Zhang Rujing's work trip to Shanghai was really not smooth.
For several days in a row, even though he has made his words very clear, even though he has conveyed his attitude that this is a good opportunity for domestic companies,...several photoresist companies are still hesitant to move forward.
In fact, Zhang Rujing also understands everyone's considerations: one is a dream and the other is reality.
The reality is that there is a big gap between domestic photoresist and the international advanced level. Not to mention ArF photoresist, even the self-sufficiency rate of g-line and I-line photoresist is less than 20%, and KrF photoresist is also
Less than 5%.
Based on this situation, it is understandable that companies such as Nanda Optoelectronics and Jingrui Electronics are unwilling to invest more energy and resources and want to focus on g-line, I-line, and KrF photoresist.
But... looking at the research and development progress of "core materials" in the past two years, it is true that there are no opportunities. Even if a breakthrough may not be achieved in the near future, there will be great achievements in the medium and long term.
The Yike Department is not short of money. Once Ami's stress test comes, it will naturally start a new round of research and development to find and fix leaks.
It would be a shame not to take advantage of this opportunity.
Of course, the best thing is to make a breakthrough in the near future, which can be of great help.
With this feeling in mind, Zhang Rujing held talks with one manufacturer and one person in charge, but until March 5th, when another meeting was held, there was still no positive statement.
On the afternoon of the 5th, he received a call from Luzhou and was notified by the Wafer Manufacturing Alliance that he could go to Qindao.
In other words, the core material has been changed.
Zhang Rujing put down his mobile phone and could only shake his head. He had contact with Mr. Fang and the employees of Ice Core and Wafer Manufacturing Alliance. Fang always had an optimistic spirit, but other people he could come into contact with had been very serious and anxious recently.
The 16nm process of Ice Core has bought it extremely precious time for development and confrontation. At this time, if there is an opportunity to promote development in all aspects, it will be difficult for it to stop and wait.
That's it, that's it.
Zhang Rujing's next destination is Qindao, and what she is supervising is the docking of large silicon wafers with ice cores, which is also a raw material job.
At 4:30 in the evening, the core material company held a meeting again as scheduled.
Zhang Rujing was much gentler when she entered the conference room this time, and listened with great interest to a comment from a celebrity on Douyin. It was Mr. Fang's old friend Li Guoqing.
"Hey, I, Lao Li, tell the truth. I'm afraid Yi Ke will be in trouble this time. What Mr. Fang is experiencing may be the biggest competition in his life."
"Yike did create the world's first Mars 8.8 last year, but this does not mean that Yike will sit back and relax from now on. On the contrary, the competition in the consumer electronics market is extremely fierce. Apple and Yike's two important rivals in the global market
Samsung will not miss this excellent opportunity to fight back."
"Looking at China again, you ask, can Alibaba, which has taken a large sum of money and started burning it since the beginning of the year, ignore such an opportunity? Can Penguin, which was deprived of its mobile communications supremacy, not take the opportunity to fight back? Still
If Duji is suppressed and weakened, can it survive without struggling?"
"Let's not talk about the domestic mobile phone companies. That's all I'm talking about. These are all strong players!"
"These strong players probably don't need to communicate, and they will do a wave of Yike based on their own interests. What is this? This is what everyone in the world wants to kill!"
"But Lao Li tells the truth and his interests are real. This is how business competition is."
"That means Yike's blood is thick, that is, Mr. Fang's rank is high. Look, the money burned by taxi-hailing software. Is the money burned in the past two years as much as Mr. Fang's money evaporated in one day?"
"However, no matter how thick Yike's blood is, he will still have a health bar. No matter how high Mr. Fang's rank is, he will still be in the upper rank after all. I, Lao Li, made a bold prediction. Hey, let me say it first. It's not that I hope Yike will not do well. It's me.
Based on the current situation, it is predicted that it will be difficult for Mr. Fang to compromise when the ice core is limited, but if he does not compromise, Yike will have to face a more severe situation."
"As for the future..."
"As Mr. Fang himself said, great companies always have to go through life and death."
"Look, I have already sent this sentence to him via Yixin, and he replied to me. Hey, Mr. Fang and I still have a competitive friendship. What is competitive friendship? It means competing with each other and appreciating each other...
"
In the short video, Li Guoqing talks endlessly, analyzes and brags at the same time.
But everyone including Zhang Rujing watched it with gusto, and the likes of this short video were also very high.
"Mr. Zhang, tell me, will Mr. Fang ask Yike to cooperate with Taiwanese reporters and Samsung?" Wu Yanjie from Jingrui Electrical Materials turned off the video and raised his head to ask Zhang Rujing.
