"Everyone, the question we are discussing today is not whether to do it or not." Lu Zixin tapped on the table and emphasized. "We must do it. What we need to research is how to do it. What methods to use, how much to invest, what equipment are needed, and the overall research direction. "
As soon as he spoke, everyone stopped arguing and fell into deep thought.
Lu Zixin had given them a big problem, and no one was confident they could do it.
After more than a week of discussion, they finally came up with a proposal. Using the original Red Core mobile phone chip team as the foundation, they will form a new R&D team and recruit talents. The laboratory also needs to be expanded, and the investment will be in the billions …
But there is always a gap between a plan and reality. This project had just started, and they had already encountered a problem.
"What? You dare to ask for 100 million USD for this photolithography machine? "Lu Zixin shouted in the office.
In front of him, the purchasing director of the research center said helplessly. "General Lu, it is already good enough to get this. We had contacted the American mechanical equipment manufacturers, and they also bought it for 100 million USD. The performance is not even as good as the Dutch equipment. "
"100 million USD, and you still can't get the most advanced product." Lu Zixin finally realized how disgusting it was to monopolize core technologies.
Everyone in the world knows that China does not have the ability to manufacture high-precision computer chips. That's why all the high-precision devices are priced at sky-high prices!
How much is 100 million USD? This amount is enough to buy a large Boeing passenger plane! This is daylight robbery!
If they had not asked the Red Queen for some equipment, Hongxin's mobile phone chip could not be manufactured. Just the cost alone is enough to scare people to death.
"This is only one of the requirements. We still need these equipment … more than 100 important technology authorizations …" The purchasing director listed the requirements one by one.
If this was a typical semiconductor investment, it would be considered a big investment of more than 1 billion USD. However, what Lu Zixin wanted was world-class research results that were comparable to Intel, AMD, and other companies.
That's why everything must be done according to the highest requirements. Lack of equipment, patents, talents, laboratories … Just the initial calculations will cost close to 10 billion USD!
Hongxin had just invested in the Hongxin US HQ and Hongxin US factory. They also need to manufacture a large number of virtual projection equipment, and they have some liquidity problems.
…
China, Shanghai, ASML's China branch.
This was a German chip manufacturing supplier and was currently the world's largest chip manufacturing supplier, occupying about 80% of the world's market share.
Lu Zixin, Dai Liangcai, the purchasing director of the Hongxin Optoelectronics Research Center, and a few others were here. They were here to discuss the purchase of ASML's high-end photolithography machines and other equipment.
"Welcome, Mr. Lu. It's a pleasure to meet you. We are also very happy to cooperate with Hongxin." In the reception room, the head of Asmall's China branch, Fred, met with Lu Zixin.
Fred was very tall. He had white skin and natural brown hair. He was twice as old as Lu Zixin. His smile was full of enthusiasm, and he spoke Chinese with a Shanghai accent.
"Nice to meet you too. I'm sure you already know why we're here. " Lu Zixin said, "We were not very satisfied with the sample of the lithography machine that your company provided us last time."
"What about the samples that were provided last time?" Fred asked his secretary. Very quickly, his secretary passed the documents to him.
He skimmed through them and said seriously, "General Lu, these samples were carefully selected by us. What do you mean by not satisfied? "
"Performance, price, and some of the parts that we requested are not complete." Lu Zixin said. Naturally, an assistant beside him handed him the documents.
After a simple exchange, Fred waved his hand and said, "General Lu, I don't think there is a problem."
"Regarding performance, we have provided you with the world's best photolithography equipment! You may not know, but just a few days ago, we sold a few units to your country. "
Lu Zixin did not say anything. He knew that ASML definitely had more advanced photolithography equipment, but they did not intend to sell it to them.
This way, their company would always use inferior equipment compared to others, and the products they produced would naturally not be as good as those of foreign companies.
"Mr. Fred, we think that the price of these models is more than 50% higher than the world's normal price!" Hongxin's staff listed the data.
Fred was still smiling and said, "No, no, no, this is our latest immersive lithography machine. We have made more improvements on the previous generation of lithography machines. We can produce integrated circuits with key dimensions below 38 nm. This has already reached China's first-class production technology."
"Hongxin is a very capable electronic technology company. If you can produce chips with this precision, I think that Hongxin's products will be highly competitive in the world!"
Lu Zixin naturally did not agree. Both parties talked for a long time before Fred said, "If you insist on our latest model, I will need to report to the headquarters before we can make a decision."
"Then please report to the headquarters, Mr. Fred," Lu Zixin said straightforwardly. "We do not want the previous samples!"
In the office, Fred and ASML's top management were having a virtual projection discussion.
"Gentlemen, Hongxin Group rejected our previous samples. They insist on the most advanced photolithography equipment," Fred reported.
"We cannot give it to them!" Someone immediately objected. "Hongxin Group had already broken our monopoly in mobile chips. We cannot let them succeed in computing chips again!"
"I agree. The most advanced equipment is not allowed to be exported to China. "
"Fred, you must think of a way to close this deal. Hongxin Group is now China's hottest electronics manufacturer. If they buy our equipment, our Chinese market revenue will double! "
"But they are very firm!"
… …
ASML's top management discussed and finally came up with a proposal. They will provide Hongxin Group with a new version of the photolithography equipment, but the price will be increased. They want 350 million USD!
It is the same for the other equipment.
"General Lu, this is ASML's latest sample specifications." The assistant passed the documents to Lu Zixin. "They are willing to provide us with better equipment, but the price will be increased by a lot!"
"What about Senior Dai? Has the research center analyzed the performance of these equipment? "Lu Zixin asked.
"We have analyzed it. These are the most advanced photolithography equipment in China. Other companies should not have bought them before. Compared to the top international standards, there is still a gap of more than five years. "
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