Reinventing the Millennium

Fang Zhuo and Qiu Ciyun finalized a method to resolve internal technical differences, and only the next day received strong feedback from Bingxin co-CEO Liang Mengsong.

To be precise, it was 1:15 in the morning.

Fang Zhuo pressed the phone angrily, leaned on the bedside, and said with a quick smile: "Dr. Liang, you are calling so late, are you still awake?"

"How can you sleep at this time, Mr. Fang!" Liang Mengsong's voice was loud, "Mr. Fang, you are confused!"

Fang Zhuo coughed and saw Su Wei who had also woken up. He smiled apologetically at her, overcame his inertia of not wanting to leave the bed, got up and walked to the study: "This..."

"Mr. Fang, this is a complete waste of money!" Liang Mengsong was very excited, "Our money should be spent on more worthwhile things!"

"Dr. Liang, after all, the front gate solution is the mainstream in the industry, and it is not unreasonable..." Fang Zhuo was interrupted before he could finish his words.

"Mr. Fang, do you understand!" Liang Mengsong said angrily, "This does not make sense just because more people vote! The polysilicon produced here may suffer from electromigration at 28nm!"

Fang Zhuo was interrupted again before he finished his words: "Liang Bo..."

"Mr. Fang, do you understand! How to solve the short channel effect? ​​The performance of the transistor will definitely decrease!" Liang Mengsong said still angrily.

Fang Zhuo waited for three seconds when the other person stopped talking before speaking, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he was interrupted again: "Liang Bo..."

"Mr. Fang, do you understand? The complex structure of the front gate will almost inevitably face fluctuations in threshold voltage, which will inevitably affect the final yield!" Liang Mengsong said angrily.

Fang Zhuo spoke faster and finally said this time: "Dr. Liang, I really don't understand."

"Mr. Fang, do you understand... Well, if you don't understand, then don't make decisions blindly!" Liang Mengsong angrily yelled at the leader.

The application of the front gate solution on the 28nm process node is the mainstream solution in the industry, including Taiwan Journal, UMC, GlobalFoundries, and Samsung. However, Taiwan Journal has turned to mentioning the need for rear gates.

From the front gate to the back gate, this plan change, Fang Zhuo has seen a huge change in the repeated material disputes in ice cores. For example, gate materials need to use metal materials with higher electrical conductivity and thermal stability. , in order to reduce the impact of electromigration problems and short channel effects on chip performance.

There are also process improvements such as chemical mechanical polishing, optimized ion implantation and thermal treatment.

But is this definitely better than the front gate solution?

Judging from the extensive discussions in the industry, this may not be the case.

It can even be said that more people still support the front gate solution.

Fang Zhuo talked with Professor Hu Zhengming about this matter, and clearly heard from him his support for the front gate. This means...if the vote is really followed, the ice core will definitely be the front gate solution.

Exactly, there is no button to vote now, so we need to verify both options together.

But it’s not easy to say this to Liang Mengsong directly. Does this count as trusting him or distrusting him? If you don’t trust him, it means you don’t trust him...

Taking into account Liang Mengsong's character, and considering that Taiwan Records is currently considering two plans simultaneously, the decision was made to verify them together.

Internal conflicts should be mitigated rather than intensified, especially when it comes to technical aspects.

Fang Zhuo did not make "blind decisions", but in Liang Mengsong's view, that was probably the case based on technology.

He was not angry at the accusations on the phone in the early hours of the morning. He just said thoughtfully, "Dr. Liang, our decision this time is also under great pressure."

"You should do the right thing when you are under pressure! There will definitely be problems with the front gate!" Liang Mengsong's anger continued.

"Then on your side..." Fang Zhuo wanted to say, 'Is it definitely right?', but he was more tactful in the middle of the sentence, "Are you so confident?"

"Of course I have confidence!" Liang Mengsong said without hesitation, "What you are doing now is not only a waste of money, but also a direct waste!"

He continued: "I am absolutely confident in this plan!"

Fang Zhuo was silent. Dr. Liang was definitely at the forefront of his field in the world. If he didn't have the confidence to do research and development, things might be more serious.

but……

"Dr. Liang, I think since you are so confident in the back-gate solution, the most important task now is to verify its feasibility on 28nm. As for the waste you mentioned." Fang Zhuo had to say, "Don't worry too much." Worry, I can’t afford to waste 100 million, 200 million, or 300 million. I can’t afford to waste it, but Goldman Sachs can afford it.”

Liang Mengsong sneered slightly: "Mr. Fang is rich, okay, let's do this with 28nm, what about 20nm? What about 14nm? What about 10nm?"

