China's Academy of Science has offered a blueprint to create a semiconductor industry that circumvents the USA's bans on exports of technology to the Middle Kingdom.
In an article from the Proceedings of the Chinese Academy of Sciences titled "Strengthening the construction of basic semiconductor capabilities and lighting the 'beacon' of semiconductor self-reliance and self-improvement, academicians Luo Junwei and Li Shushen argue that all China needs to do is research the right topics, find the talent to do that research, commercialise their work and then sit back and enjoy the benefits of home-grown silicon.
There's a bit more to it than that, of course: the authors identify existing patent portfolios as a barrier to Chinese chip tech, because building and designing with existing techniques will by necessity mean using of protected intellectual property.
The pair therefore call for Chinese semiconductor policy to "Vigorously promote the spirit of scientists pursuing originality, and resist low-level repetitive follow-up research." Instead, [they] want original research, if only to match efforts they've observed in the US, South Korea, and elsewhere, in pursuit of innovations that go beyond well-understood semiconductor physics.
The pair also want physical infrastructure to support researchers, and for academic career paths to reward the long efforts required to produce published work on semiconductor innovations.
That kind of work, plus investment in the right kind of university courses and research institutes, and incentives for folks to work there, are suggested as what China needs to develop tech it can build without sanctions hampering its efforts.
But the document doesn't address the challenge of manufacturing the devices that China's hypothetical future research endeavours create.
That's a big issue because China has already funded plenty of semiconductor research and development but has found itself with a decent chip design industry but little capacity to produce advanced silicon. Attempts to start fabrication plants have sometimes blow up before factories were built, leaving China the world's largest importer of semiconductors.
(Score: 2) by Frosty Piss on Wednesday February 22, @06:27PM (3 children)
Patents are not a roadblock.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 22, @07:21PM (2 children)
Maybe, maybe not, in recent years I've heard that a lot of Chinese industry is now recognizing patents from other parts of the world -- perhaps they are finally growing up?
If I was China trying to get into chip making, I'd be a lot more worried about all the trade secrets that are closely held by the big players. These things don't get patented, since patents, by design are meant to teach. Until you try to actually make things, at first you don't even know what you don't know.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Freeman on Wednesday February 22, @07:41PM (1 child)
To actually be able to get along with everyone, you need to recognize patents at least to some degree. Otherwise, you will be excluded, banned, or otherwise have restricted access to international partners. China is learning this, slowly. It might go a bit faster, if you can figure out how to make it their own idea.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 22, @07:59PM
They're learning how to game the system more effectively.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by oumuamua on Wednesday February 22, @07:30PM (2 children)
Been watching The Three Body Problem and the Trisolarans tried to hobble Earth technology while prepping for an invasion:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9yRf-Ghij3Y4PySsFmix0ePFvuhvtpog [youtube.com]
The episodes do move slow but can't complain since they're free or you can wait for the Netflix version: https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/three-body-problem-first-look [netflix.com]
(Score: 2) by Mojibake Tengu on Thursday February 23, @04:47AM (1 child)
This one is good, thx for playlist! Though it's still 24 eps only out of 30 total on yt, more patience required.
I like it.
Ref: https://mydramalist.com/63487-the-three-body-problem [mydramalist.com]
The edge of 太玄 cannot be defined, for it is beyond every aspect of design
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 23, @08:07PM
Just watching the first episode and have a question--the closed captions give the lyrics of the music and it seems that the lyrics are all "motivational" or perhaps even "propaganda"? Is this typical of work places in China?
Here (USA) if there is piped in music in an office it's more likely to be "muzak" which is instrumental versions of popular songs, rarely with lyrics. But most work places I've visited don't have background music.