On September 21, 2023, Xiang Ligang of PepsiCo Summer shared a remarkable view on social media: the future lithography machine will no longer be EUV technology, but a more advanced X-ray lithography machine. This view has sparked extensive discussion and is supported by three important reasons.
First of all, looking back at the history of China's chip industry, it is not difficult to find that there has been a detour, which has caused many people to have the concept of "making is better than buying". However, since Huawei came under international pressure in 2019, the domestic chip industry has begun to emerge, showing the potential to catch up. China already has the ability to fill the technology gap, thanks to the huge effort and resources invested in chip manufacturing over the years. From soaring domestic market demand to the rise of technological innovation, China is gradually becoming a global chip manufacturing powerhouse. The degree of development and dependence on the domestic industrial chain has been deepening, and the cultivation of independent innovation and R&D capabilities has received increasing attention and attention. Therefore, Xiang Ligang's views have gained more and more recognition and support.
Secondly, TSMC has been a chip foundry before 2016, lacking chip design capabilities, and there is a big gap with companies such as Intel. However, TSMC later became a company with global influence after introducing EUV lithography machines and accumulating experience in related processes. TSMC has made remarkable achievements in recent years, as one of the world's largest chip foundries, they have been committed to technological innovation and the application of advanced processes. The decision to introduce EUV lithography machines has had a profound impact on the entire industry, driving the advancement of global chip manufacturing technology.
Third, as one of the largest telecommunications equipment manufacturers in China, Huawei has always focused on independent research and development and innovation. They have a strong R&D team and technology accumulation, and are able to make major breakthroughs in chip design. However, high-end manufacturing capabilities have always been a shortcoming of Huawei. Therefore, Huawei has begun to enter the field of lithography machines, and plans to equalize EUV lithography machines, and even target X-ray lithography machines. This strategic move will help make up for manufacturing shortcomings and better meet market demand.
In addition to the above three points, the development of China's lithography machine industry also needs to consider a wider range of factors. As one of the world's largest markets and one of the countries with the strongest manufacturing capacity, China has recognized that the chip industry must be independent and controllable. This has become the consensus of the entire industry chain: foreign chips need to be replaced as soon as possible, otherwise they will face huge risks. Chips are different from other products, and once the product model is determined, it is actually more difficult to change the main chip brand than to redevelop it. Therefore, after the domestic inability to buy advanced chips, Chinese manufacturers have begun to promote domestic substitution. Even if foreign manufacturers open up chip exports, Chinese manufacturers will no longer use them. To sum up, Xiang Ligang's view shows that China has made important breakthroughs in the field of chip manufacturing and has the ability to innovate independently. Chinese manufacturers are accelerating the localization process and improving their ability to control the domestic chip industry chain. This trend will be irreversible, and the development of China's lithography machine industry will also usher in important opportunities. In the future, China is expected to become an important player and leader in the field of global lithography machines. This is crucial for the development of China's chip industry and the country's strategic security. In short, the development prospects of China's lithography machine industry are very broad, and Xiang Ligang's views have been recognized and supported by more and more people. As China continues to make breakthroughs and progress in the field of chips, domestic manufacturers will be able to better meet market demand and realize the independent control of the chip industry. It is believed that in the near future, China will become a leader in the field of lithography machines and make important contributions to the development of the global chip industry.