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This thesis aims to explore the development planning and significance of epitaxial wafer inspection equipment companies during the backdrop of the US-China trade war. Given the strategic importance of the semiconductor industry for both countries, the Chinese government has directly guided and promoted the development of its domestic semiconductor industry, while also strongly supporting the advancement of indigenization. On the other hand, the United States has implemented blockade policies on China's semiconductor industry, with a particular focus on chips, making them a central concern in the trade war. Epitaxial wafers serve as the critical first step in the wafer manufacturing process, directly impacting the yield of the final products, as well as the brand image and customer trust of the companies. Currently, epitaxial wafer inspection employs state-of-the-art automated inspection equipment, enabling high-efficiency, high-precision, high-reliability, and high-stability production through automated inspection methods.
This study aims to examine the early-stage government policy support process for TSMC, the world's largest semiconductor wafer foundry, and the initial development trajectory of KLA, a leading company in epitaxial wafer automated inspection equipment. It also incorporates current Chinese policies on semiconductors to provide a comprehensive overview of the strategic significance and market prospects of the epitaxial wafer automated inspection industry. In the case study, this research first analyzes the semiconductor market, policies, industry development trends, challenges, and prospects. Through a PEST analysis, this study recognizes the significant favorable environment for policy support in the current semiconductor industry, particularly in the development of automated inspection, which lays a solid foundation for its advancement. By combining the current status and trend demands of automated testing of epitaxial wafers in the semiconductor industry and referencing the development processes of TSMC and KLA, a case analysis is conducted. Furthermore, this study proposes recommendations for the Chinese government's industry policies to support the development of semiconductor enterprises. These recommendations emphasize considering the level of supply chain improvement and the degree of technological independence in determining the extent of government intervention, with the option to refer to TSMC's interventionist support approach or adopt KLA's preferential support approach. |