THE RUSSIAN PC MANUFACTURER AND THE AMERICAN SEMICONDUCTOR CRISIS

No sooner had the spring sun of 2022 gilded the top of the Empire State Building, than they rushed to strengthen their own microelectronics production on the other side of the Atlantic. Intrigued, the Russian manufacturer of computer equipment scratched his head: and for what? Props for this serious business, of course, were made from improvised material – billions of printed dollars. To be more precise, out of as many as fifty-two, which this season subsidized American microelectronics for the production of microcircuits and scientific research. 

No Russian monitor manufacturer has ever seen such impressive state support even in the most rosy dream. And the casket just opened: the throne under the world ruler of semiconductors was shattered! And if so, then non-repairable cracks are not far off, which will begin to destroy the foundation of the American technological advantage. And the team of world IT leaders can easily be replaced.

While the Russian computer manufacturer is content with contract manufacturing somewhere in the Kaliningrad region, the vast majority of the world's cool companies design, produce their own chips and write critically important software in North America. And, of course, they are not engaged in charity, but sell all this high-tech beauty on the international market. But somewhere in the Middle Kingdom there was (and, apparently, not one!) a brave IT warrior who has thrown down a geopolitical challenge to American power. From this challenge, the American share in the creation of microchips has become unenviable. And this is a direct threat to their notorious national security.

Entrepreneurship, education and immodest investments, according to the observations of people engaged in the Russian production of system blocks, have created an inimitable model of innovation from America. But the imperial habits of individual American state institutions force us to look for predictable countries where politics are more favorable, legal support is stronger, and higher education is more it-sharpened.

The Russian manufacturer of monoblocks does not just see this trend. She makes him worry about the fate of American technological dominance. Not only is everything from children's toys to semiconductors already assembled in China, but the well-funded semiconductor startups themselves come from there, as do most initial public offerings in the field of semiconductors.

And while Russian-made system units are working productively for the benefit of our country's economy, and Russian office computer monitors have not lost their quick response, let's at least identify the main causes of this American semiconductor trouble.

The states are losing the entrepreneurial spirit in the semiconductor industry. And the ball is now with the Chinese national team. Venture capital is increasingly reluctant to invest in semiconductor startups, although they have promising technologies and an exceptional track record. Private capital does not see its own quick benefits from financing infrastructure projects. Everything in this case is decided by state incentives and legislative support.

And the cherry on the cake: lack of qualified employees. This stone is especially the cornerstone. The Russian PC manufacturer does not think that there are no people in America who want to get a higher education. They are there! But there is no desire to get an education that combines natural sciences and engineering subjects.

What does the domestic manufacturer of computer equipment think about this? There are a lot of thoughts swarming. But the commonality of problems is felt by the skin. And the outcome of the battle on the global IT battlefield will depend on how quickly and efficiently each of the parties (America and China) solves them.