Reborn in 2011, 985 missing from two copies

Chapter 623: Industry-Academic Integration, Semiconductor War
TSMC Chairman Zhang looked around at the crowd and said word by word: "We have nearly 100,000 people at TSMC."

“One hundred thousand young people, one hundred livers each, one liver to save TSMC!”

"We must show our full fighting spirit and tackle the 10nm process in an all-out way. We must not fall behind Samsung again!"

Hearing this, everyone was shocked.

It turns out this is the Nighthawk Project, working in three shifts 24 hours a day, conducting research and development day and night!
Previously, we worked in three shifts for production, but now we work in three shifts for research and development!

Especially the sentence "One hundred thousand young people donate one liver each to save TSMC!" moved many senior executives.

The total number of TSMC’s employees currently adds up to nearly 100,000!
The chairman has made such a statement, and we still have to carry out research and development 24 hours a day. It is really a matter of life and death.

Seeing that the expressions on everyone's faces were not serious enough, Lao Zhang continued:
"I can tell you that Samsung's 10nm process will likely be put into mass production in the first half of 2017, or even in the fourth quarter of 2016."

"TSMC is already six months behind in 16nm. If we fall behind again in 10nm, we're done for!"

“So you have to live!”

“We must get ahead of Samsung and come up with the 10-nanometer process in advance!”

"Do you have confidence?"

"Have!"

Everyone responded in unison.

"Very good. Of the five directors in the R&D department, one will lead the 20nm process team to continue to be responsible for the optimized mass production of 20nm. One will lead the 16nm team to continue the research and development of the 16nm process. The other three will lead three teams respectively, working in three shifts day and night to tackle the 10nm process!"

"Yes!" Everyone responded in unison.

"No matter which team lags behind, the top management will be fired and the year-end bonuses of other R&D staff will be deducted!"

"The meeting is dismissed!"

Having said that, Lao Zhang turned and left, leaving a group of senior executives trembling in fear.

Everyone knew that Lao Zhang was not joking.

The lag behind in 16nm technology forced Mr. Zhang, who was over years old, to go to the capital to apologize to Wang Yi in a humble manner. However, he was ignored for three days and still did not meet Wang Yi in the end.

Although the result was not bad, Lao Zhang lost face and everyone in the industry was laughing at him.

Even the chairman of TSMC has been disgraced like this. If others don't work hard, Zhang will really be angry.

The top management has been dismissed, and the core R&D personnel are all TSMC’s talents. They cannot be laid off, and their year-end bonuses will also be deducted!
This is by no means just talk.

Everyone knows the meaning behind this.

So after Lao Zhang left, several vice presidents and directors immediately presided over a meeting and divided the follow-up matters clearly.

Three teams, three R&D directors, and three shift schedules are all in place.

The next day, the entire TSMC began a major adjustment.

Except for the 16nm process R&D team, all others have been adjusted and divided into three 10nm process breakthrough teams.

As for the research and development of 20 nanometers, it has been completed long ago. Only a few people are left to debug the equipment and continuously improve the yield rate. Other backbones have also invested in the 10 nanometer breakthrough!

The entire TSMC has entered a special period.

[One hundred thousand young people donate one hundred thousand livers, one liver per person to save TSMC! ]

Such slogans are openly hung in TSMC's R&D department, headquarters building, conference rooms, etc.

It can be said that it can be seen everywhere, from TSMC’s senior management to ordinary employees.

Soon, the incident spread around the world, and Samsung Semiconductor Headquarters immediately held a high-level meeting:
“One hundred thousand young people, one hundred livers each, one liver to save TSMC!”

"Haha, TSMC is really anxious. They are working in three shifts 24 hours a day to develop 10nm process day and night!"

"That's amazing! This is going to completely reverse our disadvantage and completely catch up with us Samsung!"

Other senior executives nodded:

"That's right. Judging from the situation, Lao Zhang is really angry. I heard that he went to Xingyi Technology to apologize and was left out in the cold for three days!"

"Really? No wonder Mr. Zhang has started to make TSMC work day and night."

"Oh, this is a big problem. Samsung has finally achieved the advantage of 20 nanometer technology, but I'm afraid it will be easily caught up by TSMC."

