During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), Shanghai's Lin-gang Special Area attracted more than 400 integrated circuit companies and over 30,000 professionals. The scale of the local IC industry hit 80 billion yuan ($11.9 billion).

From quartz sand to finished chips, a complete IC industrial chain spanning design, manufacturing, equipment, materials, packaging, and testing is taking shape in the area. 

A complete IC industrial chain spanning design, manufacturing, equipment, materials, packaging, and testing is taking shape in Lin-gang with the aggregation of relevant enterprises. [Photo/Wenhui Daily]

It is already home to more than 10 IC enterprises focused on manufacturing, over 100 firms that specialize in equipment and materials, and more than 200 companies dealing in chip design. Among those, at least 20 IC companies are valued at over 1 billion yuan each, while 10 have either gone public or are preparing to do so.

As a core carrier of Lin-gang's IC industry, Oriental IC Port accounts for more than 70 percent of the local IC output value, and has established a coordinated two-wing development layout. 

The southern zone focuses on specialty processes, equipment, materials, and components, while the northern zone will prioritize logic processes, advanced memory technologies, and high-end packaging and testing during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30).