China trails by 15 years in advanced chipmaking gear, says ASML supplier

Frank Romund, head of the semiconductor division at Germany's Zeiss Group, said China will need about 15 years to develop its own advanced extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems for producing the most modern chips. Romund called the 15-year estimate a "reasonable assumption" on Bloomberg TV, though he noted the pace of Beijing's progress is difficult to assess. Zeiss is the exclusive optics supplier for EUV systems made by Dutch company ASML Holding NV, the world's only producer of this equipment critical for AI accelerator chips. China has worked on deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography for decades with some success, Romund said, adding that "we are still far ahead." Zeiss components are used in manufacturing about 80% of the world's chips. The assessment follows a UBS report suggesting China needs at least ten more years for its own EUV technology.