In the previous year, a seasoned Silicon Valley software executive assumed leadership at a startup in China, as per company records. The startup stated intentions to sell microchip design software mainly available from a small group of prominent Western companies. The software, known as OPC, is essential for developing advanced microchips. The production of advanced chips is a key point of contention in the ongoing technological struggle between the United States and China as they compete for dominance in both economic and military realms. As Washington seeks to limit China's access to sensitive microchip design tools, SEIDA's strategy highlights the challenges in containing such efforts.
Before leading SEIDA, Liguo "Recoo" Zhang had established permanent residency in the United States and had bought property in Silicon Valley, following his work at Siemens EDA, a U.S. division of Siemens AG. This company dominates the Chinese market for the technology that SEIDA intended to sell. At least three other Chinese-born colleagues from Siemens EDA also joined Zhang at SEIDA.
SEIDA's business plan, presented to investors in 2022, positioned OPC as "indispensable technology" and proposed to launch the tool by early 2024 in China to address the foreign monopoly, aiding China's self-reliance in chip technology. The startup's aspiration was to "Become OPC leader in the world," a vision that garnered support from influential Chinese investors, including an investment arm of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), a major microchip manufacturer in China.
Upon visiting SEIDA's headquarters in Hangzhou, China, Reuters found that Zhang was unavailable for an interview, and an email from SEIDA's chief operating officer indicated that their prospectus was outdated and the company's objectives had evolved. The company's financial backing primarily originated from "private institutions and individuals."
Siemens EDA acknowledged Zhang's departure and the departure of three other colleagues, considering SEIDA "a potential competitor" but refraining from further comments. It remains unclear whether SEIDA has made progress in selling OPC. Given the complexity and importance of the technology, experts and individuals familiar with Beijing's efforts to bypass U.S. restrictions on technology transfer suggest that SEIDA's entry follows a pattern of Chinese firms leveraging foreign expertise to develop comparable products.
The story of SEIDA underscores the difficulties the West faces in impeding Chinese advancements in advanced microchip technology. While U.S. export controls may deter China's progress, it's unlikely to halt China's development in chip technology entirely. Both countries aim for self-sufficiency in advanced microchip manufacturing, and access to Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools, including OPC software, is crucial to achieving this goal.
SEIDA represents one of many Chinese tech startups established to bolster China's domestic semiconductor industry. Despite some challenges in tracking the extent of the Chinese government's involvement and the specific incentives for executives like Zhang and his colleagues, a trend of increased Chinese investment in the semiconductor sector is evident.
SEIDA's ongoing evolution and its ability to secure significant investment signify the dynamism of the semiconductor industry and its broader strategic implications in the global technological landscape. It reflects the intricate interplay between regulatory environments, industry competition, and national technological ambitions.