On September 28, the Guangdong provincial government released an action plan for 20 strategic industrial clusters. Among them, Guangdong will set up an investment fund for the semiconductor and integrated circuit industry in the first phase with a scale of 20 billion yuan, with an annual investment of no less than 1 billion yuan (RMB, the same below) to support technological innovation in the field of semiconductors and integrated circuits. The third-generation semiconductors and advanced packaging technologies of cutting-edge new materials such as gallium chemical are carried out to tackle key core technologies, and the chip semiconductor industry chain in the Bay Area will be built in the next five years.

The third generation of semiconductors can be applied to power electronics, power management, etc. The picture shows that on May 20, technicians from Jiangsu Energy Metering Center were working on the smart detection line of electric energy meters. (Image source: Xinhua News Agency)

Hong Kong "Ta Kung Pao" reported that the Guangdong Provincial Government held a press conference on September 28, focusing on the interpretation of the "Opinions on Cultivating and Developing Strategic Pillar Industrial Clusters and Strategic Emerging Industrial Clusters" (hereinafter referred to as "Opinions") and 20 Guangdong Strategic Industrial Cluster Action Plan.

The goal for the development of the semiconductor and integrated circuit industry is: in 2025, the annual main business income will exceed 400 billion yuan, with an average annual growth rate of more than 20%, of which the integrated circuit design industry will exceed 200 billion yuan. Form more than 3 design enterprises with sales revenue exceeding 10 billion yuan and a group of design enterprises with sales exceeding 1 billion yuan.

Expert: Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Industrial Research Institute

"Guangdong is the largest province in the mainland economy, with a strong manufacturing industry and a wide range of chip applications, including consumer electronics, communications, artificial intelligence, etc. Under the background of the current international technology blockade, Guangdong has made up for the shortcomings of the chip industry chain, The research and development of independent core technologies is imminent." Peng Peng, executive chairman of the Guangdong Provincial Institutional Reform Research Association, said in an exclusive interview with a Ta Kung Pao reporter that chip research and development is an area with long investment cycles and slow returns, requiring the Guangdong provincial government to maintain large-scale long-term investment.

As for how Hong Kong can seize the development opportunities of the chip industry in the Greater Bay Area? Peng Peng told reporters that in addition to the introduction of special equipment and the research and development of core technologies, the chip industry also involves the entire industrial chain of design, manufacturing, packaging and testing, and the Pearl River Delta region is striving to build an interlocking industrial chain in the next five years. . Hong Kong, on the other hand, has gathered many world-class universities, which are recognized in design and intellectual property protection, and have obvious advantages in scientific research and design. "For example, universities such as Hong Kong University and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have R&D advantages in high-end fields, and Hong Kong is still a channel for international talents to enter. Guangdong can consider co-locating relevant chip industry research institutes in Hong Kong to attract global chip R&D talents, technology and equipment to form an international R&D model in the Greater Bay Area.”

Prospective layout of new chips such as millimeter wave

"Several Opinions on Accelerating the Development of Semiconductor and Integrated Circuit Industry in Guangdong Province" was released in early February this year. It mentioned that in terms of chip design, Guangdong will vigorously develop third-generation semiconductor chips, and forward-looking layout of millimeter-wave chips and terahertz chips. In terms of materials and key electronic components, we will vigorously develop third-generation semiconductor materials such as gallium nitride, silicon carbide, and zinc oxide, and actively develop electronic-grade polysilicon and silicon wafer manufacturing.

In terms of improving R&D and innovation capabilities, the Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Innovation Strategy Special Fund will invest no less than 1 billion yuan each year to support technological innovation in the field of integrated circuits. Focusing on chip architecture, advantageous chip products, third-generation semiconductors, and advanced packaging technology, key core technologies will be tackled.

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In addition to Shenzhen, Shaoxing vigorously develops "third-generation semiconductors". The reporter learned about the relevant situation:

A What is the third generation semiconductor?

First, we need to understand what is a semiconductor? The usual explanation is that the electrical conductivity at room temperature is between the conductor and the insulator. As long as there is electricity in application scenarios, semiconductors generally appear.

For example, common diodes are devices made of semiconductors, not to mention electronic products such as mobile phones and computers that we contact every day, of which the core components are closely related to semiconductors. The third-generation semiconductors that are emerging now differ from previous semiconductors in the material.

