Chapter 59 ASML in 1999
"How about it, my apprentice?" Hu Zhengming raised his eyebrows and said after Zhou Xin left, thinking about listening to other scholars' presentations.
Guan Jianying didn't say much, rubbed her chin and said: "Simply speaking from the paper itself, it is an excellent paper.
This quality can be used as a doctoral thesis.
Zhou Xin is now in the first year of his Ph.D., right?"
"Yes, he just got his bachelor's degree in the middle of last year."
"If I were told that a first-year Ph.D. student had this level, I would definitely consider him a genius in the field of integrated circuits.
But he is Zhou Xin, the founder of Riot Games. Compared with his achievements on the Internet, this paper seems a bit ordinary.
You know? I had already had high expectations for him before listening to the paper. The quality of the paper is absolutely top-notch, but compared with his achievements in business, it is a bit lackluster."
Guan Jianying and Hu Zhengming have known each other for many years, and his words are as direct as his appearance.
Hu Zhengming did not expect that his old friend would say this, "The problem is that he is in the first year of his Ph.D. and has not yet undergone complete academic training.
This time, Martin, whom Klassen introduced to him, had been working at ASML since its establishment in 1984, and in 2013 he became the president and chief technology officer of ASML.
"Newman, this is the Vice President of Technology of ASML, Mr. Martin van den Brink. Martin, this is my friend's student, Newman Zhou, he is the founder of Riot Games.
Guan Jianying held Hu Zhengming's shoulders and said: "I know his talent is absolutely top-notch, and I don't deny it.
Companies that used to compete with Yahoo in the game forum field are also very popular in the Europa region."
Being able to optimize existing MOSFET models from a theoretical level is enough to prove his talent!"
However, if ASML did not occupy a monopoly position and at the same time prohibit the sale of the highest-end lithography machines to China, the company ASML would not be so famous in China.
The immersion lithography machine that uses water as the medium has successfully improved the accuracy again, with low cost and fast research and development. In just 5 years, ASML has won more than half of the global market. Later, Nikon and Canon wanted to follow up.
late.
Compared with the monopoly held by ASML in later generations, today's ASML is only one of the players in the field of lithography machines, not even the top player.
Since then, ASML has completely left Nikon and Canon behind in the field of high-end lithography machines.
Klassen is the vice president of Philips Semiconductor, Philips Semiconductor has such a connection with ASML, and Martin has worked at Philips Semiconductor, so it is normal for Klassen to know Martin.
Martin went to ASML directly from Philips after ASML was established.
Hu Zhengming only gave him a certain degree of freedom, and Zhou Xin quickly skyrocketed.
The relationship between Hu Zhengming and Zhou Xin in this time and space is not as harmonious as that in the future time and space. A large part of the reason is that they do not get along day and night.
"That's right. I guess he will still finish his PhD. With Zhou Xin's ability, it only takes a small part of his energy to do it.
Until Zhou Xin left, Martin was still the president of ASML.
One more mention here, Martin worked at Philips Semiconductors after graduating from college. ASML is a joint venture established by Philips Semiconductors and ASM International.
Guan Jianying continued: "And he has made such great achievements in the Internet field. It is still unknown whether he will really have the patience to complete your Ph.D. in the future.
After some conversation, I left an impression in front of several big names who have been active for many years.
If the conditions were sufficient now, Zhou Xin would be eager to start working directly.
It’s just that his talent in the semiconductor field is not as dazzling as his achievements in Internet entrepreneurship.”
In the eyes of Chinese people, tutors at the doctoral level are already close to the ancient concept of master and apprentice, preaching, imparting knowledge and solving doubts.
"Oh! Newman, nice to meet you. My son likes the Angry Birds you designed very much." Martin looks like a very typical old white man, almost the same as he did twenty years later.
Later Hu Zhengming treated Zhou Xin as one of his close disciples.
"It's also a pleasure to meet you. I have always believed that ASML is a promising company. If I had not started my own business, I would have chosen to work at AMSL after graduation." Zhou Xin replied.
Others are willing to talk to him after they know who he is.
It means that the other person has been working for ASML all his life.
At that time, there was a huge difference in status between the two parties. Zhou Xin was only a doctoral student and had no chance to talk to him.
By the time Hu Zhengming found out, it was already too late, but fortunately Zhou Xin showed great respect for him in terms of face, and Zhou Xin was also academically far better than ordinary first-year Ph.D. students.
At the same time, the importance of photolithography machines has not yet been exposed.
While Hu Zhengming was chatting with Guan Jianying, Zhou Xin walked around the entire venue. There was not much in the paper that made him feel happy. After all, he was looking at it from the perspective of twenty years later.
The only regret is that I currently have limited capital and cannot offer conditions to recruit these talented people.
When Hu Zhengming looked at Zhou Xin from an objective perspective, he couldn't find any fault with him and could only feel proud of him.
Zhou Xin sighed immediately after meeting Martin. The world is so small and anyone can know each other casually.
During Zhou Xin's conversation with Martin, his memory was awakened. He realized that if ASML had not achieved a leading position in key technological breakthroughs in the future, they would not be called a monopoly at all.
And the place where China was most stuck in later generations was the photolithography machine.
Thanks to Klassen's recommendation, Zhou Xin finally met his biggest gain from participating in the ISSCC this time, Martin van den Brink.
Internet entrepreneurship is actually more difficult in the initial stage. Once you get on the right track, there won’t be so many things to deal with.”
But you have also earned something, at least judging from his performance, he still respects you as a mentor.
For us Chinese, the most important thing is the master-disciple relationship."
Hu Zhengming thought that after Zhou Xin arrived at Berkeley, he did not follow Hu Zhengming's idea at all.
But there are many big names in it, and he is very interested.
Of course, Hu Zhengming also knew Martin. When ASML achieved a key breakthrough, it was in 2004 that ASML chose to cooperate with TSMC to study a 193nm wavelength light source and change the medium of the refracted light source from air to water.
Zhou Xin got to know Martin because he listened to his speech at the Semiconductor International Society.
Hu Zhengming served as chief technology officer at TSMC in 2004.
He could have bought ASML before ASML achieved a breakthrough in 2004.
ASML's status is not that high yet.
The only problem is that behind ASML are Philips Semiconductors and ASM International, both of which are not short of money.
I might as well write if I can’t sleep.
Chapter completed!