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A Chinese institute involved in developing lithography systems for semiconductor production has upped the ante in recruiting top researchers, as the country aims to push forward advanced chipmaking in spite of US tech sanctions.
The latest recruitment drive of the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics - under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) - is offering "uncapped" pay for PhD researchers in optics, mechanics, electronics, and physical and chemical materials for the position of "special research assistant", according to the organisation's post on WeChat.
The notice said salaries for that position could be negotiated "on a case-by-case basis without upper limit".
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The Changchun institute also said the CAS is offering a research grant worth up to 4 million yuan (US$550,000) to "excellent employees" on top of 1 million yuan in personal subsidies.
The generous terms reflect how China is sparing no effort to entice young talent, as part of efforts to boost the nation's capabilities in chipmaking technology amid US trade sanctions.
It also shows the country's aim to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers like ASML Holding, the world's top vendor of advanced chipmaking equipment. The Dutch firm has been unable to sell its extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems to its China-based clients to comply with US export control rules.
Employees are seen working on the final assembly of ASML's TWINSCAN NXE:3400B semiconductor lithography equipment, with its panels removed, at the company's headquarters in Veldhoven, the Netherlands. Photo: Reuters alt=Employees are seen working on the final assembly of ASML's TWINSCAN NXE:3400B semiconductor lithography equipment, with its panels removed, at the company's headquarters in Veldhoven, the Netherlands. Photo: Reuters>
The Changchun institute's latest recruitment scheme comes months after scientists from the Harbin Institute of Technology were lauded for developing a completely different technological approach in EUV lithography, which has raised China's hopes of making sophisticated domestic equipment for advanced integrated circuits.
Based in northeastern China with around 2,600 faculty members and about 1,300 graduate students, the Changchun institute has also developed a number of optical equipment over the past few decades, including lithography projection lens with the "best performance domestically", according to information on its website.