[[Technology]], [[Capital Cycle]], [[Industry]] # Semiconductors ## 3D Printing 3D Printing technology might be the key to industry changes here! - A move away from large scale operations and capital requirements - Better prototyping for designs - Faster turnaround times - Just-in-time inventory - Design companies start having fabrication capacity again? - Can eliminate global supply chains; relates to US-China tech war and increased geopolitical tensions. ### [[Intel]] Lakefield https://www.anandtech.com/show/15877/intel-hybrid-cpu-lakefield-all-you-need-to-know ## Carbon Nanotubes https://www.eenewseurope.com/news/cnt-transistors-easily-processed-200mm-wafers ## Geopolitics How did the Taiwanese create two of the leading semiconductor companies (UMC and TSMC)? What is Taiwan’s industrial technology research institute, and why was it created? Phones seem to be converging on the same design principles and have little differentiation – going the way of the PC industry. What are the implications for the phone and semiconductor industry? If the design and features are not a core differentiator what will be? With US military spending increasing, how are they dealing with the security problems of not enough US based foundries? Are they investing in alternatives? If so, what are they? https://stratechery.com/2020/chips-and-geopolitics ## Other resources What is quantum dot? https://www.fabbaloo.com/blog/2018/12/10/quantum-dots-and-3d-printing-of-semiconductors Microsoft Research video – Devin Mackenzie on Printed electronics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYjFzPPMhSM history and future of moore’s law https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2019/02/the-end-of-moores-law-in-detail-and-starting-a-new-golden-age.html Whats the right path for scaling? https://semiengineering.com/whats-the-right-path-for-scaling/