Development of the IC Design Industry and Major Players in China

Development of the IC Design Industry and Major Players in China
In October 2022, the U.S. BIS (Bureau of Industry and Security) announced the most extensive export control measures to date. Companies that export chips to China using U.S. equipment or software are required to obtain a license, regardless of where the chips are manufactured. According to the data released by the business information query platform "Qichacha" in China, as many as 5,746 chip-related companies in China faced revocation or cancellation of company registrations in 2022 alone. This figure represents a significant increase of 68% compared to 3,420 companies in 2021. It is evident that the development of China’s semiconductor industry is facing tremendous pressure, affected not only by geopolitical factors but also by Covid-19. This report focuses on the development of the Chinese IC design industry and examines important issues and key players, including HiSilicon, Unisoc, GigaDevice, and Will Semiconductor.