Chapter 43: No Change? Waiting for the Darwin Lunch Box!
The conference room was in an uproar. Huaji actually made EDA?
"Boss Rao, how long has this been going on? Why haven't we heard any news?"
"Is it developed in-house? Or is it a copycat of Synopsys?"
"Why haven't I heard that Huaji is working on an EDA R&D project? Now they say they've made it, so doesn't that mean they've been planning it for at least ten years?"
"Ten years of planning? No way! Have you considered this far ahead?"
Hearing the bosses' discussion, Rao Huiling could only keep smiling.
If we tell them that Pangu EDA was written by a kid six years ago, would they be shocked?
For the sake of these middle-aged men's chins, Rao Huiling simply adopted an attitude of neither admitting nor denying their speculation.
"Mr. Rao, let me be honest. Even if you develop EDA, we wouldn't dare use it."
"Synopsys and other companies have withstood the test of all semiconductor manufacturers around the world. We use them without worrying about problems occurring during the engineering design drawing stage. You know, once there's a problem with EDA, it affects the entire tape-out."
"Not to mention the finished product, which might not even be usable."
"Of course, I'm not saying your EDA software is bad. After all, I've never seen it before. I just want to say that we can't afford such a huge trial and error cost."
"Mr. Zhang is right! We all have families to support, and we can't easily replace EDA."
“Have you ever used what you developed?”
Yu Bei noticed that the wind was blowing in the wrong direction and hurriedly said, "Don't worry, our company has already started using the products it developed. It's because there are no problems that we dare to recommend them to you."
"Mr. Yu, how long has your EDA been running?"
"If I remember correctly, you seem to be only involved in chip design, not packaging and manufacturing?"
Yu Bei didn't say anything, because what the other party said was indeed correct. He could only hope that the other party didn't know that Shui Jidian had rejected Sanhua.
"Do you know that if the chip files are not designed using the EDA of the Big Three, the foundry will not accept our orders?"
"We were notified yesterday that Sanhua was rejected by Shuijidian!"
"You told us to replace your EDA, but you're asking our entire semiconductor team to come after you!"
"It's almost November now, and the Lunar New Year is approaching. With the Sanhua incident, we were already worried that the ban and restrictions would fall on us. Now we are asked to take the initiative to touch the minefield. I really can't do it!"
"That's right! If we switch to your EDA, we'll most likely face a situation where the entire industry will come to a standstill!"
The noise in the conference room grew louder and louder, and Luo Yao woke up from his sleep.
Luo Yao didn't like noisy environments. After listening carefully for a while, he understood the bosses' concerns. He stood up helplessly, turned around and said to the arguing bosses:
"Do you know why Synopsys chose Sanhua Enterprise instead of you this time?"
Why? Because Sanhua complained to Synopsys!
The bosses gradually stopped talking and looked at Luo Yao.
Only then did I realize that the other person was a young man.
Luo Yao ignored their gazes and continued:
"Do you think it's because Sanhua complained about Synopsys?"
The bosses were stunned and thought, isn’t that right?
"This is just a superficial phenomenon. The deeper reason is that Sanhua has recently expanded its production scale and received more orders, including orders from customers in countries like the United States."
"While Sanhua secured orders, some foreign memory chip manufacturers also lost orders."
"As China vigorously develops its chip industry, aren't foreign competitors afraid?"
"Don't forget that every country protects its own industries. Will they just watch our products run rampant on their land, squeezing out the living space of local manufacturers?"
"With so many companies in the chip industry, upstream, midstream, and downstream, why do you think they won't band together to attack us?"
Luo Yao didn't speak loudly, and he didn't even use a microphone, but his words hit them hard.
"Little brother, are you saying that even if we don't cause trouble, the other party will find an excuse to suppress us?"
Luo Yao looked at the person who was speaking with suspicion: "You guys are not really so stupid as to think that others will let you go if you act like turtles?"
“…”
The bosses' blood pressure immediately soared to an all-time high, and some of the more irritable ones quickly spoke up: "How can you talk like that, kid! How can we be so stupid!"
Luo Yao looked at the other party and said, "You see the three giants as tools, but you didn't expect that the three giants see you as real tools."
"They can reap what they want, and restrict your development , and in the end, you think they're good people."
"If you continue on your previous path, it won't be long before the Big Three, along with the rest of the semiconductor industry, begin restricting you."
"In addition to software, there may also be issues involving equipment, materials, and product sales."
"To put it simply, in their eyes, you are just their factory. You only need to take the lowest processing fee. You don't need to innovate at all."
"Do you know Darwin's law of biological evolution?"
“Survival of the fittest.”
"If you don't want to change, then you'll be punished!"
