SMEE Lithography R&D Shift: Divesting Manufacturing to Accelerate Chip Self-Sufficiency

China's leading light in the semiconductor race isn't standing still. Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment (SMEE), the nation's best bet to challenge Dutch giant ASML, just reshuffled its business to double down on research. By divesting a manufacturing arm, the firm's signaling a pivot from production to high-end innovation.

SMEE Lithography R&D Shift: Shedding Weight for Speed

According to the corporate database Qichacha, SMEE transferred 100% of its subsidiary, Shanghai Weiyao Industrial, to AMIES Technology. The deal, valued at approximately 228.5 million yuan, moves manufacturing assets off the balance sheet so the company can sharpen its focus on Beijing's push for advanced chipmaking tech.

Closing the Gap with ASML

Industry insiders suggest this isn't just a simple sale. It's a calculated retreat to the lab. SMEE's primary mission is to break the Western monopoly on lithography—the process of etching circuits onto silicon. As global export controls tighten, developing domestic alternatives to ASML's systems has become a top-tier national security priority for China.