US Semiconductor Industry Faces Challenge From China's Research Output

China's Semiconductor Research Dominance

China is producing twice as many research papers as the US on chip design and fabrication, laying the foundation for a possible leadership role in next-generation semiconductor technology, according to a US think tank.

While China is behind in advanced semiconductors and faces restrictions on acquiring high-end chipmaking tools, Chinese scholars have published a total of 160,852 chip-related papers from 2018 to 2023, more than the next three ranked countries combined. The Emerging Technology Observatory at Georgetown University reveals that the US was a distant second with 71,688 articles, amounting to less than half of China's output.

Key Findings from the ETO Report

• Chinese institutions dominate chip-related research, claiming nine spots in the top ten producers
• The Chinese Academy of Sciences leads in both total publications and citations
• Around 475,000 global chip design articles published from 2018 to 2023

China’s surge in chip research is part of its strategy for self-reliance in the semiconductor industry amid sanctions from Washington. The report indicates that China is expanding its power sector and developing domestic AI chips to mitigate Western dependence.

This growth is paralleled by a significant return of skilled researchers to China, including experts from prominent institutions like Tsinghua University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

Ongoing Tech War Implications

The tech war between the US and China is intensifying, especially after the Biden administration's stricter export controls in 2022. Recent restrictions on chipmaking equipment have targeted 140 Chinese semiconductor firms, further complicating the landscape.

The findings urge stakeholders in the US semiconductor industry to take note of these developments to strategize effectively amid a rapidly changing competitive environment.