20 years of restarting life

Chapter 3678 The Best and Only Time

Zhao Chang'an couldn't help but laugh when he heard about this rather large connection.

When the decision was made to lease this aircraft, there were many voices of opposition and doubt. The lease fee for this aircraft was paid through the account of OneNano North America's Los Angeles headquarters. Zhou Kexin and Li Xin were both strongly opposed to it.

However, Zhao Chang'an overruled the objections and insisted on this decision.

His logic was simple: he couldn't just make money without spending it, nor could he be so stingy as to spend it wisely, making him like Scrooge Yan Jiansheng.

The goal is to give the West the impression that North America is not only a big money-maker, but also incredibly generous with its spending.

Moreover, the money spent is all from high-profit and high-value-added industries, which allows the money earned to circulate and be used for consumption, returning it to the old economy and promoting their economic development.

However, he couldn't squander money recklessly. For example, in 89, Mitsubishi spent $13.73 billion to buy Rockefeller Center, but in 96, it had to sell it back to Old Man for $3 million plus $8 million in bundled debt. It lost $10 billion in seven years and was regarded as a fool as a classic business case.

The events of last September dealt a severe blow to the North American aviation industry, and Zhao Chang'an's support in this manner is a clear statement of his position.

Clearly, Zhao Chang'an's Middle Eastern tycoon-like demeanor gave ASML a very favorable first impression of him.

Just like last year when Yinan Luoyi Vehicle Factory participated in the Huadu World Trade Fair, a Middle Eastern tycoon came to the factory's booth and immediately placed a large order for 3000 cars.

Xu Mei was stunned by the happiness that moment, and Wen Ye, Gu Dacong, and Sun Hongji rushed to Huadu by plane that day after receiving the news.

Who wouldn't like or love a nouveau riche like this, so extravagant and domineering?

"Now that we at ASML have secured the investment, as a core member of ASML, what advice do you have, Brother Xiao?"

Zhao Chang'an's address of "Brother Xiao" made Xiao Yangming feel a little giddy, and he thought he finally understood Zhao Chang'an's good intentions towards him.

Because OneNano is investing in ASML, it needs someone like him, one of its own, to help keep an eye on things.

Having figured this out, Xiao Yangming was immediately invigorated. After thinking carefully for a while, he said, "ASML successfully developed the TWINSCAN system last year. Unlike the previous single-wafer work platform, it uses two workpiece stages that work alternately. This means that one lithography machine has the production efficiency of two ordinary lithography machines. After that, the TWINSCAN AT:750T (KrF, 248 nm), which supports 130nm process, sold very well. If you choose to purchase a lithography machine, I suggest purchasing the 750T. Although it is much more expensive than the 5500, it can process more threads, and buying one machine is equivalent to buying two 5500s."

Seeing that Zhao Chang'an didn't say anything, Xiao Yang knew that this junior student in front of him had a very strong will and couldn't be easily persuaded by a few words.

He continued, "It was the TWINSCAN system that led companies like Intel to turn their attention to ASML. ASML's EUV project was simply not possible before the acquisition of Silicon Valley Group. The successful acquisition of SVG was also due to the efforts of North American companies like Intel."

"However, companies like Intel require that they can only provide a maximum of $200 million upfront. ASML will only increase its investment after it has developed an immersion DUV prototype and proven that this direction is feasible. For this immersion DUV prototype, companies like Intel and Motorola require that it use a 193nm light source to manufacture a 130nm process chip, which would be considered acceptable."

What if there isn't enough money?

Zhao Chang'an felt that these companies were really demanding. Immersive technology is still in the theoretical stage worldwide. During the research and development process, all sorts of expected and unexpected problems will inevitably be encountered. They set a ceiling on funding right from the start. Does that mean that if there isn't enough money in the middle of the research and development, the project will just be abandoned?

“If ASML doesn’t have enough money, that’s their own problem. They can use the company’s profits to make up the difference, or they can attract other investments, or they can expand their equity in the stock market to raise funds. Anyway, they won’t invest another penny. Besides, they only have two hundred million US dollars right now, and the companies are still fighting over it, none of them are willing to contribute more.” Xiao Yangming said with a smile, “If the research and development fails, this money will definitely be wasted. If they can make an immersion DUV prototype, then they can throw in hundreds of millions or billions of dollars, which will be like receiving dividends. It’s not too late to throw money in then.”

"That's quite cunning."

Zhao Chang'an commented with a smile.

"That's right. Otherwise, I would have advised you not to invest in the first place. If you really want to invest, it's better to wait until the company's immersion DUV prototype is developed."

Xiao Yangming's words prove his sluggishness in the business field. You have to understand that at that time, as an outsider, how could companies like ASML, Intel, and Motorola possibly let him come and reap the rewards?

In Zhao Chang'an's previous life, after ASML developed the TWINSCAN AT:1150i, companies such as Intel, Qualcomm, Motorola, and TSMC raised a total of $50 billion for the research and development of immersion EUV lithography machines. TSMC was able to participate because of its shareholding relationship with Philips and because it had always been ASML's lifeline; otherwise, it would not have been qualified to participate at all.

Now is arguably the best and last chance for North America to enter the OneNano market.

If Zhao Chang'an doesn't find a way to catch him, he'll regret it for the rest of his life.

EUV lithography machines use 13.5nm extreme ultraviolet light as the light source. They use high-power lasers to bombard metal targets, causing the metal targets to evaporate instantly and form plasma that radiates EUV light. Then, this light source is used to control the engraving process.

It took Cymer (Cymer) and German company Chuangpu nearly ten years to solve this problem.

However, this technology is an insurmountable barrier.

Moreover, the entire EUV lithography machine has many extremely demanding technical requirements, requiring the world's top professional companies to conduct research and development for several years. It is almost impossible for any country to complete it independently.

From the very beginning, Zhao Chang'an never fantasized about developing this immersion EUV lithography machine on his own in China. The real choice was to participate in cooperation at the right time.

Zhao Chang'an knew he didn't have any skills, but luckily he had money.

Are there any PAS5500 units currently in stock?

By this time, Zhao Chang'an had figured out the dispute surrounding the development of the immersion EUV lithography prototype, but he didn't intend to say too much to Xiao Yangming. Instead, he asked PAS5500 if ASML had any ready-made machines.

Zhao Chang'an didn't mind buying several more PAS5500 units for domestic companies, even if they weren't very useful now. However, compared to the long working life of the PAS5500, it was definitely not a loss.

Moreover, after obtaining technical licenses from some companies, these machines can also engage in chip manufacturing, and formally establish a domestic chip manufacturing plant with a capacity of one nanometer.

When Xiao Yangming heard that Zhao Chang'an still insisted on buying the PAS5500 without even asking about the TWINSCAN AT:750T, he couldn't help but feel frustrated.

He said with renewed vigor, "Orders for the PAS5500 are already booked until the end of this year, but the TWINSCAN AT:750T is a new model and not very well known to the public. If you want it, you can get it this summer."