半导体芯闻·2025-10-29 10:40Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the emergence of Substrate, a startup founded by James Proud, which aims to revolutionize semiconductor manufacturing by developing a new, cost-effective lithography technology that could challenge the dominance of ASML and TSMC in the industry [1][4][19]. Group 1: Company Overview - Substrate has raised over $100 million from investors, including notable figures like Peter Thiel, and is valued at over $1 billion [4]. - The company plans to establish a manufacturing facility in the U.S. to reduce reliance on overseas suppliers, aligning with national security priorities [4][19]. - Substrate's technology involves using particle accelerators to create a new type of lithography tool, which could potentially lower manufacturing costs by half [1][3]. Group 2: Technology and Innovation - The startup aims to combine proprietary particle accelerators with custom lithography machines to achieve high-resolution microchip layers comparable to those produced by leading semiconductor manufacturers [1][13]. - Substrate claims its machines can print features at 12 nanometers, matching the capabilities of ASML's latest high-NA EUV machines [13][15]. - The company has demonstrated its system at U.S. national laboratories, achieving complex patterns on wafers [14]. Group 3: Challenges and Industry Reception - Despite significant funding and ambitious plans, Substrate faces skepticism from government scientists and the semiconductor industry regarding its ability to replicate the complex supply chain within three years [4][8]. - Concerns have been raised about the reliability of using a single particle accelerator as a light source for multiple tools, which could lead to factory downtime if it fails [8]. - The company has encountered challenges in securing government funding, with initial requests for over $1 billion from the CHIPS Act being rejected [8]. Group 4: Future Plans and Goals - Substrate aims to establish a vertically integrated foundry in the U.S. for custom semiconductor production, requiring significant capital investment potentially in the range of billions of dollars [19][20]. - The company is in discussions with Texas A&M University to build a particle accelerator and factory, with an estimated investment of around $10 billion [20]. - Proud emphasizes the need for innovative solutions in semiconductor manufacturing, stating that creating a better alternative is essential for the industry's future [21].