Reinventing the Millennium.

Chapter 1439 Release
The second round of restrictions from BIS on November 11th posed more pressing problems to Yike and Bingxin, which is also the strategic direction that Fang Zhuo has been emphasizing this year.

At the corporate level of Yu Bingxin, all that needs to be done is to ensure operations, even at the expense of yield and profits.

Similarly, BIS is heading in this direction.

This is not because Fang Zhuo is so far-sighted, but the operation of Yike-Ice Core is an inverted pyramid structure, and the smaller ice core is the bottom and more important support.

This is consistent with the structure of the entire industry, and the operation of the ice core is supported by more basic semiconductor equipment, components and materials.

With such reverse deduction layer by layer, coupled with the fact that photoresist has a shelf life, it naturally becomes the priority weapon for restricting ice cores.

It was all expected that BIS would amend the law and drive photoresist manufacturers to comply, but what was beyond expectation was the speed and efficiency of its actions.

Because of his American friends, Fang Zhuo usually knows the situation earlier, gets to know the measures that are likely to be implemented earlier, and can even ask others to mediate, but this time he only received the notice one day in advance.

Fortunately, Bingxin's purchases of photoresist have been in excess recently, and it is consciously taking precautions against this situation, so no obvious problems will arise in the short term.

However, the photoresist market is currently dominated by four Japanese manufacturers and one American manufacturer. Once the production inventory is exhausted, Bingxin may not be able to maintain even the minimum production operation.

The time limit is six months. As for Yike, although it can mass-produce the second-generation FinFET 16nm chips in advance and it will not be obsolete in the competition throughout next year, no matter how frugal it is, it will probably only last for a year.

Originally, considering that it involves Japanese manufacturers, even if BIS expands its jurisdiction, such restrictions will take some time to come into effect, which will buy more time for Xinyang Luzhou's research and development, but...

Fang Zhuo really couldn't ask his opponent to play according to his ideas.

Therefore, according to Su Wei, "You have frowned more these days than you have in the past ten years."

Fang Zhuo has determination and confidence, and he is also encouraging and motivating Yi Ke, Bing Xin and more people to face challenges, but these must return to reality and problems must be solved.

This kind of problem caused by non-commercial factors has also been fed back and protested at higher levels. The country also has more basic materials available for counterattack. However, the target targeted by BIS this time was not expanded, but focused on ice cores.

This involves a more overall strategic change. If we focus on the mainland's semiconductor industry, SMIC, which is not currently involved, would be better off developing its technology and processes quietly so as not to be affected.

SMIC has already started discussions with Bingxin on the first-generation FinFET process. According to the current progress, it may take until Q16 of 4 for commercial attempts to be made at the earliest.

This is the value of time.

In addition to supplying Yike, Bingxin must at least guarantee the production capacity of AMD, a closely connected customer. Fang Zhuo had tied AMD to the ship before, not to die with it, because that would be meaningless.

The technologies of SMIC and ICBC are gradually becoming the same. If the first generation of FinFET 2016nm can be launched in Q4 16, it can be used as a youth version of AMD chips.

In addition, unconventional channels can also provide emergency solutions to some inventory problems, but they are only temporary solutions and do not address the root cause.

Fang Zhuo suppressed his irritability and remained patient, not urging Xinyang Luzhou's research and development at all. After seeing the latest measures of BIS, they would naturally understand the situation and there was no need to add additional unnecessary pressure.

In addition to the photoresist link that can help achieve the interim goals, he also inspected the A/B/C lines of Huali Phase I in Shanghai. The localization of the C line is still relatively difficult, but the beautification of the B line has a relatively high yield at 45nm.

Although 45nm is now a mature process, it is not easy to make it both beautiful and competitive.

Fang Zhuo does not seek quick success, but only hopes to complete the interim goals as soon as possible, and then use the point to lead the whole to gain greater development space.

However, China is facing strong pressure, and some unexpected situations have also occurred in Silicon Valley.

Although US President Schroeder has confirmed that he will incubate projects in new tracks, his main task at present is to finish up YiKe in the United States, which includes YiKe's Silicon Valley R&D center.

Many of Yike’s technologies and patents were born in the center of Silicon Valley, which also hosts cutting-edge scientific research. However, after BIS took action, the area is facing a shock.

The company's response to this was to transfer some people back to China. For example, many of the artificial intelligence research and development team, which was mainly composed of Chinese, were willing to return to China for development, while another part was transferred to different research institutes in Europe.

Yike also has a R&D center in Europe, but under the current circumstances, the General Office has discussed several times and believes that it is better to undertake research projects only in the form of a "research institute". This will have a smaller scope and a more specific direction, and can better undertake related work.

For example, Yike’s research institute in Stockholm, Sweden focuses on the research and development of communication technology.

In this way, the business will be transferred to China and Europe, and the last part will remain in Silicon Valley. Yike will retain its research center here and is also willing to invest and help establish new companies, and continue to provide funds and resources.

This is an important thing Schroeder needs to work on.

However, on November 11, Schroeder received a phone call at the company informing him that a project team that was preparing to fly to China had been detained and was asked not to leave the country until permission was obtained.

This news shocked Schroeder. All the procedures and processes of the team were reasonable and legal. Is there any law? Is there any law?
Schroeder immediately called his boss to report this special situation.

"Okay, I get it. This is too much. Don't worry. Calm everyone down first. I'll ask about the situation." This was the response from Fang Zhuo on the phone.

Schroeder was a little depressed, but he could only cheer himself up and comfort his own people first.

As for this time...considering the deteriorating relationship between Washington and his boss, I really don’t know if it can be handled well.

There was no movement for two days.

On December 12, Schroeder suddenly saw a news report in the media that the NBA Rockets was about to change hands. The overall price was lower than the previously expected market value of 3 billion US dollars, and it was sold for only 12.5 billion. Moreover, the major shareholder Fang Zhuo accepted the delivery of part of the virtual currency.

Only in the evening did Schroeder receive the notice that the R&D team was allowed to go.

He put the two pieces of news together and felt extremely complicated. He knew before that the owner was willing to sell the team, and the price of 12.5 billion US dollars was not too high. Now it was reduced by 1 million US dollars, and they accepted payment in virtual currency. This was simply a ransom!
When Schroeder thought of this, he drank a few glasses of red wine, and his eyes were tearful in the dead of night. As the Chinese saying goes, a tiger in dire straits is bullied by dogs!

However, two days later, Schroeder, who was busy with work, suddenly saw a report from Bloomberg. The price of virtual currency BTC soared 410% from US$15 to US$471 in the past two days, and may continue to usher in a wave of rising prices. One important reason is that a well-known team used a large amount of virtual currency in transactions.

15%... Could it be possible to make back the lost funds in just two days?
Is there still money to be made?
This, this…

Schroeder suddenly felt that his tears were a little cheap. Mr. Fang seemed to be quite flashy, but flashy was quite useful...

(End of this chapter)