Canon, the Japanese technology company, has unveiled a "nanoimprint lithography" system designed to aid in the production of advanced semiconductor components. The FPA-1200NZ2C system can produce semiconductors with a 5nm process and scale down to 2nm, surpassing the capabilities of the A17 Pro chip found in Apple's latest iPhones. This technology puts Canon in competition with Dutch firm ASML, a dominant force in the extreme ultraviolet lithography machine sector.


Canon Introduces Cutting-Edge Semiconductor Manufacturing Solution to Compete with ASML


Japanese technology company Canon has unveiled a "nanoimprint lithography" system designed to assist in the production of advanced semiconductor components. The new system, FPA-1200NZ2C, can produce semiconductors matching a 5nm process and can scale down to 2nm. This surpasses the capabilities of the A17 Pro chip found in Apple's latest iPhones. Canon's move is seen as a competitive response to Dutch firm ASML, a dominant player in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machine sector, which is crucial for producing cutting-edge chips.


The use of these machines has become part of the technological conflict between the United States and China. The U.S. has employed export restrictions and various sanctions to hinder China's access to essential chips and manufacturing machinery, impacting the progress of the world's second-largest economy in an area where it is considered to lag behind.


ASML's EUV technology has gained significant traction among leading chip manufacturers due to its critical role in enabling the production of semiconductors at 5nm and below. The nanometer measurement refers to the size of chip features, with smaller values accommodating more features on a chip, thus enhancing semiconductor performance.


Canon has announced that its FPA-1200NZ2C system can produce semiconductors that match a 5nm process and can scale down to 2nm, surpassing the capabilities of Apple's 3nm A17 Pro chip.


The Dutch government has imposed restrictions on ASML, preventing the export of its EUV lithography machines to China. These limitations exist due to the critical role of these machines in the production of cutting-edge semiconductor chips.


With Canon's assertion that their new machine can facilitate the production of semiconductors equivalent to 2nm, it is likely to face increased scrutiny.


Cointelegraph reported earlier that the Biden administration is targeting a loophole that has allowed developers in China to purchase chips from the infamous Huaqiangbei electronics area in Shenzhen, a city in southern China. Additionally, China has released draft security regulations for companies providing generative artificial intelligence (AI) services, encompassing restrictions on data sources used for AI model training.


(AMAKA NWAOKOCHA, CoinTelegraph, 2023)