中國內(nèi)地規(guī)模最大、技術最先進的集成電路晶圓代工企業(yè)中芯國際（SMIC）與美國高通公司共同宣布，中芯國際將與美國高通公司的子公司 -- 美國高通技術公司（Qualcomm Technologies）在28納米工藝制程和晶圓制造服務方面緊密合作，在中國制造高通驍龍?zhí)幚砥鳌? 該合作將會提升中芯國際28納米制程的成熟度及產(chǎn)能，也使其成為中國本土率先為美國高通技術公司部分最新的驍龍?zhí)幚砥魈峁?8納米多晶硅 (PolySiON) 和28納米高介電常數(shù)金屬閘極 (HKMG) 工藝制程產(chǎn)品的半導體代工企業(yè)之一。 中芯國際此前已為美國高通技術公司的電源管理、無線及連接 IC 產(chǎn)品提供不同工藝制程的支持。通過在28納米技術及晶圓制造服務上的新協(xié)作，中芯國際將進一步強化與美國高通技術公司的戰(zhàn)略合作關系，并共同為不斷增長的移動通信行業(yè)帶來新的28納米設計和產(chǎn)品。未來，中芯國際還會將其技術延伸到3DIC 以及射頻前端 (RF front-end) 晶圓制造，以支持美國高通技術公司不斷擴展的驍龍產(chǎn)品組合。 我們目前還不太清楚的是，除了能修復一些與中國政府的關系外，這項合作還能給高通帶來什么實際利益。畢竟與其他國際一流晶圓代工廠相比，中芯國際的尖端工藝技術并不占優(yōu)勢。 事實上，在三個月前我們對中芯國際CEO邱慈云博士采訪時，他也承認與臺積電之間的技術差距正在加大。當領先的晶圓廠們都在忙著談論下一個14納米工藝節(jié)點時，邱慈云博士則表示中芯國際的28納米節(jié)點工藝“現(xiàn)已凍結（now frozen）”，為的是讓潛在客戶能夠去測試和驗證他們的最新節(jié)點工藝。

中芯國際目前28納米節(jié)點工藝進展情況
Source：中芯國際98Zesmc

中國政府的反壟斷調(diào)查 自從去年中國國家發(fā)改委對高通開展反壟斷調(diào)查以來，業(yè)界紛紛猜測中國當局是以調(diào)查的方式強迫高通與中國本土電子產(chǎn)業(yè)合作。去年中國國家發(fā)改委突擊搜查了高通北京和上海的辦事處，報道稱，高通面臨的罰金可能超過10億美元。 國際發(fā)改委使用反壟斷法對付海外科技企業(yè)的做法，一度被認為可能導致進口電子產(chǎn)品出現(xiàn)“不合理”的高價格。今年2月，中國市場監(jiān)管機構表示懷疑高通產(chǎn)品定價過高（overcharging），并且“濫用其在市場的地位”（abusing its market position）。 當EE Times記者問及中國發(fā)改委對高通的反壟斷調(diào)查進行到哪一步時，高通公共關系副總裁Christine Trimble表示：“我們將繼續(xù)配合國家發(fā)改委的工作，目前沒有更多消息可以透露。” 高通對本次與中芯國際的合作也惜字如金，當被問及驍龍（Snapdragon）的哪一款處理器會在中芯國際代工時，發(fā)言人稱：“我們不能透露任何細節(jié)?！? 問到高通此次為何選擇中芯國際作為其在中國的合作伙伴，發(fā)言人稱：“高通與中芯國際合作已經(jīng)好幾年了，本次將把合作領域進一步拓展到28納米公藝節(jié)點?！? 相比之下，中芯國際更愿意談未來與高通的合作計劃。 本文授權編譯自EE Times，版權所有，謝絕轉載 本文下一頁：中國半導體的飛速發(fā)展，也為跨國公司創(chuàng)造了大量財富和機會

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• 蘋果處理器釋單，引爆晶圓代工大戰(zhàn)？98Zesmc

{pagination} 在公關稿中，中芯國際表示這不是他們第一次與高通合作，此前已為高通的電源管理、無線及連接 IC 產(chǎn)品提供不同工藝制程的支持。通過在28納米技術及晶圓制造服務上的新協(xié)作，中芯國際將進一步強化與美國高通技術公司的戰(zhàn)略合作關系，并共同為不斷增長的移動通信行業(yè)帶來新的28納米設計和產(chǎn)品。未來，中芯國際還會將其技術延伸到3DIC 以及射頻前端 (RF front-end) 晶圓制造，以支持美國高通技術公司不斷擴展的驍龍產(chǎn)品組合。 中芯國際已經(jīng)位于中國芯片設計和制造之巔，但不可否認高通更是中國乃至全球手機芯片王者。最近也時常有報道指出，在中國消耗的半導體產(chǎn)品，其中只有一小部分是中國生產(chǎn)的。 在Oski科技亞太區(qū)高級市場總監(jiān)Jin Zhang的一篇博客中，她指出中國IC消費和自主產(chǎn)能之間的鴻溝，將在2015年后不斷擴大。 這在所有中國半導體業(yè)界人士的眼中，都是一個不得不面對的問題。

中國集成電路產(chǎn)業(yè)消費與產(chǎn)能對比
Source："持續(xù)增長，中國對半導體產(chǎn)業(yè)的影響" 普華永道，2013年98Zesmc