"This is a big problem. We are well aware of TSMC's R&D capabilities. Although we don't want to admit it, we have to admit that it is much higher than Samsung's."

"More importantly, after losing the first trial, Mr. Liang was restricted. I'm afraid he won't be able to lead us in 10-nanometer technology research and development before the end of next year."

"Alas, this is the biggest problem. Without Lao Liang, our 10-nanometer process is much more difficult."

"It's okay. Even if Lao Liang is gone, there are still other people. Besides, the Lao Liang issue can be eased. At worst, we can pay a sum of compensation to TSMC as a settlement and keep Lao Liang."

"That's a good idea. As long as Lao Liang stays, our 10 nanometers won't be a problem. At worst, we can just let other senior executives take charge."

"But this is not enough. TSMC has started Project Nighthawk, working in three shifts around the clock to conduct research and development. We cannot fall behind."

"That's right, we at Samsung have to start the same operation, and our R&D staff will have to work in three shifts 24 hours a day to develop the 10-nanometer process at full speed!"

"support!"

"Seconded!"

“It has to be this way!”

"If we don't do this, we will be overtaken by TSMC."

"Okay, then we at Samsung will also work in three shifts 24 hours a day, working non-stop on the 10-nanometer process."

"TSMC calls it Project Nighthawk, and Samsung calls it Project Blazing Sun!"

"it is good!"

The next day, Samsung also took quick action, with R&D personnel working in three shifts, developing the 24-nanometer process 10 hours a day.

In the first quarter of 20, before the 2014nm process entered mass production, the competition for 14/16nm had already been decided, and the research and development competition for the next-generation 10nm process was in full swing.

As for TSMC's 12nm, it is not actually 12nm.

On the contrary, it is just an upgraded version of TSMC’s 16nm process. It was originally named “16nm+”, but became a 12nm process just to make it sound better.

It is essentially still a 16nm process, and can be said to be the second-generation 16nm process.

In fact, the upgrade compared to TSMC's initial 16nm is limited, only about 10%-15%.

Likewise, Samsung's 11nm process is not a true 11nm process.

On the contrary, it is just an optimized version of Samsung's 14nm process, internally codenamed "14nm++", and also for the sake of sound, called '11nm process.'

But in essence it is still a 14nm process, so to speak, the second-generation 14nm process.

There was no other way. In order to meet deadlines and be the first to market, Samsung’s first-generation 14nm process failed and was inferior to TSMC’s 16nm process. It had to be fully optimized to produce the second-generation 14nm++.

There are no secrets in the circle, Wang Yi also received the news:
"TSMC's Nighthawk Project has indeed started to follow the same rhythm as in its previous life."

Wang Yi was not surprised. In its previous life, TSMC started the Nighthawk Project after Samsung was one generation ahead of it, working in three shifts day and night to develop 10-nanometer technology.

Even the slogans are the same, one hundred thousand young people, one hundred thousand livers...

Not surprisingly, Samsung responded in kind and also started a round-the-clock research and development program.

However, it seems that there was no such thing as the "Scorching Sun Project" in the previous life, at least it was not reported in the news.

But now that the two leading players, Samsung and TSMC, have taken action, how can Xingyi Semiconductor, as a follower, remain indifferent?

That certainly won't work.

Thinking of this, Wang Yi directly called Mr. Hu:
"Mr. Hu, you know about the recent actions of Samsung and TSMC, right?"

Mr. Hu sighed, "I see. I didn't expect that these two companies would start a research and development competition. Working in three shifts 24 hours a day is really too much. This is not a good thing for us."

"Yes, the impact is too great." Wang Yi said helplessly:

"We were originally followers, but now we have skipped 20 nanometers and are working directly on 14 nanometers. We finally have a chance to overtake them, but now they are relying on their large numbers to simultaneously start the 10 nanometer R&D race, and we are falling behind again."

Mr. Hu agreed: "This is the biggest problem. TSMC and Samsung already have more R&D engineers than us, and their background is richer than ours. Now they are working in three shifts around the clock. They will definitely be much faster than us at the 10nm stage. Chairman, we will also be forced to join the three-shift R&D and develop the 10nm process ahead of time."