Get a box lunch?
Doesn't this mean they're going to fall apart?
No one can accept being told that their company can't survive, let alone these bosses who have worked hard in the semiconductor industry for half their lives.
But what Luo Yao said forced them to calm down and re-examine their cooperative relationship with the Big Three.
A few steps ahead was a cliff, and the three giants were waiting for them to cross.
If you go backwards, you can't see the road clearly, and no one knows whether there is a quagmire or a pool behind.
"Little brother, what you said is indeed right, but your words are a bit easy to say. As an ordinary boss, we are thinking about how to make as much money as possible right now." A pot-bellied old man stood up and said.
"You might think I'm being narrow-minded when I say this, but I have six people in my family and one child."
"There are 1,387 people in our factory. This is not just a number!"
"These are real people with families behind them. If I use your EDA, it will definitely be affected. Even if we are self-sufficient, where will the orders come from?"
"To give a simple example, if customers are used to having chips manufactured by Epson Semiconductor, and we suddenly switch to a foundry, what will they think?"
"No orders means no income, and more than a thousand families will be affected."
“I also want to try our own EDA, but the risk is too great.”
"Only when you have a small family can you take care of everyone else. If you can't even take care of your own family, how can you have the energy to take care of everyone else?"
The man's words resonated with the others. It wasn't that they didn't want to take a gamble, but that they didn't dare to.
It is certainly exciting that Hua Ji has developed EDA, but what comes next?
How much will it cost them?
"Mr. Rao, what should we do now?" Yu Bei asked Rao Huiling quietly.
"The worst-case scenario is that we have to subsidize the losses they incur from using Pangu."
Yu Bei was surprised and asked, "We subsidize it?"
"Well, the government gives us subsidies every year, but that's obviously not enough, so we need to pay for some of it ourselves. Fortunately, Luo Yao helped us save on EDA R&D funds, so the subsidies they gave us are really well spent."
As the two were talking, Director Sun suddenly walked up to Luo Yao and took out the microphone.
"Let me say a few words. The EDA developed by Huaji this time is of great significance. We should cooperate when necessary. Otherwise, everyone will sleep restlessly every night, always feeling that the Big Three are out to get us."
"So a short pain is worse than a long one. Let's work together this time to make this happen."
After hearing this, some people below refused to do it: "That's definitely not possible. It's almost the end of the year now. If you want to start it, wait until next spring!"
"That's right, let's celebrate the New Year first and talk about it next year!"
When the situation in the conference room was at a stalemate, several people suddenly came in.
Director Sun had sharp eyes and immediately recognized that the other person was from the China Science and Technology Innovation Center.
"Everyone, please be quiet for a moment." The man was wearing a black suit and his voice was as deep and powerful as a bell or drum. His voice penetrated the entire conference room and the room soon became quiet.
"We at the Science and Technology Innovation Center are aware of your situation. Given that Huaji's latest development, Pangu EDA, will significantly boost the chip industry, we've decided to provide subsidies of up to 20 million yuan per year to companies that install and use Pangu EDA software to help us overcome these difficult times."
"In addition, companies that use Pangu EDA software will enjoy priority when applying for other subsidies or participating in activities."
"The application period for subsidies is limited to today. After today, there will be no chance to enjoy the subsidies."
Everyone in the conference room was stunned.
The maximum subsidy is 20 million yuan per year.
Holy crap! When has the official dad ever been so generous?
Can you enjoy priority privileges?!
Why don’t you quickly hold on to the official father’s thigh!
"Where do I sign up?"
"I want to sign up! Please help me register!"
"Director Sun, please find someone to help Huaji register."
"Okay, I'll do it right away." Director Sun, who received the task, immediately took out his mobile phone and started calling people.
The man in the black suit walked up to Luo Yao and said gently, "You are Luo Yao, right?"
Luo Yao nodded.
"Okay, okay, I finally saw it today."
"If you need anything in the future, just let us know. If Huaji can't do it, we will definitely cooperate with you."
so good?
So we can turn to them for any R&D technology needs in the future?
"This is our dedicated phone number. It prevents us from being monitored or eavesdropped on. If you need anything, just call the number on the communication line."
"Then say the security code 'miracle' to reach me."
Miracle?
A smile appeared on Luo Yao's lips.
Well, they always have.
At this time, Zhao Pei from Sanhua hurriedly walked over to Rao Huiling and the others and said, "Boss Rao, should we start setting up the production line now?"
"With the official leadership, what are you afraid of?" Rao Huiling said with a smile.
"By the way, Synopsys, please try to delay the process as much as possible so they don't find out that we are switching EDA."
Zhao Pei nodded and immediately rejected Synopsys's price increase request...