This is not only a matter of cost, but also a matter of technical orientation and decision-making.

In his opinion, this time it is a mess, and the investment in each subsequent node will double and rise, which cannot be sustained.

"Dr. Liang, it's hard to pass the test." Fang Zhuo said seriously, "We still need to introduce the 45nm HKMG process and the research and development of 32nm. When 28nm matures, there will be a solution. At least, this one in front of us will be solved." Guan has a way."

"You..." Liang Mengsong deeply felt the technical troubles. It was really uncomfortable to watch these people being stupid.

"Dr. Liang, it's like this. In addition to being safe, we also need a round of financing now." Fang Zhuo said frankly, "I am also under pressure in this aspect. I also have to weigh and judge. This use of funds is extremely appropriate."

Different from the urgent need for funds when Bingxin was first established, now Bingxin can easily mobilize funds for the construction of production lines. Not to mention Yangcheng’s commitment to all advance funds, even for the production lines in Germany, German officials and banks have provided funds. Very favorable terms.

At this time in the middle of the year, including the planning of multiple production lines of Huahong, Grace, and Xi'an, as well as the investment in control lines, this has once again put pressure on the capital operation of ice cores.

So, it's time to melt it one last time.

"Dr. Liang, if you don't believe in technical decisions, you should always believe in my judgment on business operations." Fang Zhuo said seriously, "It won't kill me or Bingxin, but the time cost of making mistakes will be higher."

Liang Mengsong really had nothing to say about Mr. Fang.

He was silent for a long time and sighed: "You, you, you will definitely know."

"Yes, Dr. Liang, thank you for your hard work." Fang Zhuo sighed.

Liang Mengsong hung up the phone.

Fang Zhuo rubbed his face, stood by the study window and looked out.

After a while, Su Wei gently opened the door and walked in, handing him a cup of tea: "What are you thinking about?"

"It's hard to pass the test, it's hard to stay up night after night." Fang Zhuo shook his head, looked down steadily, and suddenly said, "I want to install a basketball hoop in the yard."

Su Wei laughed dumbly and said, "Did you remember that you have a basketball team?"

She immediately paused and frowned: "Is there any need to go to the United States during this period?"

"It's not like a dragon in a tiger's den, it's not that exaggerated." Fang Zhuo took a sip of water. "Bingxin is going to raise funds this time. I'm thinking that it can also be considered as easing the relationship with Goldman Sachs."

Since his return to China, the Yike Department and Goldman Sachs' business in China have indeed been fighting openly and covertly, but they have achieved some results.

Fang Zhuo is also considered a local snake, and many companies must be Goldman Sachs.

Su Wei didn't say anything, but after a while she said: "That's right... don't worry, after all, you have defrauded others of a lot of money."

Fang Zhuo didn't quite agree with this description, but he didn't say anything and just nodded.

Don't worry, Gasoline Man is flying to New York soon.

…

The parallel verification of Bingxin's two plans was approved by the top management. The chairman, CEO, co-CEO, CTO, both knowledgeable and ignorant people all reluctantly accepted this reconciliation.

This also means that the ice core needs to build a pilot experimental line in Luzhou that integrates small-scale engineering, process verification and production verification.

Regarding the significance and investment of this experimental line, Bingxin notified the major shareholders and formally mentioned the listing plan and the final financing.

Since 2003, Bingxin has developed into the world's fourth largest wafer foundry company. This year's revenue is expected to exceed US$3 billion, a year-on-year increase of 110%.

In front of Bingxin is GlobalFoundries, which acquired Chartered Semiconductor. According to IDC estimates, its revenue this year is expected to be US$3.5 billion. Otherwise, this may be the year that Bingxin enters the top three in the world.

Behind Bingxin is its sister unit SMIC, which is about US$1.5 billion this year, and has also increased year-on-year.

As for the No. 1 Taiwanese reporter, IDC estimates that its revenue this year will exceed US$13 billion.

Just looking at the revenue, the first is the only two levels, the second to the fourth are almost in the same level, and then the fifth is another level, and then there are cliff-like data.

As the chip manufacturing process advances, many foundry companies are already concerned about capital investment. After the financial crisis, AMD and IBM are divesting their foundry businesses, and industry concentration is rising.

But large scale does not mean strong technology. The technology of Samsung, which ranks behind, is stronger than that of Bingxin, let alone SMIC.

Big but not strong is also a phenomenon that exists in the industry. Otherwise, Chartered Semiconductor would not sell itself.

Bingxin’s notice to shareholders this time received a positive response.

It’s long overdue!

Look at other people's cores. They were launched in the market more than 3 years ago. Your ice cores have been on the market twice as long!

It’s long past time to consider shareholder returns!

I guess your conscience is still intact, Mr. Fang!

But, this so-called final financing...

Shareholders were first delighted and then surprised. What kind of financing does Bingxin need now? Isn’t this spending money to buy a listing? Shouldn't you spend some of your future self's money now?

Such a financing plan was questioned, but it was of no use. Bingxin notified the board of directors of the time and invited everyone to meet for discussion, and then everyone was sure that they would not be absent.

After everyone was sure, Bingxin conveyed the current status of the company, including the specific customer distribution of 52% North America, 11% Europe, 15% Asia-Pacific (excluding China and Japan), 17% China, and 5% Japan.

Regardless of customer distribution or application distribution, the future prospects of Ice Core are still relatively outstanding.

Not counting the comparison, in the next five years, the revenue will be only three or two, which is very likely to be achieved.

Bingxin's board of directors is set for October 10. There is still a while, and there will be some communication between some shareholders.

Fang Zhuo had no expectations for this meeting. The money he had to spend should not be less. There is no way to develop a business without spending money. Besides, it is still spending everyone's money to do everyone's things.

In late September, Shencheng Semiconductor was still busy. Domestic equipment manufacturers gathered in the semiconductor highland of Zhangjiang, wandering around, waiting happily and anxiously for the bidding notice and standards for ice cores.

This time is really a big job, and if you take advantage of this time, the follow-up may be a non-stop big job!

Because of this significance, Fang Zhuo's Hang Lung 23 office really received many carefully prepared gifts.

Everyone knows that he is rich, so the gift has a different meaning, with both monetary attributes and humanistic value.

"This...who gave this to me?"

Fang Zhuo didn't accept gifts, and all the gifts he received in the office were returned intact. But when he walked into the office today and saw the slightly scary spider robot shining brightly on the table... he was deeply moved.

"The research and development results sent by the Silicon Valley R\u0026D Center." Secretary Liu Zonghong knew the source of the gift.

Fang Zhuo stepped forward and touched the transparent box. After looking at it for a long time, he had to admit: "It's not easy for Mr. Xu in Silicon Valley. What can this thing do?"

Liu Zonghong took two steps forward and saw the manual and remote control.

"Try it." Fang Zhuo ordered.

Liu Zonghong opened the box and studied it, and he found it very novel.

While watching the secretary's movements, Fang Zhuo noticed that there was a call coming in, but it was from CCTV.

He answered the phone and exchanged a few words before hearing the content of the call.

CCTV is conducting an advertising bidding process, and before bidding, it will promote powerful brands. Naturally, Yike, who had a good cooperation with last year's Spring Festival Gala, is on the list. However, CCTV revealed different news about giants with extraordinary strength.

"Mr. Fang, we have an in-depth partner for this year's Spring Festival Gala, which is exclusive. Is there any interest from Yike?"

Fang Zhuo asked: "What kind of depth method?"

"As deep as Yi Xin was last year, last year, Yi Xin was really worth it." The voice on the phone laughed.

The ratings of the last Spring Festival Gala were the highest in recent years, which was praised. As a partner, Yixin, except for the red envelopes it issued, the advertising fee was not very high. This is really true for the growing customer scale. So worth it.

This year, CCTV feels that similar cooperation needs to have a price that matches its value.

Fang Zhuo pondered.

He said on the phone again: "Penguin is interested in this, but Mr. Fang, our cooperation is still good."

This is already very straightforward.

Fang Zhuo also asked directly: "What is the price range of this cooperation?"

"We still hope to see reasonable competition, but it should break 3 anyway." replied the phone caller.

Fang Zhuo thought about it for a while, and he probably said this to both parties. Even, considering Yixin's crazy growth, it might be a recommendation to four or five powerful companies.

In this way, exclusive cooperation and reasonable competition will be carried out, and the bidding price will have to be raised to a higher level.

He thought about it and gave an answer: "Director Yang, let's do this. Regardless of whether we can finally cooperate or not, Yike can definitely help reflect the price that this exclusive product deserves."

"Mr. Fang, hey, what you said...hey, I hope we can continue to cooperate. That's okay, Mr. Fang, you are busy."

Fang Zhuo felt that the other party was probably quite satisfied. No matter which store it was, the price would be fine.

He put down his phone and suddenly saw the spider robot quickly climbing to the ceiling, with its bionic arm, the picture was quite astonishing.

Liu Zonghong was in a hurry to control.

Fang Zhuo left the office calmly, letting the spider dance with his secretary inside.

Generally speaking, it is still very innovative. At the very least, the robot can grasp the ceiling very firmly. There must be some innovation and breakthrough in it.