India, May 21 -- As China pushes to strengthen its chip industry, Richard Chang, founder of SMIC, China's largest foundry, suggests that success in semiconductors is not solely about winning the 2nm or 3nm race, with niche markets potentially emerging as a key competitive advantage for China. According to STAR Market Daily, Chang said that niche markets have become a key breakthrough point for China's semiconductor industry, adding that advancing in specialized market segments could help strengthen the country's overall chip capabilities.

SMIC remains limited to the 7nm node due to its reliance on older DUV lithography equipment. However, Richard Chang's emphasis on niche markets suggests that the company's mature-node technologies could...