Western China’s XJTU and Xidian University alumni express optimism and share...

By Li Panpan

(JW Insights) Jun 14 -- Western China's Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU) and Xidian University alumni working in the semiconductor industry across the country gathered at the JiWei Semiconductor Summit 2023 (JWSS) on June 3 to discuss semiconductor investment and shared their latest IC products.

The two universities are located in Xi’an, western China’s Shaanxi Province.

Xiao Gang, Party secretary of the School of Microelectronics at Xidian, introduced that the university started to conduct microelectronic studies in the 1950s. It established the Institute of Microelectronics in 1987 and the School of Microelectronics in 2003. He invited alumni to attend the 20th-anniversary celebrations of the School in October.

Five start-ups set by Xidian alumni had a road show for investors on-site.

Zhao Meng, CEO of Zooming Intelligent Technology (尊芯智能科技), introduced the company’s automated material handling systems (AMHS) equipment in building fabs.

Zhou Difei, founder of OriTek Semiconductor (欧冶半导体), introduced the company as a systematic SoC chip supplier focusing on the third E/E architecture of smart vehicles and said that the road to advanced autonomous driving has to return to business rationality and consumer value.

Zhou Zhe, senior VP of Fuyuanxin (Shanghai) Technology (复远芯科技), introduced the company’s high-cost performance MEMS sensors. He added that Chinese players need to work more on this bottleneck field under US sanctions.

He Fan, co-founder of Smartnvy (亘存科技), introduced its ultra-low power single-chip solution empowered by MRAM.

Yang Sen, managing director/co-founder of Lasic Semiconductor (晟光硅研半导体), introduced its Laser MicroJet (LMJ) technology. The company is also among the 20 winners of the Most Valuable Investment Project Award during this year’s Chip Power Demo organized by JW Insights.

At Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU) Alumni Forum on the 7th JWSS on June 3, the speakers and attendees included Zhang Shumin, general manager of Sappland Microelectronics (左蓝微电子), Gao Fengying, marketing director of Anuki Technology (安努奇科技), Nan Jianjun, chief product officer of Matrix Electronic (铭剑电子), Xu Wei, general manager of AscenPower (芯粤能半导体), Zhang Zhonghua, deputy general manager of ZMJ Semiconductor (真茂佳半导体), and Liu Yongwen, deputy general manager of ShareTek(轩田科技).

The attendees in the semiconductor investment discussion are Tan Yaolong, chairman of Triductor (创耀通信), Cui Yike, managing director of China Fortune-Tech Capital (中芯聚源), Li Bo, executive general manager from GLP China (普洛斯中国), Wang Xinyu, director of Oriza Holdings (元禾厚望), and Xie Bo, vice investment president of Essence Securities (安信证券).

On the sensitive topic whether the current semiconductor industry downturn is a medium or even long-term trend, the guests at the XJTU alumni forum expressed more optimism based on facts: China's more complete manufacturing industries are the cornerstone and driving force for the development of the upstream semiconductor industry. And China has a closed-loop industry chain for processing chips more than 40nm, which is independent in materials and equipment, benefiting the upstream and downstream enterprises.

Data shows that the School of Microelectronics of XJTU was developed based on its applied physics major established in 1959. It is one of China's earliest places engaged in semiconductor technology research and personnel training.