Jin Zhang還指出：“大部分在中國消耗的IC產(chǎn)品均由半導體巨頭提供，比如英特爾、三星、德州儀器、飛思卡爾和高通。因此，中國半導體行業(yè)的飛速發(fā)展，其實為跨國半導體公司創(chuàng)造了大量財富和機會。” 這樣看來，高通與中芯國際在28納米制程技術和晶圓制造上的合作，是中國半導體行業(yè)邁出了正確的一步。 高管展望 中芯國際首席執(zhí)行官兼執(zhí)行董事邱慈云博士表示，“我們很高興能夠與美國高通技術公司達成此項合作，這對中芯國際28納米工藝制程的完善以及競爭力的提升具有重要的里程碑意義。這進一步證明了中芯國際的實力和對客戶的承諾，能夠滿足客戶需求并根據(jù)其產(chǎn)品路線，提供所需的先進節(jié)點技術。此次得到美國高通技術公司的支持，我們相信28納米技術將會成為公司最重要的增長動力之一。同時我們預期28納米產(chǎn)品生命周期長度將會超越先前的技術節(jié)點，使中芯國際能更好地服務美國高通技術公司，并支持更多的需求。” 美國高通技術公司執(zhí)行副總裁兼 QCT 聯(lián)席總裁 Murthy Renduchintala 表示：“中芯國際是美國高通技術公司的重要供應商之一，其實力和技術產(chǎn)品正不斷提升以滿足我們更高的產(chǎn)品需求。我們很高興能與中芯國際合作，并期待共同在中國開始其28納米產(chǎn)品制造，并執(zhí)行我們的區(qū)域供應鏈戰(zhàn)略。中芯國際正日漸成為我們?nèi)蜻\營中一個更重要的供應商，此項合作也將進一步提升我們在中國這個全球最大的移動消費市場的制造和服務能力。” 本文授權編譯自EE Times，版權所有，謝絕轉載 編譯：Luffy Liu 參考英文原文：China's SMIC-Qualcomm 28-nm Deal: Why Now?，by Junko Yoshida

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{pagination} China's SMIC-Qualcomm 28-nm Deal: Why Now? Junko Yoshida MADISON, Wis. — China's largest foundry, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC), and Qualcomm, the world's most dominant baseband cellular processor company, revealed Thursday, July 3 that they are collaborating on 28-nm wafer production in China. Under the agreement, Qualcomm will offer support to accelerate SMIC's 28-nm process maturity, while SMIC will make Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon processors on 28-nm node, both PolySiON (PS) and high-K dielectrics metal gate. With its future growth dependent on the advancement of its 28-nm technologies, the deal marks a big win for SMIC. Less clear is what advantages this will give to Qualcomm, other than mending the company's relationship with the Chinese government. SMIC isn't exactly known for cutting-edge process technologies, compared to other foundry giants. Indeed, in an exclusive interview with EE Times last March, Tzu-Yin Chiu, SMIC's CEO acknowledged a broadening technology gap with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC). At a time when leading fab owners are busy talking about a 14-nm process node, SMIC's CEO then said that its 28-nm process node is "now frozen," allowing potential customers to test and verify SMIC's newest node. Where SMIC's 28-nm process technologies stand. (Source: SMIC) Where SMIC's 28-nm process technologies stand. (Source: SMIC) Antitrust investigation in China Since China launched an antitrust probe into Qualcomm late last year, speculation abounds that Chinese authorities are probing ways to coerce Qualcomm into collaborating with their electronics industry. Qualcomm reportedly faces penalties that may exceed $1 billion. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China's main planning body, raided Qualcomm's Beijing and Shanghai offices last year. The NDRC has used the anti-monopoly law to target technology companies for practices that could lead to what it calls "unreasonably" high prices. In February, the Chinese regulator said it suspects Qualcomm of overcharging and abusing its market position. When asked where the NDRC's antitrust investigation stands today, Christine Trimble, Qualcomm's vice president of public affairs, told EE Times, "We continue to fully cooperate with the NDRC and have no further comment." Qualcomm is also saying very little about the deal with SMIC. Asked about which Snapdragon processors SMIC will make and when Qualcomm expects production to start, the company spokesman said, "We're not disclosing any details." When questioned why Qualcomm decided to pick SMIC as its foundry partner in China, the spokesman spoke in boilerplate: "Qualcomm has been collaborating with SMIC several years and this announcement represents an extension of this relationship to the 28-nm technology node." In contrast, SMIC is much more willing to disclose the company's future plan with Qualcomm. SMIC noted in a press release that this isn't its first date with Qualcomm. "Previously, SMIC has supported Qualcomm on power management, wireless and connectivity related IC products at various process nodes." With the new agreement, SMIC said it will work with Qualcomm on 28-nm design-ins and products for the growing mobile communication industry. Further, the company said, "Going forward, SMIC will also extend its technology offerings on 3DIC and RF front-end wafer manufacturing in support of Qualcomm as its Snapdragon product portfolio continues to expand." While SMIC has been riding the wave of Chinese fabless growth, Qualcomm remains undeniably the most dominant cellphone chip supplier in China and globally. It's been often pointed out that only a small portion of semiconductors consumed in China are actually produced in China. In her recent blog post on EE Times, Jin Zhang, senior director of marketing and general manager for Asia Pacific at Oski Technology, pointed out China's IC consumption and production gap, including an alarmingly widening gap projected for 2015 and beyond. In the eyes of many Chinese industry sources, that's a hot button issue. China's integrated circuit consumption and production comparison. (Source: 'Continuing to Grow, China's Impact on the Semiconductor Industry,' 2013 update, PwC) China's integrated circuit consumption and production comparison. (Source: "Continuing to Grow, China's Impact on the Semiconductor Industry," 2013 update, PwC) As Zhang noted, "Most of the ICs consumed in China are provided by semiconductor giants such as Intel, Samsung, TI, Freescale, and Qualcomm. Hence, the growth of China's semiconductor industry offered tremendous opportunities and rewards for multinational companies (MNCs) in the semiconductor industry." In that context, Qualcomm working with SMIC on 28-nm process technology and wafer manufacturing services is likely viewed as a step in the right direction for China.