lithography machine, and in 1980, Shuimu University successfully developed the fourth generation, with a lithography accuracy of 3 microns, which was close to the international mainstream level.
However, now, after several years of being scrapped, the mainland has fallen behind the international standard.
If you think about it, the Tiangong Semiconductor Laboratory is still developing 3-micron chip manufacturing processes, while in 1980 the mainland was able to independently develop a photolithography machine with an accuracy of 3 microns.
And now, it's already 1986!
In an instant, Xia Yu felt regret and also great relief. Fortunately, he had planned ahead.
Although the mainland's accumulation of a huge number of scientific research talents has been delayed in recent years, the strength is definitely there, and it is not too late for him to go save it.
Back to business.
At present, due to manpower issues, the Tiangong Semiconductor Laboratory's research is not comprehensive enough.
Half of the staff, led by mentor Hu Zhengming and his apprentice Liang Mengsong, are working on the development of chip manufacturing processes.
A group led by Su Mingsheng is working on the development of lithography machines.
Having learned the real situation, Xia Yu had to slightly adjust the plan he had made before coming here.
Afterwards, Xia Yu called Hu Zhengming, Liang Mengsong and Su Mingsheng into the meeting room to talk to them and seek their advice.
'I've seen the situation in the lab too, and to be honest, I'm under the impression that there are quite a few flaws.'
'But the key reason is that the goal is not clear enough.'
'I have some ideas, so you can listen first and then express your opinions.'
Xia Yu paused, drank some tea to moisten his throat, and then spoke slowly.
'In the semiconductor industry, both the lithography machine and the wafer fab are very important. Without either, it is impossible to produce excellent chips.'
'But there is another link that is also very important, and that is chip design.'
'However, at present, on a global scale, basically chip design and wafer production are in the same company. This has advantages, but also disadvantages.'
'Just like our laboratory now, where research is being carried out in all areas, it is a distraction and prevents results from being produced quickly.'
'So next, I will set up three companies, each corresponding to the research and development and production of the lithography machine, the research and development and construction of the wafer fab, and the design of the chip manufacturing process.'
'Each of the three companies is responsible for one part of the entire industry chain and will not interfere with each other.'
'The design of the chip manufacturing process will be handled by the newly established Tiangong Semiconductor, and the Tiangong Semiconductor Laboratory will also correspond to this company. Dr. Hu and Dr. Liang, you two will remain at the Tiangong Semiconductor Laboratory.'
'The research and development and production of lithography machines will be handled by the newly established Tiangong Microelectronics. A Tiangong Microelectronics laboratory will also be established. Professor Su, you and your team will be transferred to the Tiangong Microelectronics laboratory.'
'As for the final research and development and construction of the wafer fab, Tiangong Group will not be involved. This will be handled by the mainland's Kyushu Industrial Group, which will establish a separate Kyushu Semiconductor company.'
'At that time, Tiangong Semiconductor and Tiangong Microelectronics will both provide technical guidance to Kyushu Semiconductor.'
'What do you think?'
Hu Zhengming and the others looked at each other.
Hu Zhengming then spoke up: 'Chairman, I have no objection to this deployment. With this division, the entire process will be very clear.'
'As long as there is sufficient manpower, I am confident that we can catch up with the most advanced chip manufacturing process.'
Xia Yu nodded with satisfaction: 'Good, in terms of manpower, I will let you do as you wish. You can recruit whoever you want. The group will give you full support, so you can just focus on research and development.'
'Thank you, Chairman!' Hu Zhengming thanked him with a smile.
Xia Yu then looked at Professor Su Mingsheng.
'Professor Su, what do you think?'
'You don't need to worry about funding at all. I won't place any restrictions on you. I'll give you as much as you need, no upper limit!'
The thin-looking man adjusted his glasses and said gratefully, 'Chairman, thank you for your support. Ever since I arrived here, I've never been constrained by R&D funding.'
'I have worked at the Seoul Radio Factory No. 3 for half my life, ever since it was built.'
'Before, there was little international exchange, and no complete news channels. Although we managed to come up with our own R&D photolithography machine, we weren't really sure how far behind we were internationally.'
'But after coming to Hong Kong, I have gained an understanding of the international situation, and I have many feelings.'
'Foreign technology is very advanced, the United States and island countries are stronger than us, but that doesn't mean that the quality of our Chinese researchers is poor.'
'They are just bound, for three reasons: low funding, no state-of-the-art research equipment, and blind commands.'
'After coming here, these three constraints have been removed, and this is the research environment that we people engaged in scientific research have been dreaming of.'
'But if I am made responsible for developing an advanced independently developed lithography machine, I will still face the problem of a lack of manpower.'
'The field of lithography research and development is even smaller than the field of chip manufacturing processes, and it is even more difficult to poach people.'
'My personal suggestion is to poach those people from the mainland, they are definitely not inferior to those from the UK, the US, or the island countries.'
'Many people who are more capable than me have either gone to teach or gone to other fields to continue doing research, which is a complete waste of talent.'
'Either we poach them, or we open another branch in the mainland to bring them together and continue to shine.'
'Personally, I prefer to open another branch in the mainland because I have been corresponding with my old friends and persuading them, but only a small number of them have come, and most of them have a prejudice against Hong Kong.'
After saying that, Su Mingsheng looked at Xia Yu expectantly.
Xia Yu frowned for a moment, thinking, and then looked at Su Mingsheng and said, 'Professor Su, the research and development and production of the lithography machine must be based mainly on this side of Hong Kong.'
Just as Su Mingsheng was feeling a little disappointed, Xia Yu continued to explain: 'You should know that there is a difference between Xiangjiang and the mainland. Don't forget the Batumi Agreement.'
'Although Western developed countries have now relaxed their control over the mainland, there are still restrictions. This is a bomb.'
'On the contrary, Xiangjiang does not have these restrictions.'
'Only in Xiangjiang can Tiangong Microelectronics travel light and quickly.'
Upon hearing this, Su Mingsheng fell silent, his fists unconsciously clenching.
'Many people haven't been to Xiangjiang and have prejudices against it, which I can understand.'
'I will solve this problem. I will communicate with the mainland and force them to send someone here.'
'Of course, I will also mediate your suggestions.'
'In this way, Tiangong Microelectronics will open another branch in Qianzhou City, whose function is to gather a group of scientists and take over some of the research as a supplement to this side.'
'I will also do my best to get the most advanced equipment for the Qianzhou branch.'
'What do you think?'
'Thank you, Chairman, I have no further comments,' said Su Mingsheng gratefully.
'There is one more thing, Professor Su. Kyushu Semiconductor needs sufficient talent support. You know the situation in the mainland semiconductor field better, so I'm going to trouble you to recommend some mainland talent, preferably by making a list.'
'That's easy. I'll make a list as soon as possible,' replied Su Mingsheng, busy.
'That's fine, that's the arrangement for now.'
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