Zhang Rujing knew the answer, but just said: "Sometimes it depends on whether Taiwan News and Samsung are willing to cooperate."
Wu Yanjie was surprised and said: "Yike has so many orders, as long as Yike is willing, who can refuse Yike?"
"Samsung has direct competition in mobile phones. If you were Taiwan Journal, would you be willing to let Yike remain competitive and then give it to Bingxin? Besides, it also depends on whether Taiwan Journal's production capacity is short of orders. It is now
The 16nm 16nm technology has not yet been released, and when it is mass-produced, it will definitely be given priority to old customers. Can Yike accept it?" Zhang Rujing said briefly.
Wu Yanjie wanted to ask again, but seeing that Mr. Zhang had no intention of talking about it, he decided to stop talking and planned to continue listening to Old Zhang's long talk today.
However, contrary to his expectations and the expectations of others in the conference room, Mr. Zhang suddenly softened.
He did not talk about the previous rapid advancement, nor did he talk about R&D and factory construction. He only talked about the opportunities for photoresist in the domestic market and the alternative space for mid-to-high-end products.
"The situation faced by ice core this time will not be an isolated case. It will only become more and more common in the future. In other words, ice core and SMIC are just products that have seized a rare development window. The situation faced by our industry has always been
It’s not easy.” Zhang Rujing expressed a lot of emotion after some encouragement, “Looking back over the past ten years, SMIC seized the opportunity in the first half, and Bingxin seized the opportunity in the second half. No matter what the future holds, there will be
These two companies will drive the development of the industry, and everyone will have many more opportunities."
"Our domestic production rate of photoresist is too low. Let's do it step by step for g line, I line, KrF, ArF."
"Actually, you are the real insiders and I am an outsider, but I sincerely hope that everyone will get better and better."
"Okay, let's stop talking here. I'm going to be very hungry right now."
Zhang Rujing ended his conference speech in different styles.
Everyone in the conference room always felt that something was not right, and they couldn't explain it for a while, but since it was dinner time, they had to solve the problem of food and clothing first.
The group discussed a few more words, and then went to have dinner in twos and threes.
Wu Yanjie of Jingrui Electrical Materials felt more and more strange in his heart. He kept an eye on it and did not go to eat immediately. Instead, he paid attention to Mr. Zhang's movements. When he saw Mr. Zhang's car arriving at the door, he immediately verified his guess and trotted all the way.
So I stopped Mr. Zhang.
"Hey, hey, Mr. Zhang, if you don't want to eat, where are you going?" Wu Yanjie held the car door, his mood suddenly became urgent.
"I have to go to Qindao, my company is still there." Zhang Rujing replied.
"Mr. Zhang, what are you doing... No, we haven't explained this matter yet!" Wu Yanjie felt sweat on his forehead.
Zhang Rujing looked at the person in front of him. He was one of the R&D leaders seconded from Core Materials, and he also represented the position of Jingrui Electric Materials.
"Mr. Wu, we have already made our statement. If you all don't want to, then forget it." Zhang Rujing shook his head.
"No, Mr. Zhang, what do you mean forget it? Where is the core material? Where is our next round of pilot testing? We still have to talk about building the factory!" Wu Yanjie said in astonishment, "Why, why are you leaving in the middle of the conversation?
ah!"
Zhang Rujing said seriously: "Mr. Wu, there is no point for me to be here. Ice Core has chosen a new partner and decided to conduct a new round of research and development on ArF photoresist. There is no need to talk about it."
Wu Yanjie's eyes widened: "Mr. Zhang, it's only been a few days! Who is this new partner?"
It has only been a week since Mr. Zhang came here, and two days ago, representatives of major companies were still saying that they had to discuss with the company. How could Bingxin make a decision so quickly on such a big matter?
This is unreasonable!
Zhang Rujing sighed: "Mr. Wu, you are willing to wait, but Ice Core cannot wait. Core Materials is originally led by Ice Core. Now they have decided to rejoin Xinyang as a subsidiary. Based on the current research and development of Core Materials, we will make further progress."
to promote breakthroughs in photoresist."
Wu Yanjie was stunned: "Xinyang? Shencheng Xinyang? They didn't say anything at all!"
Shanghai Xinyang also has R&D personnel stationed on the core material side, but they haven't said anything about it these days.
Zhang Rujing said: "They probably don't know either. It was quickly negotiated by the top management of both sides. Maybe the Luzhou side is starting to lay the foundation now. Mr. Wu, the ice core really can't wait. In this case, everyone should get their hands on it."
