The evolution of fabless IC industry in China: Past, present, and future

The importance of China's role in the electronics industry, in terms of both market size and its criticality in global supply chain, cannot be overstated. Over the past decade, China has emerged from a mere service provider of semiconductor assembly and test to a significant player in both the foundry service and fabless IC design business. This plenary paper will first provide a macro overview on the evolution of China's fabless IC industry. The key statistical figures and momentous milestones and events, during the 15-year history of China's fabless IC industry, will be reviewed. Next, several case studies will be presented to highlight the unique dynamics of building and running fabless IC companies in China. Finally, the authors will speculate on the most significant trends in technology development, business model and market segments for the fabless companies going into the next decade.