By Kate Yuan
(JW Insights) June 9 -- Alumni from China’s prestigious Peking University who are investors and entrepreneurs in semiconductor industry gathered at the 7th JWSS (JiWei Semiconductor Summit) on June 3 to discuss semiconductor research and investment, as well as strategies for industrial innovation and upgrading.
As one of China’s best-known universities founded in 1898, Peking University also has one of the earliest and large-scale semiconductor educational and academic programs in the country.
Among this year's speakers are Xu Hongxing, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences and dean of the Microelectronics School of Wuhan University, Lin Xinnan, secretary-general of the semiconductor branch of the Peking University Alumni Association, and Cai Yimao, dean of the Integrated Circuits School of Peking University.
One point from the speakers is that the biggest challenge for China's domestic semiconductor manufacturers in the past was lack of market opportunities, instead of technology, equipment, or talent. Because the market preferred using imported resources. However, the recent US-imposed export controls removed this biggest obstacle, giving local suppliers new opportunities and challenges.
It is referred to by speakers that currently China’s self-sufficiency rate of semiconductor is less than 15% in the manufacturing industry chain. In some high-end areas, there is a considerable gap. In 2023, Chinese chip market is expected to reach $200 billion, with domestic chips taking up only $4.3 billion. Storage, IDM, and IP/EDA will account for even less than 3%.
In the panel discussion between university deans and IC company executives, they shared their insights on how to optimize the allocation of innovation resources, improve creative execution, and motivate research efforts.
In the panel discussion between investors and entrepreneurs, it was proposed that investment institutions should take a broad vision and be patient and warm-hearted, and adhere to long-term investment principles. Capital in the entire ecosystem should play a role in innovation and industry integration, and provide post-investment backup.
They also pointed out that institutional investors should provide capital tool and development resource support for IC entrepreneurs. In many critical areas, investment is needed during the concept period, while PE and VC with huge volumes are needed in the middle and late stages of growth. In the production introduction period, G-B-C capital integration is most needed.
Joining the discussions from the industry are Cai Yimao, Lin Xinnan, co-founder of Kisilicon (凯芯微) Wang Xushe, CEO of Ziener (致能科技) Li Zilan, Zhang Yiming of NAURA Microelectronics Equipment (北方华创微电子), marketing director of OnMicro (昂瑞微) E Chenxi, and Cui Wanpeng from Yonghua Capital (涌铧资本)
The investor attendees in the discussion are VP of Walden International (华登国际) Su Dong, partner of Long Capital (长石资本) You Ran, executive director of INCE Capital (渶策资本) Tang Ke, chairman of DERA (得瑞领新) Zhang Jiantao, chairman of Yanhuang Guoxin (炎黄国芯) Guo Hu, chairman of Evolusia Semiconductor (进化半导体) Xu Zhaoyuan, and Li Lina from Goertek Investment (歌尔投资).
