As Tsinghua University celebrated its 110th anniversary, the School of Integrated Circuits of Tsinghua University was formally established on the 22nd.
The college has three secondary institutions, namely the Institute of Integrated Electronics Science, the Institute of Integrated Circuit Design, and the Institute of Integrated Circuit Manufacturing. It faces the important opportunities for the intergenerational update of integrated circuit technology and focuses on the construction of the first-level disciplines of integrated circuit science and engineering. The layout includes electronic science, integrated circuit design methodology and EDA, integrated circuit design and application, integrated circuit devices and manufacturing technology, MEMS and microsystems, packaging and system integration, integrated circuit special equipment, integrated circuit special materials and other research directions.
The inauguration ceremony of the School of Integrated Circuits, Tsinghua University.
Photo by Jiang Qiming
According to reports, in 2020, Tsinghua University, in accordance with the methods and procedures for the independent review of degree authorization, agreed to independently review the establishment of a doctoral and master degree authorization point for first-level disciplines in integrated circuit science and engineering.
In April 2021, after discussion and approval at the 158th Standing Committee meeting of the 14th Party Committee of Tsinghua University, it was decided to establish the School of Integrated Circuits of Tsinghua University.
Integrated circuits have strong interdisciplinary characteristics, and high-end chips are the crystallization of the intersection of basic research and cutting-edge engineering technology.
At present, my country still has some difficult problems in the field of integrated circuits, and the problem of "stuck neck" still exists in key areas.
What is the significance of the establishment of Tsinghua University's School of Integrated Circuits?
How to solve the "stuck neck" problem in the field of integrated circuits in my country in the future?
Chinanews reporters walked into Tsinghua University, interviewed industry professionals, experts and scholars, and brought you authoritative interpretations.
Why are integrated circuits important?
How do integrated circuits affect our lives?
From rockets, satellites, and spacecraft to mobile phones, computers, and washing machines, as the "heart" of many machines and equipment, integrated circuits are almost ubiquitous in human life.
Since the invention of the world's first integrated circuit in 1958, integrated circuits have evolved from a method of miniaturizing circuits to the core of information systems, supporting the development of strategic industries.
"Integrated circuits represent the highest level of micro-nano manufacturing in the world today. They are the culmination of human ultra-fine processing technology and are also cutting-edge science and engineering technology that integrates multiple disciplines." said Liu Ming, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Looking back at history, China's integrated circuit technology research started not too late.
In the mid-1950s, when my country began to implement the first five-year plan, semiconductors, an emerging science and technology at the time, received great attention from the country.
The School of Integrated Circuits of Tsinghua University was inaugurated.
Photo by Jiang Qiming
According to media reports, China successfully developed the first batch of semiconductor devices-germanium alloy transistors in 1956 without technical information and complete equipment.
In 1961, China's first integrated circuit research group was established. In 1965, the first generation of monolithic integrated circuits came out in Beijing, Shijiazhuang, Shanghai and other places.
However, while emphasizing "self-reliance and hard work", each company designs, develops, and sells itself in a closed environment.
Since then, the development path of the integrated circuit industry has become tortuous.
After the reform and opening up, the development of China's integrated circuits has become more inclined towards equipment renewal, and it has begun to increase its dependence on foreign imports.
The establishment of the academy is not for listing, but for reform
At present, the development of China's integrated circuit industry is also facing the problem of lack of talents, especially the lack of leading talents and compound innovative talents. This has become a soft aid restricting the development of my country's integrated circuit industry.
Supporting the development of China's integrated circuit industry requires accelerating the training of high-level talents in short supply and strengthening the discipline development of integrated circuits.
Nowadays, the development of disciplines is accelerating.
On April 22, the School of Integrated Circuits of Tsinghua University was formally established.
According to the school's introduction, the college will aim at the major national strategic needs, focus on the frontiers of integrated circuits, break disciplinary barriers, strengthen interdisciplinary, break through key core technologies, cultivate talents urgently needed by the country, better serve the national science and technology self-reliance and self-reliance development strategy, and support China's integration Independent innovation and development of the circuit business.
Chen Xu, Secretary of the Party Committee of Tsinghua University, delivered a speech.
Photo by Jiang Qiming
At the inauguration ceremony of the college that day, Wu Huaqiang, the first dean of the School of Integrated Circuits at Tsinghua University, said that the establishment of the college is not simply "hanging a brand", but "a change is needed."
