Chinese semiconductor engineer Xu Zhenpeng says he left the United States for China to pursue a more independent research environment and long-term academic goals. China's rapidly evolving advanced manufacturing research ecosystem was a key driver.
Xu Zhenpeng, a Chinese semiconductor engineer, has returned to China from the United States. Before his departure, he led a team at Atomic Semi in California developing a new kind of chipmaking machine using 3D-printed parts that would be smaller, faster, and cheaper than today's large, costly production equipment.
Xu said his decision was motivated by long-term academic goals and a desire for a more independent research environment. "Meanwhile, China's advanced manufacturing research ecosystem is evolving rapidly," he added. While Xu did not specify which corporate compliance rules he was referring to, such policies are typically designed to ensure companies follow government restrictions.
His move highlights a trend of more Chinese scientists leaving the US to return to China. Xu's return underscores the competition between China and the US in the semiconductor sector, and China's push for technological self-reliance. He is associated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), though details are unclear.