Shanxi forges semiconductor industry alliance

In a major initiative to boost the semiconductor industry in Shanxi province, 54 companies and five research institutes established the Shanxi Semiconductor Industry Alliance in local Changzhi city on May 29. 

The alliance will form industrial standards and proprietary technologies with independent intellectual property rights. 

It will also carry out joint research on major problems and key technologies that restrict the development of the semiconductor industry, and enhance the innovation of the semiconductor industry in Shanxi province based on technical research and independent innovation -- so as to improve the province's competitiveness in the field.

The semiconductor industry has experience rapid growth in Shanxi in recent years with the output value exceeding 10 billion yuan ($1.45 billion) in 2018. 

More than 50 companies now rank at the top of the list in China globally in the semiconductor-related sectors – including semiconductor materials and substrates, high-performance photovoltaic cell manufacturing, ultra-small-pitch LED displays and intelligent manufacturing equipment. 

The new alliance will build a platform for information exchanges, technical cooperation and market applications. 

It will also promote the integration and exchange of resources and promote innovation and scale development in semiconductor industry. 

In addition, Shanxi plans to build a major Taiyuan-Xinzhou semiconductor industry cluster, as well as a Changzhi-Jincheng optoelectronics industry cluster, and additionally a Lyuliang-Jinzhong photovoltaic industry cluster that rides the back of the development in semiconductors.