Exclusive | Shanghai software firm is behind Hong Kong’s failed bid for UK’s Pulsic, as geopolitics spurs rivalry for semiconductor supremacy
- Super Orange HK Holding Limited, barred from buying Pulsic Limited in Bristol, is owned by Nanjing Puxin Software Limited
- Puxin is in turn a wholly owned unit of Shanghai Hejian Industrial Software Group, also known as UniVista
Why semiconductors are so important to 'Made in China 2025'
EDA software allows semiconductor engineers to design and test their chips, and is a fundamentally important step in China’s ambitions to secure a home-grown supply chain and production ecosystem for semiconductor chips.
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It was the second time that the UK government had used new powers to block a deal under the National Security and Investment Act 2021, which came into force in January this year and gives it powers to stop transactions that might harm national security.
Last month, Britain’s business secretary also blocked the University of Manchester from sharing motion camera technology with a Chinese firm on national security grounds.
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China’s chip industry relies heavily on advanced software providers from the West such as Cadence Design Systems, Synopsys and Mentor Graphics.
Last week, the US Department of Commerce announced four new export controls with its eyes on China.
“Emerging and foundational technologies” used for advanced chips, including electronic computer-aided design software for developing next-generation chips with gate-all-around (GAA) field-effect transistor structure, and two substrates of so-called ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors – gallium oxide and diamond – that operate at much higher voltages, frequencies and temperatures than conventional chip materials like silicon, will all fall under strict export restrictions.
UniVista’s establishment - and the attempt to buy Pulsic - emerged out of China’s push for technological independence. The company has raised 2.8 billion yuan (US$412 million) from 11 investors in two funding rounds, according to Crunchbase.