Wang Yi nodded: "It seems that this is the only way. Let's continue to recruit people. The most important thing right now is the research and development of the 14 nanometer process, but the research and development of the 10 nanometer process must also be carried out simultaneously!"

"Don't worry, Chairman. I'm prepared. In addition to the ongoing research and development of 14-nanometer technology to improve the yield rate, we have also started the research and development of 10-nanometer technology. However, we don't have enough manpower. After all, we are not TSMC or Samsung. We have too few people and can't even do two shifts, let alone three shifts."

Mr. Hu was somewhat helpless: "It's not even enough to have a full 10-nanometer R&D team."

"This matter is indeed difficult to resolve." Wang Yi had no good strategy for the moment.

TSMC's excellence is the result of many years of accumulation.

Samsung Semiconductor's elite talents are also the results accumulated in recent years, as well as people poached from TSMC.

However, Xingyi Semiconductor started too recently and has far fewer employees than TSMC and Samsung.

TSMC can have five teams working together, with one team continuing with 20-nanometer mass production, one team continuing with 16-nanometer research and development, and three teams working in three shifts to develop 10-nanometer research and development.

Samsung also has a large number of personnel and generals, and can ensure that four teams can advance simultaneously, with one team continuing to develop 14 nanometers, and three teams working in three shifts to develop 10 nanometers.

But Xingyi Semiconductor doesn’t have that many people, let alone four or five teams, it can’t even put together two teams right now.

The explosion of a few years cannot catch up with the accumulation of more than ten years or even decades.

There is nothing we can do about this.

"Alas." Wang Yi sighed, "I can only increase my efforts to recruit talents. Whether it is TSMC or Samsung, I will recruit all the talents I can. No need to hold back."

"What about SMIC? Recently, many R&D engineers from SMIC want to switch to our company." Mr. Hu couldn't help asking.

Samsung and TSMC have high salaries and good development, so it’s not so bad.

The treatment and development of SMIC are average. In addition, the internal relationships are complicated and the process is progressing slowly, so many people have their own ideas.

There is no way. SMIC has just mastered the 40nm process, Xingyi Technology has already mass-produced 28nm, and Samsung and TSMC have even started a 10nm R&D competition. This has directly led to the mental breakdown of SMIC's core engineers.

We are still planning 28 nanometers, and you have already planned 10 nanometers. How can you tolerate this?
Therefore, all the elites with some ability and ambition started to think about changing jobs.

Some people want to go to Samsung and TSMC, while others still want to contribute to the rise of mainland semiconductors and choose to switch to Xingyi Technology.

In the past, Wang Yi was actually somewhat resistant to these employees, as he did not want to be accused of poaching key personnel from sister companies.

But now we are really short of people, and we have to start a dual-line competition of 14nm process and 10nm process simultaneously with Samsung and TSMC. We are really short of manpower.

"Chairman, the situation has changed now. These people want to change jobs, and they will definitely leave SMIC. Even if we don't accept them, they will go to Samsung or TSMC, and the loss will be even greater. It's not just a loss for Xingyi Semiconductor, but also a loss for the entire mainland semiconductor industry!"

Mr. Hu's words were sincere, and Wang Yi also understood this truth, so he had no choice but to say:

"Then let's follow normal business competition. If there are people who are willing to switch jobs, we will accept them. Try not to actively poach people from SMIC. As for people from Samsung and TSMC, feel free to poach them. Salary and liquidated damages are not a problem. Xingyi Technology will pay for it!"

"Okay, Chairman." Mr. Hu was in a good mood. This was right.

Even among sister companies, normal competition and normal job hopping are all normal.

Besides, it was not Xingyi Technology that took the initiative to poach the employees. It was the employees of SMIC who voluntarily jumped over. Xingyi Technology conducted normal interviews and employed the employees normally, so there was no problem at all.

The most important thing is that time is running out, the technology war is imminent, semiconductors are the first battlefield, and we really can’t wait for SMIC to slowly rise.

In its previous life, SMIC achieved rapid growth only after Mr. Liang joined in 2017.

