With great power comes great responsibility; Huawei’s every move sparks intense debate across various platforms. For instance, when Huawei donated funds to overseas universities a few years ago, it faced significant criticism. However, those within the industry have a much clearer perception than the uninformed outsiders.
This July, the 8th China Graduate “Chip” Innovation Competition finals took place in Suzhou, gathering over 500 graduate students specializing in integrated circuits, along with more than 100 university faculty and industry experts.
During the award ceremony, a donation ceremony for the Qiushi Yuan “Chip and Talent Integration” MPW (Multi-Project Wafer) chip fabrication project was held. Professor Han Yan from Zhejiang University, a member of the competition’s organizing committee, personally donated to support the winning teams in fabricating chips on the university’s 12-inch production line.
In an interview with ICVIEWS, Professor Han explained her motivations: “I am a beneficiary of the funding for chip fabrication. As a mentor for five first-prize winning teams, I have participated multiple times in the MPW chip fabrication sponsored by Huawei at SMIC, ensuring that every graduate student under my guidance has a qualified chip fabrication result to graduate. This promise I made back in 2000 has been upheld for 25 years.” After the Huawei chip fabrication funding contract expired, it transitioned into substantial student awards. Professor Han believes that the funding for chip fabrication should not cease and that there must be a relay to pass on the ‘chip flame.’ Taking advantage of Zhejiang University’s launch of the first 12-inch CMOS production line in universities, she personally donated to provide chip fabrication funding support for the 18 first-prize teams over the next five years, aiding the growth of young research talents.
It is important to note that supporting chip fabrication is a direct investment in China’s semiconductor industry’s education and research. For example, the cost of fabricating a 28nm chip exceeds $2 million at once. Although the competition can reduce costs by using the MPW method, the products do not necessarily require cutting-edge processes, yet it remains a significant expense!
Additionally, Huawei has hosted several university competitions in China, such as the Huawei ICT Competition and the Huawei Terminal Hardware Elite Challenge, with prizes reaching hundreds of thousands. Therefore, Huawei’s support for China’s education and research industry is as tangible as its support for the domestic semiconductor supply chain!
It is said that a strong youth leads to a strong China. While some students drift through their university years, others shine brightly, but the truly outstanding individuals are few. Providing these young talents with sufficient spiritual and material encouragement, shielding them from the mundane and negative influences of their environment, will profoundly impact future technological development! Ensuring that those with dreams and aspirations are not forced by life’s pressures, and providing them with an environment to focus on their dreams, is a significant contribution. ⑧Shu believes that investing in such competitions is indeed putting money to good use.
Finally, ⑧Shu wants to say that Huawei is not a savior, but when it has the ability to exert a positive influence on the industry, it deserves support. Just as Zhejiang University has now joined the ranks of funding chip fabrication, isn’t this kind of initiative something to be encouraged?