A smartphone, a computer, a new energy vehicle, or even a smart refrigerator—what is the “brain” behind them? The answer lies within a space the size of a fingernail—chips. From daily life to aerospace technology, chips serve as the “invisible cornerstone” of modern society, yet they are rarely truly understood. Today, we will unveil the mystery of this “technological heart.”
1. What are chips? Why are they so important?
Chips (integrated circuits) are high-tech products that miniaturize billions of transistors, resistors, capacitors, and other components onto a silicon wafer. Their core function is to process information, much like the human brain is responsible for thinking and directing.
– Without chips, there is no modern technology:
– Mobile phones rely on chips for communication, photography, and gaming;
– Artificial intelligence depends on chips for massive data calculations;
– Technologies such as 5G, the Internet of Things, and autonomous driving cannot exist without high-performance chips.
– The lifeline of the economy and security:
The global chip industry has exceeded $500 billion, but the manufacturing capability for high-end chips is concentrated in a few countries. If the supply chain is disrupted, everything from rising mobile phone prices to national defense security could be affected.
2. The Chip War: Intensifying Global Competition
In recent years, chips have become the core battlefield of great power competition due to:
1. Extremely high technical barriers:
– Design requires EDA software and top architectures (such as ARM, x86);
– Manufacturing relies on photolithography machines (ASML’s extreme ultraviolet lithography machines cost over $100 million each);
– Material purity requirements are nearly stringent (high-purity silicon, photoresist).
2. A focal point of geopolitical tensions:
– The United States restricts high-end chip exports to China through the CHIPS Act;
– China accelerates independent innovation, with companies like Huawei and SMIC breaking through the 7nm process;
– The EU, Japan, and South Korea are investing hundreds of billions to compete for dominance in the supply chain.
Case in point: The Huawei Mate 60 series, equipped with self-developed Kirin chips, is seen as a landmark event for China breaking through technological blockades.
3. Future Trends: The Next Stop for Chip Technology
1. Smaller nanometer processes:
The most advanced mass-produced chips are currently at 3nm (Apple A17, Snapdragon 8 Gen3), with future advancements aiming for 2nm and even angstrom-level (Å), but as we approach physical limits, costs and technical challenges will increase sharply.
2. A revolution in materials:
– Silicon-based chips may be replaced by carbon nanotubes and graphene;
– Quantum chips are expected to achieve a “leap in computing power.”
3. Chiplet technology:
By modularly designing and stitching together chips with different functions, costs can be reduced and yield improved (such as AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology).
4. Opportunities and Challenges for China’s Chip Industry
Challenges:
– Photolithography machines, EDA tools, and semiconductor materials still rely on imports;
– There is a significant shortage of high-end talent.
Opportunities:
– Policy support: National funds and the Sci-Tech Innovation Board assist chip companies;
– Market demand: China is the world’s largest chip consumer market (accounting for one-third of global consumption);
– Emerging fields: RISC-V architecture and integrated storage-computing chips may allow for “leapfrogging.”
Although chips are small, they are a “yardstick” for measuring a country’s technological strength. From “being choked” to “self-reliance,” China’s path in the chip industry is long and arduous. But history tells us that every technological blockade ultimately drives stronger innovation.
Do you think China’s chip industry can achieve a comprehensive breakthrough? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments!