Zhang Rujing stated that China's semiconductor industry does not need to be dispirited due to its inability to master the most advanced processes. Instead, it should leverage the high yield and cost advantages of mature processes to quickly capture the majority of global application markets, which is a more practical and in line with industry norms approach.

Regarding the current anxiety and development path of China's semiconductor industry, Zhang Rujing, the founder of SMIC, pointed out in an interview with the media that one should abandon the blind worship of "big and comprehensive" and advanced processes, and instead focus on niche markets, cultivate "little giants" in specific fields, and reshape the value of first-line artisans.

Currently, many people equate the competitiveness of semiconductors with the ability to mass-produce 2nm or 3nm chips. Zhang Rujing believes that "this is a serious cognitive error." He stated that from the global market structure perspective, advanced processes (such as 3nm and 5nm) although highly regarded, their actual proportion is less than 20%. More than 80% of the market demand actually comes from mature processes and specialized techniques. In areas such as automotive electronics, industrial control, household appliances, and Internet of Things devices, 28nm or even more mature processes are not only fully sufficient but also the most cost-effective choice.

Therefore, the breakthrough of China's semiconductor industry should not be focused on competing for the global first place in all fields, nor should it be dispirited due to the inability to master the most advanced processes for the time being. Instead, by leveraging the high yield and cost advantages of mature processes, quickly occupying the majority of global application markets, is a more practical and in line with industry norms approach.

Zhang Rujing emphasized that the self-reliance and self-strengthening of the semiconductor industry cannot rely solely on the "big and comprehensive" of a few leading enterprises, but rather requires countless "little giants" in niche markets.

He suggested that enterprises avoid the homogenized internal competition in popular sectors and instead focus on those niche markets that are long monopolized by overseas entities, have low demand but high profits. For example, ultrasound chips in medical equipment, anti-radiation chips for aerospace, servo drive chips for industrial robots, etc. These fields often have "knockout" problems. Once breakthroughs are made, they can become indispensable links in the industrial chain.

Facing the wave of artificial intelligence, Zhang Rujing divides AI applications into two camps: cloud-based large models and large computing centers; this is the arena of national-level platforms or super-large consortia, with extremely high barriers and huge investments; edge/distributed AI: that is, specific scenario applications. He believes that for the vast majority of innovative small and medium-sized enterprises, the real opportunity lies in the latter. From industrial control to automotive electronics, a large number of edge devices require semiconductor devices tailored to specific scenarios. Startups should avoid head-on confrontation with international giants in general-purpose large computing chips and instead explore differentiated scenario solutions to tap into unmet hardware needs. 

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