Chongqing- On November 25, the Chongqing Integrated Circuit (IC) Industry Development Summit Forum marked a significant convergence of over 300 government, academia, and industry leaders, charting the future of IC industrial development.

The Chongqing Integrated Circuit Industry Development Summit Forum was held at the Yuzhou Hotel on November 25. (Photo/ Chongqing Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone Media Center)

Southwest China's Chongqing, known for its traditional industry and electronic information sector, boasts a comprehensive chain encompassing chip design, wafer manufacturing, packaging, testing, and raw material support. It has fostered an industrial innovation ecosystem, which includes talent cultivation, industry incubation, and process services. 

Chen Nanxiang, Chairman of the China Semiconductor Industry Association and China's leading memory chip maker, Yangtze Memory Technologies Co., Ltd. (YMTC), highlighted Chongqing's strong foundation in the IC industry and its potential. He urged further resource integration and international cooperation to boost China's semiconductor industry.

Zhang Xinghai, Vice President of the All-China Chamber of Industry and Commerce and Chairman of Seres Group, anticipates that Chongqing's automotive chip industry will experience a significant leap forward in tandem with the evolving new energy vehicle (NEV) industry. Zhang expects the forum to spur industrial innovation and contribute to China's NEV industry and economic development.

Li Hong, CEO of CR Micro, emphasized Chongqing's rapid integrated circuit industry growth and robust automotive manufacturing foundation. He noted the city's focus on building an intelligent connected vehicle industry cluster, with vehicle-grade chips becoming a key component.

Li also mentioned CR Micro's targeted development in Chongqing, including investments in 8-inch and 12-inch wafer fabs and advanced power module packaging bases, to strengthen local industry ties.

According to Zhao Bin, Deputy Director of the Chongqing Economic and Information Technology Commission, there were over 80 integrated circuit enterprises in the city, with a revenue of about 42.9 billion yuan (about 6.1 billion U.S. dollars) in 2022. The city plans to focus on power semiconductors, silicon-based optoelectronics, hybrid chips, and compound semiconductors.

In Western (Chongqing) Science City, a hub for the integrated circuit industry, the industrial output value reached 7.77 billion yuan from January to October 2023, accounting for about 42% of the city's total.

Strategic cooperation agreements were signed at the forum between the Chongqing Economic and Information Technology Commission and the China Semiconductor Industry Association, as well as between the Western (Chongqing) Science City and ICwise, a provider of market research and advisory services to the China semiconductor and electronics industry. 

These agreements aim for deep collaboration in electronic information and semiconductors, promoting high-quality development in Chongqing's integrated circuit industry.

The signing ceremony of a strategic cooperation at the Chongqing Integrated Circuit Industry Development Summit Forum. (Photo/ Chongqing Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone Media Center)