Rebirth 1984: Starting with the development of Hanka

Tokyo Inka, JSR, Sumitomo Chemical, and Fujifilm occupy more than 70% of the photoresist market.

Once the supply of photoresist is cut off, the fab will have to shut down.

Wujiang Microelectronics cannot always pin its hopes on the kindness and kindness of RB people and think that they will not cut off supply.

The market for photoresist is not large, less than US$10 billion, but it is extremely important.

In the past life, both domestic photolithography machines and photoresist were controlled by foreign countries.

The production of photoresist is also very difficult. Not only its formula, but also the process is the most difficult to break. Among them, exposure equipment and photosensitive detection equipment lag far behind foreign countries.

In addition, RB also has a high degree of monopoly in the fields of important raw materials for photoresists such as photoinitiators and resins.

Therefore, Zhao Ye now wants to develop photoresist. He must not only study the formula and process of photoresist, but also invest in the research and production of important raw materials for photoresist such as photoinitiators and resins. The investment is relatively large, but no matter how big the investment is, it must be done Do. If Zhao Ye doesn't do it, no one in the country will do it.

Just imagine, once the supply of photoresist is cut off and the wafer factory is shut down, all the human and financial resources Zhao Ye invested in Wujiang Microelectronics will be wasted.

Zhao Ye believes that Western countries, led by the United States, can definitely do it.

Therefore, self-reliance is the way to go.

Academicians such as Huang Kun, Qin Guogang, Wang Shouwu, and Wang Wei are keen to help Zhao Ye establish "Boundless Photoresist Co., Ltd."

So, Zhao Ye entrusted them with the responsibility, and he would just pay for it in the end.

……

Photoresist occupies the highest point of electronic materials and is crucial to the development of the country.

Not to mention upstream raw materials, it is mainly midstream manufacturing, which is mainly divided into three types: PCB photoresist, LCD photoresist, and semiconductor photoresist, which respectively correspond to downstream applications: PCB industry, panel industry, and semiconductor industry. Finally, there are electronic product application terminals, such as mobile phones, home appliances, aerospace, automotive electronics, etc.

It is not difficult to see that the development of photoresist is crucial to the development of a country's scientific research and industrial industries.

In previous lives, semiconductor photoresists can be divided into five categories according to different exposure wavelengths: g-line (436nm), i-line (365nm), KrF (248nm), ArF (193nm) and the newly emerging EUV photoresist. High-end photoresist Refers to KrF, ArF and EUV photoresists. The higher the grade, the higher the ultimate resolution. The higher the silicon wafer wiring density in the same area, the better the performance.

The current semiconductor manufacturing process is not that advanced, and the mainstream process is between 800-1200nm, so a lithography light source with a wavelength of 436nm is sufficient.

China began researching photoresist in the 70s.

Photoresist giant JSR only entered the photoresist field in 1979. However, JSR's semiconductor photoresist gradually covers everything from g-line to EUV.

China gave up the research and development of photoresist directly in the 1980s.

However, it is no wonder that the decision was made at that time. Everything was lagging behind, and all aspects were monopolized by foreign countries. It was extremely difficult to develop photoresist.

But now, Loongson Design Company, Wujiang Microelectronics Company and Wujiang Group have realized an industrial closed loop from chip design to chip production and chip downstream application terminals. This brings a historic opportunity for domestic photoresist and provides impetus for the research and development of photoresist. In order not to get stuck, independent research and development of photoresist is an inevitable choice.

Three weeks later, with the help of Huang Kun, Qin Guogang, Wang Shouwu, Wang Wei and others, the country began to take action, explore and discuss, mobilize resources, and establish Wujiang Photoresist Co., Ltd.

Among them, Wujiang Group invested RMB 3 million and holds 60% of the shares.

The headquarters of Wujiang Photoresist Co., Ltd. is located next to Wujiang Microelectronics Company. For photoresist manufacturers, in addition to being used for research and development, the more important thing is that the photolithography machine is also one of the indispensable inspection and testing equipment in the large-scale mass production of photoresist.

……

Just when Wujiang Photoresist Co., Ltd. was established in China, several RB photoresist giants and photolithography machine giants Canon and Nikon gathered together to discuss curbing the development of Wujiang Microelectronics.

"Although Wujiang Microelectronics has been established for a short time, it has developed rapidly and has a strong background. It is composed of major research institutions in China and has the support of Wujiang Group. If Wujiang Microelectronics is allowed to develop, it will not only threaten our country's lithography machine industry, and will also have an impact on the photoresist industry.”

Nikon executive Yamada said in a deep voice, "There is a saying in China, 'Without skin, there will be no hair.' If RB's photolithography machine is defeated, can RB's photoresist industry still develop? China has advanced photolithography machines, so won’t it develop its own photoresist? Everyone knows what the relationship between China and Japan is like. Will China let us RB people get stuck in the photoresist?"

"How can we allow others to snore and sleep on the side of the bed! The overlord of Asia's lithography machines must belong to us RB people!"

"Matsumoto-kun, Miss Ito, Inoue-kun...please, please, we can no longer provide photoresist to Wujiang Microelectronics Company, please cut off the supply!!!"

Yamada Hikao looked at the heads of Tokyo Yinghua, JSR, Sumitomo Chemical, and Fujifilm, and persuaded with a serious expression.

The four people in charge looked at each other in shock. The cut off of supply was too serious, but Yamada Higao was right, "If the skin is gone, the hair will not be attached." The reason why the RB photoresist industry is developing rapidly is due to the support of Canon and Nikon.

If Canon and Nikon collapse, the RB photoresist industry will also decline.

Taro Matsumoto, the head of Tokyo Yinghua, said solemnly: "Yamada-san is right. We must prevent the rise of Wujiang Microelectronics. We, Tokyo Yinghua, agree to impose supply cutoff sanctions on Wujiang Microelectronics!"

Jun Ito, the head of JSR, frowned and said: "If we cut off supply to Wujiang Microelectronics, we will probably suffer a lot of losses, so we might as well raise the price..."

Yamada Higao interrupted: "Ms. Ito, the price increase will not kill Wujiang Microelectronics Company, but will strengthen the other company's determination to independently develop photoresist!"

Hearing this, Jun Ito opened his mouth, but was speechless, because what Yamada Higao said was right.

Boom boom boom!

There was a sudden knock on the door.

At this time, a female secretary wearing OL uniforms hurried in.

"Yamada-kun, important news just came from China!"

"Keiko, what's the news from China?" Yamada asked.

"Just this morning, the Chinese government and Wujiang Group established Wujiang Photoresist Co., Ltd. and officially entered the photoresist industry! However, the news has not spread yet. China seems to have deliberately concealed it, but it was still investigated by our people." The beautiful female secretary named Keiko looked at the four heads of photoresist giants, including Taro Matsumoto and Jun Ito, and then answered slowly.

As soon as the words fell, everyone present was shocked at first, then angry and panicked.

Ms. Jun Ito said at this time: "We at JSR also support the imposition of sanctions on Wujiang Microelectronics to cut off the supply of photoresist!!!"

Yamada Rigao was overjoyed when he heard this.