Chipmakers bank on 'white knights' to move up the ladder

Experts: More steps needed to boost financing for equipment segment

More capital is needed to bolster the development of chip manufacturing in China, as the nation strives to reduce reliance on foreign technologies in case of a wider US export ban on the sector, investors and analysts said.

Ding Wenwu, president of China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund Co Ltd, said currently, money is flowing into the chip design segment, which has a lower technological threshold and quick investment returns, but more efforts are needed to bankroll the chip material, equipment and manufacturing segments.