Help "new infrastructure" speed up the third-generation semiconductor industry needs to "misaligned development" to prevent bubbles

"New infrastructure" is one of the recent buzzwords. The National Development and Reform Commission recently clarified for the first time the scope of new infrastructure - new infrastructure is led by the new development concept, driven by technological innovation, based on information networks, facing the needs of high-quality development, providing digital transformation, intelligent upgrading, convergence and innovation services infrastructure system.

"In the main areas of 'new infrastructure' represented by 5G, Internet of Things, industrial Internet, etc., third-generation semiconductors can all play an important role." Prof. Shen Bo from Broadband Semiconductor Research Center of Peking University introduced that the third-generation semiconductors, i.e. broadband semiconductors, represented by silicon carbide and gallium nitride, have superior performance such as high frequency, high efficiency, high power, high voltage resistance, high temperature resistance, strong radiation resistance, etc. They are the key core materials to support the development of independent innovation and transformation and upgrading of new generation mobile communication, new energy vehicles, high-speed rail trains, energy internet and other industries. and electronic components.

Shen Bo explained that, compared to the current in the field of power semiconductors still dominate the traditional silicon-based devices, the third generation of semiconductor power electronics can make electronic and electrical equipment further efficient, miniaturization, intelligent. For example, high-voltage, high-current, low-loss silicon carbide-based power electronic devices and modules can be used in smart grid, high-speed rail transportation, new energy vehicles, etc.; high-efficiency, small volume, low-voltage gallium nitride power electronic devices and modules can be used in a new generation of general-purpose power supplies, such as power supplies for large data centers, mobile communication base stations, Internet of Things terminal devices, as well as power adapters for cell phones, laptops and wireless fast-moving devices. It has great technical advantages and market space, such as power adapter for mobile phone, notebook computer and wireless fast charging source.

Among them, the third generation of semiconductor RF electronic devices in the civilian and military fields have achieved large-scale applications. In particular, due to the performance advantages of high frequency, high power and large bandwidth, GaN RF electronic devices and modules play an irreplaceable role in the construction of 5G mobile communication base stations, and the speeding up of China's 5G construction will trigger the rapid growth of demand for GaN RF electronic devices.

Looking at the international, the global semiconductor industry as a whole is in a downturn in 2019, but the third-generation semiconductor technology, products, market and investment all show high growth, and leading companies have strengthened their layout in the third-generation semiconductor field by adjusting business areas, expanding capacity supply, integrating mergers and acquisitions, and enhancing competitive ability. In contrast, China's third-generation semiconductor power electronics and RF electronics industry is in its infancy, has initially formed from materials, devices to the application of the whole industry chain, but the overall technology level is still 3-5 years behind the world's top level, the urgent need to break through the core key technologies and reliability, consistency and other engineering applications of materials, devices, packaging and applications.

"'New infrastructure' speed up for China's third-generation semiconductor industry development provides a valuable opportunity, the domestic market for the third generation of semiconductor materials and devices to rapidly increase demand, end-use enterprises are also adjusting the supply chain to support domestic enterprises, previously difficult to enter the supply chain of industry chain upstream and midstream products will gain downstream user verification opportunities and enter the supply chain of multiple key manufacturers." The third-generation semiconductor industry technology development strategy alliance secretary general Yu Kunshan said.

The recently released "Third Generation Semiconductor Industry Technology Development Report (2019)" predicts that the market size of China's third generation semiconductor power electronic device applications will be nearly 20 billion yuan in 2024, with a compound growth rate of more than 40% in the next five years.

In the face of rare opportunities, Yu Kunshan suggested that China's third-generation semiconductor industry should be more down-to-earth, stable and far. "In the past few years, a large number of policy resources tilt, many places will be the third generation of semiconductor as a key support industry, multiple measures to solicit projects, but also caused some low-level duplication. In view of this, around the strong support for industrial development at the same time, but also need to pay attention to coordination, staggered development, good project screening, combined with local industries, talent and resource advantages, consider the financial carrying capacity and policy cost yield, according to local conditions supporting policies."

In addition, the third-generation semiconductor industry in the past two years, the rapid growth of the market is mainly due to the country's strong advocacy of the independent semiconductor industry gained capital to enter, as well as silicon carbide, gallium nitride devices in new energy vehicles, 5G, data centers and other areas of new applications, but the current economic downturn led to the decline of consumer electronics, automotive and even industrial motors and other types of products market, exports are hampered, the downstream demand shrinks. "The industry should train hard, constantly improve product performance and competitiveness, dig deeper into innovative applications, expand the incremental market while constantly expanding the penetration rate in the stock market, to promote the benign and sustainable development of the third-generation semiconductor industry, but also to face 'to seize the first opportunity to over-investment, but the start of the market is often lower than expected ' This contradiction, grasp the rhythm of industrial development." Yu Kunshan stressed. (Reporter Cao Xiuying)