Electronic specialty gases are essential raw materials in the integrated circuit (IC) industry, often referred to as the “lifeblood of the electronics sector”. With the rapid development of the semiconductor industry, the global market for these gases has shown continuous growth, with China’s market also experiencing strong development.
Guo Jianzeng, a deputy to the National People’s Congress (NPC), expert at China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC) and director of the Science and Technology Committee at CSSC’s 718th Research Institute, has long focused on the development of the electronic specialty gas industry.
NPC deputy Guo Jianzeng [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
He pointed out that, despite some progress, China’s electronic specialty gas sector still lags behind international standards in areas such as enterprise scale, funding, R&D, talent, product structure, overseas presence and management. Key challenges include product homogeneity leading to price competition, reliance on foreign technology in critical areas and a lack of targeted tax policies to support the industry. These issues not only hinder industry development but also weaken the global competitiveness of Chinese products.
Ahead of a pivotal year for technological advancements and market restructuring in the global IC industry, Guo called for greater national support to ensure the coordinated and high-quality development of China’s electronic specialty gas industry. He proposed three key measures:
First, strengthen industry planning and coordination. The government should optimize domestic production capacity, integrate industry resources through leading enterprises and promote healthy sector growth. Additionally, unified regulatory standards for safety and environmental protection should be established to enhance oversight of hazardous chemical industries and maintain social stability.
Second, enhance technological innovation and R&D investment. Enterprises should expand their technology sources through independent innovation, industry-academia collaboration, acquisitions and technology imports. Greater investment in fundamental research and breakthroughs in critical technologies should be encouraged, along with the optimization of existing processes and the development of next-generation manufacturing techniques.
Third, implement favorable tax policies. Guo suggested that the Tariff Department (Office of the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council) assign independent tariff codes for electronic specialty gas products, and introduce export tax rebates, subsidies, or tax exemptions to enhance global competitiveness.
(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)
