Dr. David N.K. Wang 2017
Dr. Wang is a pioneer and inventor with over 100 patents for breakthrough products in etch and CVD technologies which enabled the steady progress of Moore’s Law. He received the first ever lifetime achievement award from Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI).
Dr. Wang began his career at Bell Laboratories where he conducted research in plasma etch, plasma CVD and X-ray lithography. He joined Applied Materials in 1980 and was principal developer of the AME 8100 and AME 8300 plasma etch systems that catapulted Applied Materials from 0% to over 50% market share in etch. He was appointed President of Applied Materials Asia in 2004. Dr. Wang was a co-developer of the Precision 5000 (CVD and Etch) systems, the industry’s most successful product ever. In 1993, the product was inducted into the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Wang joined Huahong Group as Chairman & CEO in 2005, driving a 7-fold increase in profitability in 2 years and establishing the company as a leader in China. In 2009, as President and CEO of Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), he successfully executed a massive turnaround and brought the company to profitability for the first time in its history.
Dr. Wang received his B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from Chung Yuan University, Taiwan, M.S., Metallurgical Engineering, University of Utah, and his Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering from UC Berkeley. Dr. Wang is currently a member of Board of Directors, Hanwha Q Cells Corporation.
Outside of his professional career, Dr. Wang has been very supportive of related professional societies and universities. He has also been a dedicated benefactor for the arts and charitable organizations in Silicon Valley, and continues to build bridges between the US and China.