[News] Over CNY 10 Billion is Poured into China’s Integrated Circuit Sector

In recent weeks, China’s semiconductor industry has seen a hike in major capital investment into Integrated Circuit (IC) sector.

Shanghai IC Industry Investment Fund Phase II Raises Capital to CNY 24.06 Billion, Up ~66%

Corporate registry data shows that the Shanghai Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund Phase II Co., Ltd. has increased its registered capital from roughly CNY 14.53 billion to 24.06 billion, marking an approximate 66% jump.

Established in May 2020 and headquartered in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area, the fund is a state-backed private equity vehicle with shareholders including Shanghai Kechuang Group, Shanghai Guosheng Group, Shanghai International Group, Pudong Venture Capital Group, Lingang New Area Fund, Xingjia Equity, and Pudong New Industrial Investment.

With supporting the high-quality development of China’s IC industry as a key commitment, the Phase II will invest the entire semiconductor value chain — design, manufacturing, packaging & testing, equipment, and materials. It places particular emphasis on advanced process technologies, key materials, and critical equipment where domestic capabilities remain limited.

To date, the fund has invested in seven Shanghai-based IC companies, including GTX Semi, Xinyaoxin Technology, SMIC Southern Integrated Circuit Manufacturing, Hailin Micro IC, JCET Automotive Electronics, Advanced Silicon Technology, and Shanghai Dongfang Suanxin Technology.

UNT’s Affiliated Company Increased Registered Capital to CNY 13.29 Billion, Up ~14%

Data dated November 21 indicates that UNT Pioneer (Shaoxing) Co., Ltd. has raised its registered capital from about CNY 11.67 billion to 13.29 billion, an increase of roughly 14%.

Founded in December 2021, the company is led by legal representative Zhao Qi and engages in IC manufacturing, chip and product fabrication, IC design, and related engineering services. It is jointly owned by UNT and others.

UNT, founded in 2018 and headquartered in Shaoxing, Zhejiang — is a leading Chinese foundry specializing in power semiconductors and MEMS sensors, spanning MEMS, IGBT, MOSFET, analog IC, and MCU development and manufacturing. Its solutions serve automotive, new energy, industrial control, and home appliance markets.

The capital injection is intended to support the company’s 12-inch mixed-signal IC manufacturing project, a core initiative aimed at boosting domestic high-end IC fabrication capacity and overcoming key process bottlenecks. The project includes the construction of a 12-inch wafer fab, development of mixed-signal process platforms, and investment in cleanrooms and auxiliary facilities.

GalaxyCore (GC) Semiconductor Increases Registered Capital to CNY 7 Billion, Up ~56%

Corporate filings show that on November 18, GalaxyCore Semiconductor (Shanghai) added GalaxyCore Shanghai as a new shareholder, while increasing its registered capital from CNY 4.5 billion to 7 billion, representing a rise of approximately 56%.

Founded in March 2020 and led by legal representative Zhao Lixin, GC Semiconductor focuses on IC manufacturing, chip sales, IC design and engineering services, and technical R&D in semiconductors and integrated circuits.

It is jointly owned by GC Hongkong and GC Shanghai which hold 64.3% and 35.7% stakes respectively. As a wholly owned subsidiary of GC Hongkong, GC Shanghai was established in 2003 in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area, focusing on the design, development and sales of CMOS image sensors (CIS) and high-end embedded multimedia SoCs.

In 2023, GC Shanghai successfully industrialized its 12-inch CIS specialty process, marking its successful transition to a Fab-Lite model integrating design, R&D, manufacturing, and packaging & testing.

(Photo credit: FREEPIK)