An exterior view of the Taixing High-Tech Zone. [Photo/WeChat account: txfabu]
In the Taixing High-Tech Zone in Taixing, Jiangsu province, a remarkable advancement in semiconductor technology is taking place. The Semiconductor Advanced Ceramic Materials Research Institute of the Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute (JITRI) is now manufacturing critical components for semiconductor equipment, notably the ceramic electrostatic chuck, a technology once dominated by foreign enterprises.
With a total investment of 110 million yuan ($16.1 million), the institute, co-built by JITRI, Taizhou Industrial Technology Research Institute, a team led by Professor Pan Wei from Tsinghua University, and the Taixing zone, has become a leading player in the country by overcoming numerous technological challenges.
Some of the high-tech facilities of the institute. [Photo/WeChat account: txfabu]
Focusing on ceramic electrostatic chucks, ceramic heating plates, and lithography machine ceramic guides, the institute aims to embed a "ceramic heart made in China" into domestic semiconductor equipment. This year's output value is projected to reach 15 million yuan, with targets set to exceed 1 billion yuan within three to five years.
The zone exemplifies the city's innovation-driven approach, fostering collaborations between enterprises and academic institutions to accelerate the transition of research from labs to production lines.
With platforms like the Yangtze River Delta Medical Innovation Center now operational, the zone is enhancing its innovation ecosystem. The integration of technology, capital, and talent is creating a thriving environment for high-tech industrial clusters, promising robust and sustainable growth for Taixing's economy.