Chip imports of 260 billion US dollars
The chip is the 'neural system' of modern society. It is the core underlying technology that drives the development of key industries such as next-generation information technology and artificial intelligence. It is no exaggeration to say that without a chip, the whole world may be paralyzed. Currently, China is vigorously implementing 'Made in China 2025', accelerate the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, the demand for chips has increased significantly, and chip technology plays a key role in China's future industrial upgrading.
For example, cars are traditionally considered mechanical products. In fact, electronic products have a very wide distribution in automobiles. The most critical in automobiles is energy storage batteries, power control (power devices and semiconductor chips), and motors. Automotive electronics accounts for the cost of automobiles. The proportion of automotive electronics will increase by more than 30%. At present, the cost of automotive electronics will reach 50% or more in electric vehicles and driverless vehicles, and it will become the most intelligent in automobiles. The key part.
China is still a big smartphone manufacturer, with many world-leading brands, and smart phones are also China's advantageous industries. Dr. Li Zilan said that smartphones are basically composed of chips + displays, most of which are composed of chip systems. 77% of mobile phones, but only 3% of the chips are made in China, China's domestic chips can only meet about 10% of the domestic market share. This directly leads to China's demand for chips is highly dependent on imports. According to statistics, China's last year's chip imports It reached US$260 billion and the trade deficit reached US$193.2 billion. The chip ranks first among China's imports, even surpassing crude oil.
The chip industry is highly divided. China is only a supporting role.
At present, the Sino-US trade war has entered a period of sawing, and the United States has been attacking China's pain point for ZTE's 'Limited Core'. The topic of how China's chips can be developed is not subject to the fact that 'China's chips can be overtaken' and other topics have been widely discussed.
Dr. Li Zilan said that the chip industry involves all aspects and has achieved a fine division of labor on a global scale. The most powerful equipment is the United States, Europe, Japan, and the United States, Japan, Japan is at the forefront, and the chip is the strongest. United States, Japan, South Korea.
It is worth mentioning that in terms of electronic products, the strongest is the United States, China is in second place. However, electronic products are downstream of chip products and are still subject to chip technology. 'Electronic products require chips, chips need materials and Equipment, these are provided by other countries, this is the core of the problem. 'I have you, but you have no me', China is in this extremely passive state. ' Dr. Li Zilan said.
Semiconductor chips involve chip manufacturing, materials and equipment, and the equipment also includes core components. Chip design requires design software and computer aid. 'The world's top three EDA (design software) companies are all American companies, and ZTE continues to operate. If you want to do semiconductor chips, you can't do it because the tools are collected. EDA software is taken from others, and the software is also embargoed. In addition, some core components of the chip may also be American. , It is not just a device that can be used, and the supporting enterprise is still in the United States. ' Li Zilan said.
In fact, in the context of the current high degree of division of labor, it is almost impossible to achieve a completely autonomous 'China Core'. At least it is difficult to develop, design, and manufacture the world's leading chips. Even the United States cannot guarantee to lead in all aspects. The materials used in the chip may be Japanese, IP is the strongest in the United States and the United Kingdom, and the lithography machine is the best in the Netherlands. The chip industry is highly divided, complex, and stereoscopic. The development of each link requires height. Innovation. The ecological barriers of the industry and the systems it forms are more complex. In the chip industry chain, you are both a customer and a supplier. The interdependence of industries is very high. But for now, in the world chip map, China It did not win the key role, which also means that China lost the weight of checks and balances with other countries, and it is also the reason why the United States dared to kill ZTE without fear.
Chip design is the hope of China's catching up
Obviously, in the context of a high degree of division of labor in the industry, it is impractical for the upstream and downstream to become bigger and stronger in the short term. But this may be achieved in a subdivision, in a certain segment. China can build a superior industry. This requires finding China's advantages, open cooperation, and precise positioning.
'The design industry is a relatively new industry. It can be said that it is an opportunity for China. China also has more opportunities. In terms of chip design, we have done relatively better.' Li Zilan said.
China is the largest market for semiconductor chips in the world. The advantage of China's semiconductors is the market. On the other hand, the closer to the market, the more demanding the application will be. On the other hand, China's enterprises make faster decisions, dare to innovate and dare to develop. According to statistics, the current global share of chip design is 11%. In the process of industrial division of labor and change, there are many opportunities for chip design in China. 'More importantly, innovation In terms of transcendence, we stand at the same starting line with foreign countries. 'Li Zilan believes that at present, China attaches great importance to independent innovation of chips, and will inject a large amount of social capital in the future. In the process, strong semiconductors The company is expected to grow rapidly, and even integrate, in some ways can be independent.
Guangdong: Combined with advantageous industries, priority support for research and development
For a long time, China's core dystocia has been the result of weak technical accumulation, weak talent cultivation ability, weak R&D and innovation capabilities, and has led to a nationwide “core shortage”, including Guangdong, the most developed electronic information industry in China.
Guangdong has the leading enterprises in Huawei, ZTE, BYD, Midea, Gree, etc., and can count the electronic information industry, most of which is also in Guangdong. But if you look at the production capacity of integrated circuits, Guangdong's chip industry is not prominent. The electronic circuit industry only accounts for 9.2% in the Pearl River Delta. Based on the long-term and arduous nature of Sino-US competition, the chip will become a conventional weapon for the US to contain China's manufacturing, and Guangdong's industrial transformation and upgrading will bear the brunt.
However, as the frontier of reform and opening up, an open market and a solid industrial foundation will create a favorable environment for Guangdong to develop the semiconductor industry and promote chip technology innovation. Li Zilan believes that the opportunity of Guangdong's semiconductor industry is first of all the advantages of combining development with the market. Innovative technology, combined with Guangdong's industrial advantages, is the focus of development. For example, through power devices, in notebook computers, mobile phones, etc., to promote system-level innovation. Chip design is also the focus, third-generation semiconductor is the direction of innovation, and Industrial integration. In terms of industrial base, home appliances, telecommunications, smart terminals, electric vehicles, etc. have already led the country's industrial scale, especially in Guangdong's home appliance enterprises, which account for half of the country's total, and the country's major RF companies. All gathered in Guangdong.
Li Zilan suggested that in order to vigorously develop the chip industry, it is necessary to promote the combination of capital and talent, technology and management. At present, there are very few demonstration microelectronics colleges in China, which leads to the lack of professional talents. In the future, we must cultivate more Mainstream, more practical talents. 'Semiconductor chips are the basic application technology, or new application technology.' Li Zilan said. In addition, a large amount of social capital will flow into the chip industry in the foreseeable time. Capital leverage and scientific management will Accelerate the innovation of chip technology and promote the orderly development of the market.
Innovation requires a lot of investment, especially in basic research fields such as chips. Li Zilan said that the investment of 10 billion yuan is not too much for chip production. The chip production line that has been built for 10 billion yuan may become backward after five years. The production line can not meet the new technical requirements, and the equipment cost is very high. 'So, to do R&D first, the R&D investment is relatively small, and the government can give priority to supporting R&D.' Li Zilan suggested.