EE Times-China survey shows a jump in mainland China fabless industry’s use of advanced 45nm or below process technologies by 33.3 percent YOY

According to the 11^th Annual China Fabless Survey conducted by EE Times-China, a leading electronic engineering title of Global Sources’ (NASDAQ: GSOL) joint venture subsidiary, eMedia Asia Limited, volume production of digital ICs at 45nm or below by mainland China local fabless companies has risen significantly, jumping 33.3 percent year-on-year. This indicates mainland China’s rising role as a global center of semiconductor design and manufacturing.

The survey findings were revealed on September 7th at the China Fabless CEO Forum & Awards, which featured industry heavyweight Professor Wei Shaojun, General Director of CSIA-ICCAD, as keynote speaker. Outstanding mainland China fabless companies and IC products; most recognized foundry, EDA vendor, and IP provider, as voted by managers of China fabless companies were also honored at the event.

In a vote by China’s system design engineers, some of the country’s strongest fabless semiconductor brands were identified:

– Top 10 China Fabless Brands: Analogix Semiconductor, Dioo Microcircuits, Fuzhou Rockchip Electronics, Hangzhou NationalChip Science & Technology, Hangzhou Silan Microelectronics, HiSilicon Technologies, RDA Microelectronics, SG Micro, Shanghai Fudan Microelectronics and Spreadtrum Communications.

– Top 10 Most Promising China Fabless: Avia Semiconductor (Xiamen), Beijing KT Micro, Chipone Technology (Beijing), Leadcore Technology, Nufront, Shanghai Haier Integrated Circuit, Shanghai SinoMCU Microelectronics, Wuhan Eshine-IC Technology, Wuxi Si-power Micro-Electronics and X-Powers.

I wonder how many engineers in the West have heard of any of these companies despite several of them being major players in their home territories?