Chapter 234: Opening Up the Full Chip Industry Chain

In the lithography machine sector, Qin Miao actually knows quite a bit!

At that moment, upon hearing Professor Xu's question, he first retorted: "What technology does our laser use?"

The light source is the most crucial part of a lithography machine; the earliest contact-type lithography machines used mercury lamps, which have a simple light source but are prone to diffraction, meaning they cannot pattern overly fine circuits, otherwise the result would be blurry; later, they switched to the i-line produced by excimer lasers, improving the manufacturing process.

But these are not perfect either; as the process improved, the laser also kept changing, first there was krypton fluoride, i. e., KrF light source, then later argon fluoride, i. e., ArF.

After later Eastern entities were sanctioned and could not obtain EUV lithography machines, they adopted multiple‑patterning exposure, successfully using ArF‑source lithography machines to produce 5‑nanometer mobile chips.

Therefore, our next‑generation lithography machine need not go through a gradual transition; we can leap straight ahead—if we could have achieved even a 100‑nanometer process in the 1980s, it would have driven the West to despair.

"We currently use a helium‑neon laser as the light source, which belongs to the first generation of gas lasers; our Optics Department at Qinghua University has studied it quite thoroughly. Next, we plan to use krypton fluoride, which many in the lithography field regard as the most likely next node."

"Would it be difficult to make an argon‑fluoride laser?"

"This..." Professor Xu really hadn't prepared; after thinking a moment, he said: "Wait a bit, I'll go ask."

Having said that, Professor Xu picked up the phone: "Hello, Optics Department? I'm Old Xu from the Precision Instrument Department; I'd like to check on something with you."

This is the advantage of universities doing R&D: no matter what you want to work on, you can always find relevant researchers on campus.

After hanging up, Professor Xu beamed with excitement: "This laser poses no problem; its light source is 193 nm, capable of directly patterning 0.2 µm chips, and with multiple patterning we could produce chips in the tens of nanometers."

Currently, the mainstream chip process internationally is still 5 µm; Qinghua University's lithography machine can reach 1.25 µm, which is already astonishing. If we develop a new lithography machine that jumps straight to 0.2 µm, we would have entered the nanometer era!

Engineer Ni was full of excitement, already sensing that the Eastern chip industry was about to soar!

The higher the chip process, the more chips can be fabricated on a single wafer, lowering chip cost; meanwhile, finer lines mean less heat, which implies higher chip performance.

Thus, all countries are researching more advanced chip technologies; we in the East were originally behind, but now Ha Gong Da has joined in, and this field is poised to become world‑leading.

Engineer Ni is full of confidence about the future.

"However, changing the light source means the photoresist and related products must also change…" Professor Xu still worried a bit.

"No problem; Ha Gong Da will find a matching supplier, and if nobody supplies it, we'll develop it ourselves!"

The lithography machine is just one link in the chip industry; many other sectors can also be strangled. Later, South Korea's chip industry was top‑notch, Samsung an even bigger company, yet they were choked by an island nation when photoresist supplies were cut off, causing immediate panic.

One light source matches one photoresist; this isn't technically difficult. The key is the global supply chain: once a few monopolies appear, other firms see no need to duplicate the effort—only when supplies are cut off do they wake up and spend extra to do it themselves.

Professor Xu nodded: "Well, next comes an even more precise servo system—our Precision Instrument Department's forte—plus some specially made lenses that need our most skilled craftsmen to polish. Comrade Qin Miao, rest assured; as long as the funding is in place, we won't let you down."

Qin Miao nodded: "We guarantee ample R&D funds; let's cooperate and push the Eastern chip industry to world‑leading status."

"Mm." Professor Xu nodded, a warm surge rising in his chest; domestic enterprises don't support us, but Ha Gong Da does—from now on, whoever bad‑mouths Ha Gong Da will have to answer to me.

"By the way, a lithography machine alone isn't enough; we also need etchers and single‑crystal furnaces—some domestic units already have those, and they…"

They, just like Qinghua University, have developed equipment that nobody buys!

"Well, Professor Xu, could you recommend some? We'll go buy them."

We must support the domestic chip supply chain from top to bottom, a complete vertical integration, all done domestically—only then need we fear no foreign chokehold.

At the side, Engineer Ni voiced some worry: "San Shui, will this kind of investment…"

"Will we lose money? Engineer Ni, don't worry—Ha Gong Da has never made a loss‑making deal. Next, you help contact the relevant units; I still need to make a trip to the military."

This return to the Capital has three goals: one is to rally people—the more the better; Engineer Ni knows many, especially those from the Chinese Academy of Sciences Computing Institute, whom we can persuade to join. Another goal is to procure equipment—once the factory and clean rooms are ready, buying the equipment will let the chip plant start operations.

As for the other, it's that Leader Zhao of the Ministry of Fifth Machinery has sent an invitation; Qin Miao guesses it's likely that the Benz Company has replied, so we should also start preparing.

Engineer Ni nodded: "Alright, then I'll get busy."

President Shen rose: "I'll go with you; I know a few domestic firms with top‑notch technology, but…"

Having shared similar misfortunes, President Shen is also very enthusiastic about helping sister units promote and sell their products.

Ministry of Fifth Machinery, office.

"Comrade Qin Miao, you've finally come—welcome!"

Qin Miao widened his eyes, not looking at Leader Zhao but at the middle‑aged man sitting on the sofa.

"Dad, why are you here?"

Zhang Wanhe gave Qin Miao a sideways glance: "How come I can't come?"

"No, it's not that—I just felt surprised to see you here; I had planned to go home tonight so we could have a good chat, father and son."

"Chatting here is fine; come, sit down—let's discuss the plan to build a brand‑new Benz heavy‑truck plant in the Capital."

"What?"

Qin Miao clearly remembered that he had once advised the military to introduce Benz trucks, which could be placed in military‑industrial enterprises mainly to supply the troops; after all, even domestically produced Benz trucks aren't cheap, yet now… they've ended up in local hands?

Leader Zhao chuckled: "The military also lacks funds; building a brand‑new car plant would consume huge sums, and the Ministry of Fifth Machinery can't scrape together the money either, while higher authorities still back reform—so we decided to hand it over to local governments to handle, which counts as an innovation, with Capital government backing and Qingshan Machinery Factory taking the lead…"

"What? Even my old man's factory is supposed to get involved?"