Shanghai Huali Microelectronics Corp. (HLMC)

History

2023: Investment from the state fund for faster transition to 10nm process technology

In early December 2023, it became known that the Chinese Large Fund II (China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund II) invested $1 billion in the local manufacturer of integrated circuits Shanghai Huali Microelectronics Corp. (HLMC), which is part of HuaHong Group. The money will be used to develop new technological processes and modernize the capacity for the production of chips with norms less than 10 nm.

Unlike Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC), which has historically been positioned as China's leading microchip venture, HLMC remains in the shadows. Officially, this company claims the ability to produce products using 22nm and 28nm technologies. At the same time, DigiTimes reports that back in 2020, HLMC began producing 14-nm chips based on FinFET transistors using immersion lithography equipment in deep ultraviolet light (DUV). Moreover, many such installations can be used to produce articles with standards of less than 10 nm.

Large Fund II has invested $1 billion in local integrated chip manufacturer Shanghai Huali Microelectronics Corp.

With China unable to purchase advanced chipmaking tools due to sanctions from the outside, local USA companies are looking for alternative ways to improve manufacturing technology. In particular, HLMC uses multipatterning to increase the density of the elements.

HLMC and other Chinese companies working in the field of semiconductor products receive significant funding from the Grand Fund II. The PRC is actively developing an appropriate direction to get rid of dependence on foreign suppliers. At the same time, against the background of sanctions pressure, local developers and manufacturers prefer not to disclose information about achievements in the field of new technological processes.^[1]

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