The Rise of Oligopoly in the Semiconductor Equipment Industry and its Influences

Generally speaking, culture, industry, and technology as well as humans possess the properties as a ´living organism´, which emerge in a simple way, complicate, and diversify to die out to be homogeneous. When the ´living organism´ is most radiant, the thing supporting its vitality is ´diversity´. The rampant of globalization in culture, rise of oligopoly in industry, diffusion of de facto standards in technology, and loss of challenge in humans are signs of maturation and decrepitude, and are indicators of the ends. Semiconductor Manufacturing Industry (including Semiconductor Equipment Industry) as well cannot be immune from such a fate as a ´living organism´. The industry itself is apparently following a path to decrepitude from maturation. As long as it is a ´living organism´, it is not possible to avoid the fate. However, the industry is surely able to postpone the arrival of ´decrepitude´ and needs such wisdom as well as humans. The fountain of vitality in industry is not the surrender against straightforward de facto standards, but indefatigable enthusiasm for creative challenge and pursuit of identity.