Prior to this, SMIC's 28nm Poly/SiON process was very immature, with low yield and poor performance.

Three months after Mr. Liang joined, SMIC's 28nm HKMG process was finally put into full mass production, equivalent to TSMC's 28nm!

It can be said that the 28nm process has held SMIC back until the end of 2017.

As for 14nm, we will have to wait until 2019.

N+7, equivalent to 2 nanometers, will take until 2023!
The pace is too slow and Wang Yi can't wait.

We can only advance across the board and develop radically.

According to Wang Yi's plan, mass production of 2015nm will be achieved in the second quarter of 14.

Samsung and TSMC achieved mass production of 2016nm process in the fourth quarter of 10. Xingyi Semiconductor can be slower, but it will also achieve mass production of 2017nm in the second quarter of 10.

This kind of lag within half a year is still acceptable.

As for the 7nm process, TSMC and Samsung used DUV lithography machines to achieve the 2018nm process in 7, but the yield rate was very low.

Therefore, in 2019, EUV lithography machines were used to achieve mass production of 7-nanometer process, and the yield rate improved by leaps and bounds.

However, Xingyi Semiconductor has a tortuous path and can only use DUV lithography machine and multiple exposure technology to achieve it.

If we delay any further, we will fall behind.

At that time, we can only look forward to breakthroughs in domestic EUV lithography machines and innovative breakthroughs in other areas.

But before 7 nanometers, we can't fall too far behind.

Mr. Hu quickly made arrangements, and Xingyi Semiconductor started full-scale operations, recruiting people on a large scale.

All the elites who switch jobs and join us will be accepted as long as there are no problems with the background check.

No matter whether they are from TSMC, Samsung, or SMIC, we accept them all, and the salary will be increased by 30%-50% compared to before!

When TSMC and Samsung were competing in the 10nm process research and development competition, Xingyi Technology began to spend money to poach people.

However, there is no impenetrable wall in the world. In just half a month, this move attracted the attention of Samsung and TSMC.

"Chairman, Xingyi Semiconductor has been poaching people recently. Do you think we should give TSMC a try?"

"Knocking on big customers? Are you crazy?" Lao Zhang frowned. "Our 16-nanometer process depends on orders from Xingyi Technology. If we knock them for such a small matter and offend big customers, then we'll be ruined."

"Yes, that's a problem. It's just that they poached our people..."

Lao Zhang waved his hand and said, "We and Samsung have both reached 14/16 nanometer technology, but Xingyi Technology is still struggling at 28 nanometers. They must be getting anxious. But it's useless to get anxious. They are too far behind. Don't worry about it. But keep an eye on the core R&D personnel of FinFET technology. They can't be poached anymore."

"Yes!"

Samsung's side is equally arrogant:
"Xingyi Semiconductor has started poaching people? Could it be that they also want to produce 20 nanometers? What are they thinking!"

"Chairman, will they also get impatient and skip 20 nanometers and go directly to 14 nanometers like we did?"

"Hahaha."

"I am dying of laughter!"

The president of Samsung Semiconductor seemed to have heard a huge joke:

"Xingyi Semiconductor skipped the 20nm process and went directly to the 14nm process?"

"Do you think they are our three stars?"

"How can they have such strength?"

"They were lucky to be able to produce 28 nanometers so quickly. As for 20 nanometers? Don't even think about it without two years."

The subordinates nodded repeatedly: "Yes, it is a miracle that Xingyi Semiconductor can break through 28 nanometers. It is estimated that 20 nanometers will be difficult."

"Well, of course, although that's what I said, we have to limit the poaching of people, especially the core talents involved in the 14nm process. We can't let them go! Let Xingyi Semiconductor continue to work on 28nm!"

"Yes!" The subordinate quickly responded: "I will restrict all the core engineers of FinFET process."

"Well, the FinFET process is the key to breakthroughs below 20 nanometers, and it must not be exported."

With this in mind, both Samsung and TSMC have restricted core talents in FinFET processes to prevent further poaching.

But unfortunately, in the past half month, Xingyi Technology has poached some FinFET R&D engineers with super high salaries.

