China has many shortcomings in semiconductor materials, and even more concerning is the scarcity of its strengths.

According to a report by Jiwei.com (written by Oliver), on September 10, the China Semiconductor Materials Innovation and Development Conference officially kicked off in Beilun, Ningbo. In his speech, Wang Weiwei, Director of the Electronic Information Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, pointed out that while China’s semiconductor materials sector has many weak points, an even greater concern is the scarcity of strong points.

Wang Weiwei stated that driven by 5G and AI, China's domestic semiconductor foundational industry has achieved rapid development and possesses significant room for growth. As semiconductor materials are located upstream in the industrial chain, there is still much work to be done amid the industry’s rapid expansion. In the context of tense international trade, it is crucial to identify viable development models to address the advancement of semiconductor materials.

Wang Weiwei pointed out that in recent years, the semiconductor materials industry has made significant progress, giving rise to a number of outstanding enterprises. Products such as sputtering targets and polishing liquids have already achieved excellent performance. As the regulatory authority, the Electronic Industry Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is not fully aware of just how impressive the data on semiconductor material products actually are; however, if users are already employing these products, it’s safe to say they must be good. There are still many critical bottlenecks in domestically produced semiconductor materials—issues including inconsistent product quality and stability, relatively low management levels and operational efficiency within enterprises, and an industrial talent structure that urgently needs optimization.

Regarding domestic semiconductor materials, Wang Weiwei shared three points of reflection:

First, based on our current development trajectory, we must remain committed to innovation, strengthen independent R&D, and proactively embrace the world. We need to ensure that innovation and openness advance side by side.

Second, we must adopt an industrial mindset when planning and strategizing. The development of the materials industry not only requires consideration of talent but also involves many other factors. We need to think in a multidimensional way and break through existing paradigms to overcome the bottlenecks hindering the advancement of semiconductor materials.

Third, key enterprises that serve as suppliers to downstream customers need to take advantage of the nation’s vigorous push for the semiconductor industry, leveraging social capital and the support of local governments and other relevant stakeholders to further broaden their development horizons. They should also draw on the successful growth models of leading companies to accelerate their own development. Currently, China’s semiconductor industry has too many shortcomings, but even more concerning is its limited number of strengths. It is hoped that domestic leading enterprises can quickly extend and strengthen their existing strengths.

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