Huawei has been subject to four years of technology restrictions by the United States, which has prevented them from accessing TSMC's chip foundries that offer more advanced technology. They did not give up and instead doubled their efforts to produce their own chips through a partnership with SMIC. To further reduce the technology gap, Huawei is offering up to three times the salary to ASML and Zeiss employees, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
The expertise of employees from these two companies is needed to enable Huawei to produce its own EUV lithography machines. Zeiss optical technology is used on ASML machines that enable chips with 3nm technology to be produced. At this time, only ASML produces the required NA EUV machines.
At the same time, hiring former ASML employees can also solve the issue of no support provided to customers in China who use old technology. Despite the high salaries offered, not many take the opportunity given because they are worried about being blacklisted for having worked in China. Previously, reports emerged that Huawei also offered three times the salary to TSMC employees.