If we do a good job, I believe Jingrui Electronics can also find its own way in domestic photoresist."
Wu Yanjie: "..."
He couldn't accept it for a while, it was too fast! It was too fast!
"I have to catch a flight, let's talk next time." Zhang Rujing got into the car.
Wu Yanjie subconsciously grabbed Mr. Zhang's arm and tried to dissuade him in an indescribable mood: "Mr. Zhang, we can't do this, we can still talk about it..."
"Mr. Wu, isn't it true that everyone got what they wanted?" Zhang Rujing asked back, pushed Wu Yanjie's arm away, and got into the car.
Wu Yanjie couldn't answer the question. He watched Mr. Zhang lower the window and saw him wave his hand at him before taking the car to the airport.
Did you get what you wanted?
We continue to steadily build g-line, i-line, KfR, Bingxin is looking for people to attack AfR...
He suddenly felt inexplicably depressed, but before he could regret it, he immediately took out his mobile phone and looked for the latest news in the industry.
Sure enough, there are only so many people doing this in the industry, and you can still get information.
Shencheng Xinyang indeed has a new factory plan in Luzhou. It is said that the factory location is behind the Bingxin 1-3 factory area, with an initial investment of 1 billion, covering an area of 50 acres, and will also need to re-build ArF lithography machines and coating machines.
ArF photoresist verification platform composed of resist developer...
However, this new factory, this subsidiary, without the investment of ice core, will be financed by large funds, local state-owned assets, and local administration...
This is probably to avoid problems with equipment procurement.
Wu Yanjie had such a guess in his mind and walked back in a daze. ArF photoresist is difficult... there are many uncertainties... the industry foundation is very weak...
But, that is an ice core...
That is really the first ice core in the world...
At this time, he suddenly realized that he had overlooked a lot. In the past few days, he had been treating the ice core as an object of severe restrictions. However, it was restricted precisely because of its power.
Moreover, the Yike Department is equally strong and Mr. Fang is determined.
Now, I have personally experienced Mr. Fang's knife-like determination...
"Hey, Mr. Wu, where is Lao Zhangtou?" Li Yalei from Nanda Optoelectronics came up to him after finishing his meal and asked casually.
"He went to Qindao." Wu Yanjie replied dully.
"Huh? What's going on over at Qindao? Aren't there going to be meetings tomorrow?" Li Yalei asked strangely.
Wu Yanjie was silent for a few seconds and said: "Ice core is going to start a new business. It is said that we have reached a cooperation with Xinyang in building a factory and research and development."
Li Yalei was shocked by the news and froze in place for a while before saying: "Ah? This..."
The two of them looked at each other, their hearts filled with regret until this moment. Perhaps, they should really try it with Bing Xin...
Zhang Rujing, who was driving to the airport, had no time to think about the mood of the core material manufacturers. He called to ask for more information while wondering whether this matter was a new sample under the new situation.
As those people said, the research and development of ArF is difficult. Since everyone thinks it is difficult and they all push back, there is nothing to say. I will find someone to do it myself.
In the past two years or so, core materials have indeed been researched and some things have been developed, and it is nothing more than continuing to move forward in the direction.
The direction is right, whether it's a twist or a twist, I'll tell you after trying it.
Zhang Rujing knew that this was a choice that was both optimistic and helpless. He thought carefully and found that there were too many things in the entire industry chain, and ice cores would not be able to be made no matter what. In the next few years, efforts will probably be made in two directions, or ice cores will be made.
Xin will form his own team, or the manufacturer will seize the opportunity to turn the spare tire into a regular player.
As the car arrived at the airport, more information about Xinyang's subsidiary reached his ears.
Zhang Rujing suddenly had a deeper idea while listening.
In the past, Ice Core relied on the global market, mainland support, division of labor in the supply chain, and convened well-known international investment institutions to share benefits, so as to seize the development window. The same is true for SMIC.
But this model no longer works. The more severe situation requires that the ice core must be bound at a deeper level. Therefore, Xinyang subsidiary does not have any money from foreign investment institutions this time, and this is exactly what Mr. Fang was good at in the past.
.
Presumably, the money from Bingxin or Yike will flow in through intervals, but the form has changed.
Zhang Rujing rubbed his face, put aside his involuntary thoughts, and returned his attention to the work at hand. As Bingxin's consultant, this time he felt more like an imperial envoy.
I am evaluating, the Wafer Manufacturing Alliance is evaluating, Ice Core is evaluating, and Mr. Fang is also evaluating. Time is precious, and decisions have to be both decisive and rough.
Core material is the first, but it will never be the last.
