AI, 6G and chips: Brazil and China sign cooperation agreement

Brazil and China will sign a cooperation and exchange agreement on photovoltaic cells for semiconductor technologies, 5G, 6G and other generation mobile networks, artificial intelligence and solar power generation. The partnership will become official during President Lula’s visit next week.

The agreements should also provide training for industry in data protection systems, applications, cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT) and the development of algorithms. The United States is arguing with China over the market for these technologies and pressures Brazil not to negotiate with the Asian country.

A meeting with Huawei, which dominates sixth-generation connectivity, is on the agenda of the Brazilian president. Lula will also be in talks with energy company State Grid and construction company China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and electric car maker BYD, which may purchase the decommissioned Ford plant in Bahia.

During the trip, Brazil and China are also expected to announce the launch of a new CBERS satellite that will complement the Amazon surveillance network.

chip production

There are 11 companies in the semiconductor manufacturing chain in Brazil that focus exclusively on the backend. China dominates almost half of the world market for this final step in chip manufacturing, such as testing, refining, cutting and encapsulating components.

The Chinese also have front-end experience that includes component manufacturing. However, they cannot produce the most advanced chips, which are monopolized by Taiwan and South Korea.

Investment and technology transfer to factories located in Brazil could increase production of less advanced chips. With this, the country can begin to produce the 14 nanometer semiconductors necessary for the domestic auto industry.

The Brazilian government is also considering relaunching the Advanced Electronics Center of Excellence (Ceitec), a state-owned company whose purpose is to manufacture chips.