The first-generation semiconductor materials usually use silicon; the second-generation semiconductor materials are gallium arsenide; the currently relatively mature materials for the third-generation semiconductor materials are silicon carbide, gallium nitride, zinc oxide, diamond, etc. The third-generation semiconductor has the characteristics of high frequency, high efficiency, high power, high voltage resistance, high temperature resistance, radiation resistance and so on. The uniqueness of the third-generation semiconductors comes from this, and behind the control of these new materials to become semiconductors is the high-tech that has gradually matured in recent years.

B Where are the third-generation semiconductors used?

Loaded with third-generation semiconductors, the power efficiency of the device will be significantly improved, especially in harsh conditions. This is in line with the needs of emerging technology fields, such as 5G, new energy vehicles, consumer electronics, aerospace and other fields.

The simplest applications, such as power banks. At the beginning of this year, the 65-watt gallium nitride fast charging system released by Xiaomi was a solid hit. Compared with traditional charging equipment, this "black technology" using third-generation semiconductors is smaller, faster and safer to charge.

Another example is the current "new infrastructure" that is ready to go, and 5G construction also requires the participation of third-generation semiconductors. The construction of large-scale 5G base stations relies on gallium nitride radio frequency related technologies. There is also the field of "fast charging" for new energy vehicles. Several vehicles are charged quickly at the same time, often requiring hundreds of kilowatts of power. However, traditional devices are relatively large, and devices based on third-generation semiconductor silicon carbide modules can easily achieve "small power". Volume and power”.

C Corporate giants are vying for the blue ocean market

Zhou Zhenhong, chief strategy officer of Anxin Fund (a semiconductor professional investment institution), said that the third-generation semiconductor industry is about to explode, and there are opportunities in related production links. How big is the specific opportunity? According to quantitative data from semiconductor research institute Yole, the market size of third-generation semiconductors will grow at an annual rate of 20% to 50%. Experts also said that 2020 is a critical window period for the development of the third-generation semiconductor industry.

The importance of third-generation semiconductors has been recognized in the professional field, and it is also very likely to be promoted to national strategies. According to authoritative sources, the national 2030 plan and the "14th Five-Year Plan" national research and development plan have made it clear that the third generation of semiconductors is an important development direction, and now it is time to move to discuss the implementation plan.

The sense of smell at the enterprise level is even more sensitive. According to incomplete statistics from CASA Research (Third-Generation Semiconductor Industry Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance), last year alone, international semiconductor companies represented by Infineon and STMicroelectronics "stakes the horse" and promotes their development in the first The layout of the three-generation semiconductor field involves an amount of more than 10 billion US dollars. At the same time, among the domestic A-share listed companies, 36 companies have participated in the third-generation semiconductor field.

D "Shao-derived forces" bravely stand at the forefront

It is worth mentioning that in the field of the third-generation semiconductor pursuit, there is no shortage of home-grown "Shaoxing-derived forces", and some foreign companies also have deep ties with Shaoxing. Roshow Technology, headquartered in Diankou Town, Zhuji City, is the first to make a big donation. The company announced not long ago that it will jointly invest in the construction of the third-generation semiconductor (silicon carbide) industrial park with the People's Government of Changfeng County, Anhui Province. The project includes the R&D and production of the whole industry chain, and the total investment is expected to be 10 billion yuan.

Jingsheng Electromechanical, headquartered in Cao'e Street, Shangyu District, is also indirectly exposed to hot spots. As a leading company in the field of semiconductor production equipment, the company is developing third-generation semiconductor (silicon carbide) production and epitaxy equipment.

Finally, we have to mention a Hangzhou company, Silan Micro, which is an "all-round player" in the field of semiconductors. As early as 2017, Silan Micro's third-generation semiconductor (GaN-on-silicon) production line has been built, covering the entire industry chain. Production is a pioneer in this field. Silan Micro and Shaoxing have deep roots. The chairman and founder of Silan Micro, Chen Xiangdong, used to be the general manager of Shaoxing Huayue Microelectronics Company (871 Shaoxing Factory). From Shaoxing Luhuzhuang to the bank of Qianjiang River, it can be said that Silanwei partially inherited the mantle of "Huayue".

Today, Shaoxing's construction in the semiconductor field is in full swing, continuing the "core" power of the ancient world. At the beginning of July this year, Shaoxing Integrated Circuit Design Industrial Park (East Park) opened, 23 enterprises settled, and scientific research institutions such as Peking University Shaoxing Artificial Intelligence Science and Technology Innovation Center and Zhejiang University Shaoxing Microelectronics Research Center were introduced. With the continuous fermentation of the industrial agglomeration effect, the third-generation semiconductor-related industries will surely contribute to Shaoxing's economic development in the future.

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