The Chinese semiconductor sector noticeably lags behind the leading Western market players and struggles with a shortage of skilled personnel. This isn’t merely an observation, but a sentiment voiced directly by Chinese firms operating within this industry.
At the Semicon China 2026 exhibition in Shanghai, the heads of numerous local chip-related enterprises articulated this viewpoint.
Participating in the discussion were executives from ACM Research, National Silicon Industry Group, Sino IC Leasing, and Chongqing Xinlian Microelectronics, who talked over investment focal points, supply chain pressures, and ambitions to bring Chinese semiconductor manufacturing equipment onto the global stage.
They voiced apprehension regarding several issues currently plaguing the Chinese industry. Foremost among these is the lack of entry to state-of-the-art process technologies. It was highlighted that domestic tools required for manufacturing next-generation chips have yet to be conceived. According to the CEO of ACM Research, this specific hurdle is likely to dictate the industry’s evolutionary path in the near term.
Li Haiming, Senior Vice President at Chongqing Xinlian Microelectronics, pointed out that the rapid advancement of the AI segment, and the corresponding expansion in production volumes of various chips and components by Chinese firms, is being hampered by an insufficient pool of qualified experts. He further commented that while China maintains a degree of competitiveness in the consumer chip segment, it remains behind by five to ten years when it comes to producing chips for data centers.
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