A Shanghai-based startup called Yuanjiwei has unveiled what it describes as the world’s first 8-inch pilot production line dedicated to two-dimensional semiconductors, potentially offering China a path to advanced chip manufacturing that bypasses the need for extreme ultraviolet lithography machines. The pilot line covers the entire manufacturing chain, from preparing 2D semiconductor materials to integrating them into finished devices.
This development addresses one of the biggest hurdles in 2D semiconductor research: proving that atom-thin materials can be manufactured consistently at industrial scale. The company aims to reach a 5-nanometer-equivalent chip technology by 2029 without relying on EUV lithography, which China cannot currently access due to export restrictions. The breakthrough could reshape the global semiconductor landscape.
