"Everyone, the issue we are discussing today is not whether to do it or not." Lu Zixin tapped the table lightly and emphasized, "It must be done. What we want to study is how to do it? In what way and how much money to invest. , what equipment is needed, and the overall research direction. ”
As soon as he spoke, everyone's argument ended and everyone turned to meditation.
Lu Zixin has posed a big problem for them, and no one is sure that they can solve it.
After discussing it for more than a week, they finally came up with a plan. Based on the original Red Core mobile phone chip team, a new R&D team will be established to recruit domestic and foreign talents. The laboratory also needs to be expanded, and the capital investment units are in the billions...
However, there is always a gap between the imagined plan and the reality. The project has just started and they encountered difficulties.
"What? You dare to ask for 100 million US dollars for this kind of lithography machine?" Lu Zixin shouted in the office.
In front of him, the procurement director of the research center said helplessly: "Mr. Lu, it's good to be able to buy something like this. We contacted American machinery and equipment manufacturers, and the price they paid for it was between 100 and 100 million US dollars, and the performance was even better than Not as good as Dutch equipment.”
"I spent 100 million US dollars and still couldn't buy the most advanced products." Lu Zixin finally realized the disgust of monopolizing core technology.
It is known internationally that China does not have the ability to manufacture high-precision computer chips, so the prices for high-precision equipment are sky-high!
What is the concept of 100 million US dollars? This money can buy a large Boeing airliner! This is simply a money grab!
If it hadn't been for some equipment from Honghou, Hongxin wouldn't have been able to produce mobile phone chips. The cost alone can scare people to death.
"This is just one of them. We still need these equipments...more than a hundred important technical authorizations..." the director of the Procurement Office listed them one by one.
For general semiconductor investment, an investment of more than one billion would be a big deal. But Lu Zixin requires world-class research results, comparable to those of Intel, AMD and other companies.
Therefore, all conditions must be in accordance with the highest requirements. There is a lack of equipment, a lack of technology patents, a lack of talents, a lack of laboratories... If you calculate it at the beginning, it will cost nearly 10 billion!
Hongxincai invested in the establishment of the Hongxin US headquarters and the Hongxin US factory, as well as the manufacturing of large quantities of virtual projection equipment. There was some difficulty in supplying working capital for the time being.
…
China, Shanghai, China branch of ASML.
This is a German chip manufacturing supplier and currently the largest chip manufacturing supplier in the world, accounting for about 80% of the world's market share.
Lu Zixin, Dai Liangcai, the procurement director of the Hongxin Optoelectronics Research Center and several entourages came here together. This time they wanted to discuss the purchase of ASML's high-end lithography machines and other equipment.
"Warm welcome, Mr. Lu. It's a pleasure to meet you. We are also happy to conduct business cooperation with Hongxin." In the reception room, Fred, the head of ASML's Chinese branch, met Lu Zixin.
Fred is tall, with white skin and natural brown hair. He is twice as old as Lu Zixin. He has a warm smile and speaks Chinese with a Shanghai accent.
"I'm also glad to meet you. Your company must have known our purpose of coming." Lu Zixin said, "We were not very satisfied with the photolithography machine sample your company provided us last time."
"What samples were provided last time?" Fred asked his secretary, who soon handed him the documents.
He browsed through them and said seriously: "Mr. Lu, these samples are carefully selected by us. What do you mean by dissatisfaction?"
"The performance, price, and some accessories we requested are not complete." Lu Zixin said, and naturally there was an assistant beside him who handed over the information.
After a brief exchange, Fred waved his hand and said, "Mr. Lu, I don't think there is a problem."
"As for performance, what we provide you is already the world's top lithography equipment! You may not know that just a few days ago, we sold several units to your country."
Lu Zixin said nothing. He knew that ASML must have more advanced lithography equipment, but he had no intention of selling it to them.
As a result, their companies always use inferior equipment than others, and the products they produce are naturally not as good as those of foreign companies.
"Mr. Fred, we believe that the price of these models is more than 50% higher than the normal price in the world!" the staff of Hongxin listed the data.
Fred still smiled and said: "No, no, no, this is our latest immersion lithography machine. It has made more improvements on the previous generation lithography machine and can produce integrated circuits with key dimensions below 38 nanometers. This It has reached China’s first-class production technology.”
"Hongxin is a very powerful electronic technology company. If you can produce chips with such precision, I think Hongxin's products will be extremely competitive in the world!"
Naturally, Lu Zixin would not agree. The two parties talked for a long time before Fred said: "If you insist on our latest model, I need to report to the headquarters before I can make a decision."
"Then please ask Mr. Fred to report to the headquarters." Lu Zixin said simply, "We don't want any of the previous samples!"
In the office, Fred held a virtual projection meeting with senior executives from ASML headquarters.
"Gentlemen, Hongxin Group rejected our previous sample. They must have the most advanced photolithography equipment." Fred Hui reported.
"Can't give it to them!" Someone immediately objected, "Hongxin Group has already broken our monopoly on mobile phone chips. Computer chips will never allow them to succeed again!"
"I agree. The top equipment is prohibited from being exported to China."
"Fred, you have to find a way to close this business. Hongxin Group is now the hottest electronic product manufacturer in China. If they buy our equipment, our turnover in the Chinese market can double!"
"But their attitude is very determined!"
…
The core executives of ASML discussed and finally came up with a plan. Provide Hongxin Group with a higher version of lithography equipment, but the price will still rise, with an asking price of 350 million US dollars!
Other devices are the same.
"Mr. Lu, this is the latest procurement sample description provided by ASML." The assistant handed the information to Lu Zixin, "They are willing to provide better equipment, but the price has also increased a lot!"
"Where's Mr. Dai? Has the research center analyzed the performance of these devices?" Lu Zixin asked.
"After analysis, these are indeed the most sophisticated lithography equipment in China at present. They should not be purchased by other companies. Compared with the international top level, there is still a gap of more than five years."