Lao Zhang, chairman of TSMC, looked around and said word by word: "We have nearly 100,000 TSMC."

"One hundred thousand young people have 100,000 livers, one person has one liver to save TSMC!"

"We must show all our fighting will and comprehensively attack the 10-nanometer process. We must never fall behind three stars!"

Hearing this, everyone was shocked.

It turns out that this is the Nighthawk plan, working 24 hours a day and night, doing research and development!

In the past, all three shifts were working in production, but now three shifts were working in research and development!

Especially the saying "100,000 young people have 100,000 livers, one person has 100,000 livers, and one liver saves TSMC!", which moved many senior executives.

The total number of TSMC employees is now nearly 100,000!

The chairman made such a statement and would have to continue research and development for 24 hours a day and night, which is really a matter of life and death.

Seeing that the expressions on everyone's faces were not taken seriously enough, Lao Zhang continued:

"I tell you that Samsung's 10 nanometers will likely be mass-produced in the first half of 2017, or even in the fourth quarter of 2016."

"And our TSMC 16 nanometers has been behind for half a year. If 10 nanometers are behind again, it will be over!"

"So you have to have liver!"

"We must rush to Samsung and develop a 10-nanometer process in advance!"

"Do you have confidence?"

"have!"

Everyone responded.

"Very good, five directors of the R&D department, one leads the 20-nanometer process team to continue to be responsible for the optimized mass production of 20-nanometers. One leads the 16-nanometer team to continue the research and development of the 16-nanometer process. The other three leads three teams, working day and night, and they work hard on the 10-nanometer process!"

"Yes!" everyone responded.

"No matter which team is dragged down, the senior management will be dismissed directly, and other R&D personnel will be deducted all year-end bonuses!"

"After meeting!"

As he said that, Lao Zhang turned around and left, leaving behind a group of senior officials trembling.

Everyone knows that Lao Zhang is not a joke.

The 16-nanometer backward made Lao Zhang, who was over 80, look down on his face and went to the imperial capital to apologize to Wang Yi. He was left alone for three days, but he still didn't see Wang Yi in the end.

Although the result is not bad, Lao Zhang's old face has been thrown away, and the industry is watching jokes.

The dignified chairman of TSMC is so embarrassing. If others don’t fight, then Lao Zhang will really turn against him.

After senior management is dismissed, the core R&D personnel are all TSMC talents. If they cannot be laid off, they will also be deducted for the year-end bonus!

This is by no means just a statement.

Everyone knows the meaning behind this.

So after Lao Zhang left, several vice presidents and directors immediately presided over the meeting and divided the subsequent matters clearly.

Three teams, three R&D directors, and three shift schedules are all arranged in place.

The next day, the entire TSMC began a major adjustment.

Except for the 16-nanometer process R&D team, all the others were adjusted and entered three 10-nanometer process breakthrough teams.

As for the 20-nanometer R&D, it has been completed, and only some of the people are left to be responsible for the equipment debugging and the continuous improvement of yield rates. Other backbones have also invested in the 10-nanometer breakthrough!

The entire TSMC has entered a special period.

[100,000 young people have 100,000 livers, one person has one liver to save TSMC!]

Such slogans are even more openly hung in TSMC's R&D department, headquarters building, conference room, etc.

It can be said that from the top management of TSMC to ordinary employees, you can see it everywhere.

Soon, this incident spread all over the world, and Samsung Semiconductor Headquarters immediately held a high-level meeting:

"One hundred thousand young people have 100,000 livers, one person has one liver to save TSMC!"

"Haha, TSMC is really anxious. It actually works 24 hours a day and develops a 10-nanometer process day and night!"

"It's really OK. This is to fully recover the disadvantage and completely catch up with our Samsung!"

Other senior executives nodded:

"Yes, judging by this attitude, Lao Zhang is really anxious. I heard that he went to Xingyi Technology to apologize and was left in the cold wind for three days!"

"Is that so? No wonder Lao Zhang has started to make TSMC feel sick all the time."

"Oh, it's a big trouble. The advantage accumulated by our Samsung has finally crossed the 20-nanometer process is likely to be easily recovered by TSMC."

"This is a big problem. We know TSMC's R&D capabilities. Although we don't want to admit it, we have to admit it, it is much taller than our Samsung."

"More importantly, Mr. Liang was restricted from losing the first instance. Before the end of next year, he may not be able to lead us in 10-nanometer technology research and development."

"Oh, this is the biggest problem. Without Lao Liang, our 10-nanometer process is much more difficult."

