4 ms·

Not the same thing. 22 FD-SOI is current gen for FD-SOI. TSMC is also building a 16nm line https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1332704 https://www.eeti

Not the same thing. 22 FD-SOI is current gen for FD-SOI. TSMC is also building a 16nm line https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1332704 https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1332704 While it is true that cutting edge lines are going to stay in established facilities with established R&D teams there is nothing stopping China from getting the tech. Everything is for sale. What China is missing is the expert workforce that can actually bring up a line for a next gen process themselves, which takes time to build, not just money.

seanmcdirmid 9y ago
There are two things china can’t buy because no country will sell it to them: a. Advanced semi conductor tech, b. Modern Jet turbine tech. Those two things China has to (and is) develop themselves. They definitely aren’t there yet, which is why they import those things in spades (most semiconductors are imported, and even china’s own jet fighters are mostly reliant on saturns). They will probably get there in the future.
- actuator 9y ago
  If they poach the employees from the companies building this stuff, wouldn't it be possible for them to build it? Also, I am not much knowledgeable about jet engines but why can't they just reverse engineer jet turbine tech.
  - seanmcdirmid 9y ago
    No one person knows how to do it all, it really is a closely guarded secret. For jet turbines, the metallurgy is key. For semi conductors, there are materials but really it is just many many details distributed throughout the entire organization. Crazy when you think about it. But there are other things: just look what the C919 is importing: besides turbines, the avionics are imported as well. Complex software...
AlphaSite 9y ago
Don’t GF have a 12nm FD SOI process?
- saas_co_de 9y ago
  Projecting first customer tape outs in 1H 2019 (https://www.globalfoundries.com/news-events/press-releases/globalfoundries-extends-fdxtm-roadmap-12nm-fd-soi-technology https://www.globalfoundries.com/news-events/press-releases/g...) as of a year ago - so still in early development.

seanmcdirmid 9y ago

There are two things china can’t buy because no country will sell it to them: a. Advanced semi conductor tech, b. Modern Jet turbine tech. Those two things China has to (and is) develop themselves. They definitely aren’t there yet, which is why they import those things in spades (most semiconductors are imported, and even china’s own jet fighters are mostly reliant on saturns). They will probably get there in the future.

actuator 9y ago
If they poach the employees from the companies building this stuff, wouldn't it be possible for them to build it? Also, I am not much knowledgeable about jet engines but why can't they just reverse engineer jet turbine tech.
- seanmcdirmid 9y ago
  No one person knows how to do it all, it really is a closely guarded secret. For jet turbines, the metallurgy is key. For semi conductors, there are materials but really it is just many many details distributed throughout the entire organization. Crazy when you think about it. But there are other things: just look what the C919 is importing: besides turbines, the avionics are imported as well. Complex software...

AlphaSite 9y ago

Don’t GF have a 12nm FD SOI process?

saas_co_de 9y ago
Projecting first customer tape outs in 1H 2019 (https://www.globalfoundries.com/news-events/press-releases/globalfoundries-extends-fdxtm-roadmap-12nm-fd-soi-technology https://www.globalfoundries.com/news-events/press-releases/g...) as of a year ago - so still in early development.