Every time I mention the topic of breakthroughs in domestic chips, there are always netizens who will point out the key points - we don’t have EUV lithography machines. It seems that without EUV lithography machine, China chip has no chance at all, and will always be "beaten" by European and American companies.
It is undeniable that EUV lithography machines are very important and are also an indispensable equipment for the manufacture of advanced process chips of 7nm and below. Because the US has revised its chip rules, Chinese companies cannot purchase EUV lithography machines from ASML, which makes us quite passive. Perhaps because he held the "trump card" of EUV lithography machine, the ASML company's attitude towards the Chinese market was also extremely arrogant at first. But in the past one or two years, ASML's attitude has undergone a major change. What is the reason?
actually the answer is very simple. ASML company can't sit still. As foreign media said, "EUV lithography machine may be outdated." EUV lithography machines are not unsurpassed, but they need to find a different approach. Traditional chip manufacturing is about to come to an end. If you continue to fight against EUV lithography machines, domestic chips may not make any major progress in 5-10 years, and the gap with European and American companies cannot be narrowed. But the new photonic chip is likely to be the opportunity for Chinese chips, which is also what ASML companies are worried about.
Recently, according to media reports, the first domestic multi-material photonic chip production line is expected to be completed in Beijing in 2023. Compared with traditional silicon-based chips, photonic chips consume less power and have faster computing speeds, which is also the general direction of future chip development. The completion of the first domestic photonic chip production line is also the first step for China's chip to bypass EUV lithography machines.
In the traditional silicon-based chip market, if you want to manufacture advanced process chips, you cannot avoid EUV lithography machines, so ASML company is equivalent to monopolizing the entire market. But when switching to the photonic chip market, ASML's substitutability is quite high. In addition, the silicon-based chip manufacturing process is approaching its limit, so there is not much time left for ASML, which may be a major reason for the change in ASML's attitude.
Although the attitude of ASML companies has changed in recent years, from the initial arrogance of "not being able to create public drawings" to the pleasing of "expanding the layout of the Chinese market", Chinese companies have become aware of crisis and have begun to accelerate "de-beautification", so Chinese companies' dependence on ASML companies' lithography machine is also decreasing.
Recently, the bidding results for a new batch of lithography equipment of Chinese companies were announced, of which 25% of the shares were taken by Chinese companies, and the remaining 75% of the shares fell into the hands of Japanese companies. ASML company had no profits, which shows that ASML company is being marginalized.
Of course, from the general direction of China's chip development, it is correct to insist on independent research and development, open up a brand new chip track, and bypass EUV lithography machines, and photonic chips are also a good solution. Instead of spending time and energy on EUV lithography machines, it is better to find another way. Although ASML is the only company in the world that can mass-produce EUV lithography machines, the core technology and core parts of EUV lithography machines are supplied from all over the world, including American technology. After all, ASML companies have no autonomy and must be controlled by others. So, even if ASML companies change their attitudes, don’t have any illusions about foreign companies. The same thing is that you can’t get the core technology and you must build it yourself! What do you think about this? Welcome to comment and leave a message!
