In the past two years, the United States has been trying to boost its local chip manufacturing industry and consolidate semiconductor technology to enhance the competitiveness of the U.S. semiconductor industry. The most typical example is inviting TSMC to build a factory in the United States.
In fact, TSMC Zhang Zhongmou is not optimistic about the matter when it comes to manufacturing chips in the United States. However, the United States has made up its mind. It not only revised the relevant rules, but also promised tens of billions of dollars in subsidies. Under "coercion and inducement", TSMC then Determined to build a factory in the United States, it is reported that mass production will be launched as scheduled in 2024. Now that the " chip and science bill ", which has been brewing for more than a year, has officially been implemented, the United States will spend more than 50 billion US dollars to subsidize the production and research and development of chips.
It is worth noting that even so, TSMC founder Zhang Zhongmou still made a strong statement: If is not optimistic about the United States' semiconductor manufacturing, it will ultimately be in vain and it is impossible to succeed! Why does Zhang Zhongmou have such a view? What will happen to American-made chips?
Why did Zhang Zhongmou make such a statement?
In fact, whether it is chip design or chip manufacturing, Lao America does have the most advanced technology in the world. For example, in terms of the most critical chip manufacturing equipment, Lao America has a high degree of control over ASML EUV lithography machines. However, chip manufacturing does not just rely on equipment and technology. It also requires the mutual integration of the global industrial chain.
For example, Samsung , TSMC, Intel are all shareholders of ASML, and Intel holds a larger shareholding ratio. However, after so many years, Intel has a gap of about two generations compared with TSMC and Samsung in terms of foundry technology. . Therefore, the gap between Intel, Samsung and TSMC does not lie in equipment resources, but in talent and the cooperation of industry chain companies.
For example, in terms of talent, ASML can defeat Nikon stands at the top of the lithography machine pyramid. The immersion lithography machine developed by Lin Benjian plays a decisive role. TSMC has the current scale, and the team established by Lin Benjian There is a close connection. The rise of Samsung's foundry business is inseparable from the contribution of Liang Mengsong . The role of talents in East Asia in the semiconductor industry chain greatly affects the quality of chips.
In addition, industry insiders revealed that the cost of building a factory in the United States is 37%-50% higher than that of building a factory in mainland China. In addition, the high salary of the job puts pressure on manufacturers, which directly determines that chips made in the United States will not Cheaper, the impact on manufacturers is not negligible.
These two factors may be the main reasons for Zhang Zhongmou’s statement, but it cannot be ruled out that there is another reason. Intel is an active promoter of the "Chip Act". Intel alone received 32% of the subsidy, totaling more than 10 billion US dollars, while TSMC only received 10% of the subsidy, which is about 4 billion US dollars. This may be due to Zhang Zhongmou's toughness Another major factor in the statement is that after all, TSMC’s R&D investment of more than 40 billion US dollars a year is indeed a drop in the bucket.
What will be the outcome of American core manufacturing?
In the manufacturing industry, especially the chip manufacturing industry, although the United States has indeed assembled a group of overseas semiconductor experts, even so, the outcome of American-made chips is not as accurate as Zhang Zhongmou's prediction.
On the one hand, Zhang Zhongmou is called the "Godfather of Semiconductors" by many. He enjoys a high reputation in the semiconductor field and naturally has a higher ability to judge the changes in the semiconductor field. On the other hand, TSMC founded by Zhang Zhongmou is still the company with the largest production capacity and the most advanced technology in the world. TSMC occupies a core position in the entire chip industry chain connecting customers and equipment and material manufacturers. Which market has manufacturing advantages? Zhang Zhongmou You do have a certain say.
Since the United States invited TSMC to build a factory in the United States, Zhang Zhongmou has repeatedly stated that he is "not optimistic". It is not without reason, and the result will inevitably cause a sharp increase in chip costs.In fact, it is not difficult to find clues in the US$39 billion in subsidies from the "Chip Act" to promote the US chip manufacturing industry.
However, when the United States forms a monopoly on the chip manufacturing industry, it will inevitably force competitors to do everything they can to speed up product iteration and independence. In the end, the United States may be able to master the most advanced manufacturing processes, but it will only be able to control the top chip consumer market. , after all, opponents are also accelerating development, and no one is willing to pay more for some mature process chips.
What do you think about this matter?