Especially Chinese engineers, who were marginalized at Samsung, naturally want to return.

There are also some ambitious elites who want to help the rise of mainland semiconductors and are willing to join.

Some people just think that Xingyi Technology has good development prospects and the salary is much higher than that of Samsung and TSMC.

Due to various factors, many engineers chose to change jobs and joined Xingyi Semiconductor.

As for restrictions?

When a person is determined to change jobs, any restrictions are meaningless.

Even if there is a non-compete clause, there are many ways to circumvent it.

If Samsung and TSMC want to protect their rights, they can only file lawsuits, but the litigation process is complicated and lengthy, often taking several years.

If it is a big shot like Mr. Liang, they will still spend time and energy to sue.

But for ordinary engineers, that is not necessary as it is not time-consuming or laborious enough.

Xingyi Technology’s target is these young, ordinary engineers with potential.

These people have few constraints, strong R&D capabilities, and are still young and have room for development. Even if they are just ordinary engineers now, with the guidance and training of Mr. Hu, they will soon become independent elites.

In addition, Xingyi Semiconductor has also increased its recruitment of fresh graduates and absorbed semiconductor talents through various means.

Fortunately, the core of the FinFET process was invented by Mr. Hu, and no one knows more about it than him.

Therefore, Xingyi Semiconductor's R&D speed at 14nm is much faster than that of Samsung and TSMC.

After all, Mr. Hu is the founder!

A big reason why Samsung's 14nm process can be so fast is that Mr. Liang inherited Mr. Hu's knowledge and made great contributions to the FinFET process.

In terms of FinFET technology, TSMC is actually at a disadvantage.

However, TSMC has a deep foundation, a large number of soldiers and generals, and stronger overall strength, so it still poses the greatest threat.

The war in the semiconductor field is destined to be difficult. All Wang Yi can do is increase investment, spend money on research and development, and spend money to poach people.

Of course, the integration of industry and academia must also be fully launched!
Thinking of this, Wang Yi called Jian Ziyan:

"Zi Yan, Xingyi Technology will invest billions of targeted funds in the future to carry out in-depth strategic cooperation with some universities in the semiconductor field and train professional talents in the semiconductor field!"

"The list of schools is as follows..."

Wang Yi listed all the practical schools including the Seven Sons of National Defense.

These are the mainstays.

"Okay, Chairman." Jian Ziyan wrote down everything.

Wang Yi continued, "In addition, the targeted training model should be flexible and restrictions should be relaxed. There is no need to train students from undergraduate to doctoral level. Instead, we train them for four years. No, only two years for undergraduate studies! The first two years are spent studying in school, giving up other unimportant subjects and only learning semiconductor-related knowledge. The next two years are spent directly at Xingyi Semiconductor, where you can be exposed to the most advanced theoretical system, learn on the job, and grow on the job."

"Graduate students and doctoral students only need to study for one year, and then come to Xingyi Semiconductor in their second year of graduate and doctoral studies and start working directly!"

This is a critical period, and Wang Yi does not have the time to wait for this group of people from their freshman year to doctoral graduation, which takes more than ten years.

too slow!
Moreover, what is taught in domestic universities is actually completely outdated and has long been unable to keep up with the development of the times.

It is not very useful to continue wasting time on studying. It is better to concentrate on learning theory for a year or two, and then join Xingyi Semiconductor to directly learn the most cutting-edge and professional semiconductor technology.

There is no way. What we learned in school is still at the 120-nanometer or even micron era, and has been outdated for decades.

As for Xingyi Semiconductor's most advanced 28nm process, and the subsequent 14nm and 10nm processes, the instructors and professors in the school don't understand them and don't know how to use them. What can they teach the students?
And how much use will it be for those students to learn these outdated 120-nanometer and micron processes even if they study until they get a doctorate or even a postdoctoral degree?

Once you enter the enterprise, you will not be able to get started with the research and development of 14nm process, let alone 10nm process.

At that time, you will have to be a low-level employee, learn from scratch, and improve yourself gradually.

The huge gap between industry and academia and the decades-long technological gap between schools and enterprises are the biggest contradictions and conflicts in today’s universities!
(End of this chapter)