In order to promote the cross integration of disciplines, the college will explore the 1+N joint mechanism.
Wu Huaqiang further introduced that "1" means that the Institute of Integrated Circuits was jointly established by the original Department of Micro and Nano Electronics and the Department of Electronics.
After the establishment of the college, there are three secondary institutions, namely, the Institute of Integrated Nanoelectronics, the Institute of Integrated Circuit Design, and the Institute of Integrated Circuit Manufacturing; "N" refers to the integration of multidisciplinary.
The college will actively innovate in the teacher employment mechanism and organized scientific research, and establish cross-research centers with related departments.
According to another report, in terms of the setting of disciplines, the college plans to establish three second-level disciplines of integrated electronics science, integrated circuit design and design automation, and integrated circuit manufacturing engineering under the first-level disciplines of integrated circuit science and engineering. It accepts electronic science, integrated circuit design methodology, EDA, integrated circuit design and application and other disciplines, covering the entire industrial chain of integrated circuits.
Talking about the two important goals of the college for setting up first-level disciplines, Professor Chi Baoyong of the School of Integrated Circuits said that on the one hand, it is to carry out leading technical research, on the other hand, it is to cultivate high-level talents.
He also mentioned that according to the requirements of the school, the college’s doctoral training is divided into engineering doctors and part-time engineering doctors, and it is exploring the establishment of special training models to cover basic research, engineering technology, industrial needs and many other aspects. , While expanding the scale of talent training, it also addresses the country's demand for integrated circuit talents at different levels.
Cross-discipline integration construction solves the "stuck neck" problem
"Integrated circuits have strong interdisciplinary characteristics, and high-end chips are the crystallization of the intersection of basic research and cutting-edge engineering technology. To achieve major scientific and technological breakthroughs and original innovation breakthroughs, there is an increasing need for the integration of multiple disciplines. Integrated innovation of key technologies.” said Hao Yue, director of the Information Science Department of the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
Hao Yue pointed out that there are still some thorny problems in the field of integrated circuits in China, and there are still "stuck necks" in key areas. There is an urgent need to improve the scientific and technological independent innovation system, strengthen interdisciplinary integration, and enhance original innovation capabilities.
Qiu Yong, President of Tsinghua University, delivered a speech.
Photo by Jiang Qiming
"How to build intersecting disciplines, in fact, everyone is discussing." Chi Baoyong said, according to the current college construction plan, the College of Integrated Circuits will jointly build some disciplines with other faculties, and the colleges set up multiple research directions. With the characteristics of interdisciplinary.
For example, the college plans to jointly build "Integrated Circuit Design Methodology and EDA" with the Department of Computer Science and Technology and the School of Software.
"We hope to break the barriers that originally existed between the various professions with clear boundaries."
What are the "stuck neck" problems in the development of China's integrated circuit industry that need to be solved urgently?
Chi Baoyong talked about EDA (Electronic Design Automation), the current research direction of "the card is more powerful", as well as the materials and equipment of integrated circuits.
Some departments of Tsinghua University have already laid a good research foundation in related areas.
After the establishment of the Institute of Integrated Circuits, these research foundations will also become useful supplementary forces to promote breakthroughs in integrated circuits related fields.
Chi Baoyong also mentioned that the college hopes to achieve some breakthroughs in high-end chips such as processors and memories, EDA, semiconductor equipment, etc., to solve some problems in the fields from the bottom material equipment to the upper system chip and the intermediate software support. , Allowing China's integrated circuit industry to break through the foreign technology blockade a few years later.
Ming Liu believes that from the development trend of integrated circuit technology, the current cutting-edge technology of integrated circuits is constantly approaching its physical limits.
To solve the "stuck neck" problem, it is not only necessary to improve the overall high-end manufacturing level of the country, but also to find new breakthrough paths, seize transformative innovation opportunities, and form competitive checks and balances.
Chi Baoyong also said that the main advantage of colleges and universities is to play a leading role.
It is hoped that in a few years, the construction of the Institute of Integrated Circuits can lead the long-term development of related technologies in the world, while forming China's own technological advantages.
"They (foreign countries) have their technological advantages, and we have our technological advantages, so that we can form a situation of'you are in me and you are in me'."
"If we have our advantages in certain key technologies, this (technical blockade) situation will be easily broken in the future." Chi Baoyong said.
Author: Sha Li Chun Ma Shuai