Developing integrated circuits and manufacturing memory, he paved a way for the "Chinese chip" industry｜Time Letter

Special Project of Beijing Science Center

Original Scientist Letters

Chips, as the "food" of industry, are closely related to our lives. From mobile phones, computers, driverless cars to home appliances, LED lights, etc., all rely on the support of chips.

Since the 1950s, China's IC industry has gone through more than 70 years of development. On this bumpy road of development, batches of scientists have moved forward and made indelible contributions to the development of China's integrated circuit industry. Professor Wang Yangyuan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and chief scientist of the Institute of Micro-Nano Electronics at Peking University, is one of them.

Wang Yangyuan working in the office Source | Senior Scientist Academic Growth Data Collection Project

In 1958, after Wang Yangyuan graduated from the Department of Physics of Peking University with a major in semiconductors, he stayed at the university to teach and chose to study microelectronics. From then on, he began his lifelong career in integrated circuits.

A group photo of the first batch of semiconductor graduates from Peking University (Wang Yangyuan is the second from the right in the second row) Source | Senior Scientist Academic Growth Data Collection Project

In decades of research, Wang Yangyuan has always maintained a far-sighted strategic vision. In the 1960s, when integrated circuits were first introduced, the development prospects were not clear. But Wang Yangyuan believed that microelectronics technology would be the cornerstone of the future information society. He led his team for seven years and finally developed China's first 1024-bit MOS dynamic random access memory. Since then, China's integrated circuit industry has ushered in a breakthrough.

Wang Yangyuan also advocated independent research and development and attached importance to intellectual property rights. At that time, Western countries imposed a blockade on my country's development of integrated circuit technology and equipment. At the critical moment, Wang Yangyuan bravely took on the heavy responsibility and organized 118 experts and scholars from 17 units across the country to overcome difficulties.

In 1993, my country's first large-scale integrated ICCAD system came out, breaking the blockade of Western countries in one fell swoop and making my country join the ranks of advanced countries capable of independently developing large-scale ICCAD systems after the United States, Europe and Japan.

Wang Yangyuan and his colleagues study and overcome the difficulties in integrated circuit manufacturing process Source | Academic growth data collection project for senior scientists

In 1996, Wang Yangyuan once again seized the new situation and presided over the establishment of my country's first national key laboratory of micron and nano processing technology with international cutting-edge level; in 2000, Wang Yangyuan and international peers co-founded Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, which became another milestone in the development of my country's integrated circuit industry.

Wang Yangyuan (second from left) and Zhang Rujing celebrated the start of SMIC wafer production Source | Old Scientist Academic Growth Data Collection Project

In addition, Wang Yangyuan also attaches great importance to the cultivation and promotion of talents. On the occasion of the 120th anniversary of Peking University, Wang Yangyuan spoke on the topic of "The Rise of a Great Power and Talent Cultivation", deeply expressing the importance of universities in talent discovery and innovative cultivation, as well as his hope that future generations will achieve the cause of national rejuvenation.

Sources of Scientists' Manuscripts | Old Scientists' Academic Growth Data Collection Project

In 2009, Wang Yangyuan wrote an inscription to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Academy of Sciences: There is no end to scientific development, and seeking truth and innovation will never stop! This is his practical attitude and his vision for the future.

Source | Senior Scientists Academic Growth Data Collection Project

Wang Yangyuan

(1935.1-)

Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Microelectronics Scientist

Educator

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