"It's okay, without Lao Liang, there are others, and Lao Liang's matter can be eased. At most, you can pay a compensation to TSMC to leave Lao Liang as a settlement."

"This is a good idea. As long as Lao Liang stays, our 10 nanometers will not be a problem. At worst, it can be handed over to other senior management in name only."

"But that's not enough. TSMC has started the Nighthawk program, and has been working on R&D for three shifts every 24 hours a day and night, so we can't fall behind."

"Yes, we Samsung also have to start the same operation. The R&D personnel also have to work 24 hours and carry out 10-nanometer process at full speed!"

"support!"

"Address!"

"It must be!"

"If this is not the case, we will be overtaken by TSMC."

"Okay, then we Samsung also work 24 hours a day and night, and we keep 10-nanometer process."

"TSMC is called the Nighthawk Project, and Samsung is called the Lieyang Project!"

"good!"

The next day, Samsung also quickly began to act, with R&D personnel working in three shifts and constantly developing 10-nanometer processes 24 hours a day.

In the first quarter of 2014, when mass production of 20nm has not yet begun, the 14/16nm competition has already been decided, and the next generation of 10nm R&D competition is in full swing.

As for TSMC's 12nm, it is actually not really 12nm.

On the contrary, it is just an upgraded version of TSMC's 16-nanometer process. It was originally named "16-nanometer+", but it became a 12-nanometer process just to make it nicer.

In essence, it is still a 16-nanometer process, which can be said to be the second generation of 16-nanometer process.

In fact, compared with the initial TSMC's 16-nanometer upgrade, it is only about 10%-15%.

Similarly, Samsung's 11nm process is not a real 11nm process.

On the contrary, it is just an optimized version of Samsung's 14-nanometer process, with an internal code called "14-nanometer++". It is also called "11-nanometer process for the sake of good sound."

But in essence it is still a 14-nanometer process. It can be said that the second generation of 14-nanometer process.

There is no way, Samsung's first-generation 14-nanometer process was launched first in a hurry, which was a bit of a failure. It was not as good as TSMC's 16-nanometer process, and had to be fully optimized to create the second-generation 14-nanometer++.

There is no secret in the circle, and Wang Yi also received the news:

"The TSMC Nighthawk project has indeed begun the rhythm of its previous life."

Wang Yi was not surprised that TSMC, in his previous life, began the Nighthawk project after being led by Samsung, and worked three shifts day and night to develop a 10-nanometer process.

Even the slogan is the same, and there are 100,000 young people with 100,000 livers...

There was no surprise, Samsung responded in a similar manner and began a research and development plan that was constantly being done day and night.

However, it seems that the previous life did not call it "Lieyang Plan", at least the news did not report it.

However, the two leading players, Samsung and TSMC, have taken action. How can Xingyi Semiconductor, a follower, remain indifferent?

That certainly won't work.

Thinking of this, Wang Yi directly called Mr. Hu:

"Old Hu, you know all the actions of Samsung and TSMC recently?"

Mr. Hu sighed: "I know, but I didn't expect these two companies to start a R&D competition. It's so heartless that it's not a good thing for us."

"Yes, the impact is too big." Wang Yi said helplessly:

"We were originally followers, but now we have crossed 20 nanometers and directly made 14 nanometers. We finally have hope to overtake on the curve. Now they rely on the number of people to start the 10-nanometer R&D competition simultaneously, so we have to lag behind again."

Mr. Hu agreed very much: "This is the biggest problem. TSMC and Samsung have more R&D engineers than us, and their foundation is richer than us. Now they have started working three shifts day and night. In the 10-nanometer stage, they will definitely be much faster than us. Chairman, we have to be forced to join the three shifts of R&D and develop the 10-nanometer process in advance."

Wang Yi nodded: "It seems that this is the only way to go. Let's continue to recruit people. The most important thing at the moment is the research and development of the 14-nanometer process, but the research and development of the 10-nanometer process must also be carried out simultaneously!"

"Don't worry, Chairman, I'm prepared. In addition to the 14-nanometer technology, it is also constantly developing and improving yield rates. On the other hand, the research and development of the 10-nanometer process has also begun. However, there are not enough manpower. After all, we are not TSMC and Samsung. We have few people and can't even work two shifts, let alone work three shifts."

Mr. Hu was a little helpless: "Even a fully woven 10-nanometer R&D team is not enough."

"This matter is indeed difficult to resolve." Wang Yi did not have a good strategy for a while.
To be continued...