If you ever have to design microchips, you must also write a special type of software which makes it possible for hardware to talk to software.  There are many levels here. You have the BIOS (or loosely firmware) which is the elemental software that enables microprocessors to boot up before they handshake to other software. From the BIOS, you get to the operating systems like Windows before you can get to applications like Microsoft Office, Chrome, etc.

If you are making sensors like webcams you need to make firmware that will make it possible for the hardware to be recognized by another level of software. This is the most important part of the technology industry because if you cannot get this working, everything built on top will crash. In short, you cannot even build anything because you will have no product. 

Before Facebook Likes, before the photos on Instagram, before the search on Google, and indeed everything we do in the world of online computing, what happens in those microchips’ firmware defines all. 

And in that firmware, many bad things could be done. Yes, the person who controls firmware controls national security. This is where China and the USA are battling because when they inspect those chips, they see “codes” they do not like. Today, China is after Micron, a maker of memory chips.

China is making a retaliatory move that will see the products of US memory chip company, Micron Technology, banned in the country.

Beijing on Sunday declared the products of Micron Technology a “national security” risk, escalating its tech war with Washington. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said during the announcement that Micron poses “serious network security risks”.

It may not have to do with anything Micron has there; simply, China is returning the love the US has given Huawei. The 21st century will be defined on the terms these two countries construct as the animosity moves into a stable state!

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Comment 1: The legendary and most experienced diplomat out there, Henry Kissinger, who will turn 100 later this week, was interviewed by The Economist recently, his take on US-China relation is something to pay close attention to. Whether it’s AI or semiconductor, how both nations manage their differences will define the next phase of our world.

The people we see as adults and call world leaders aren’t really good at leading anyone, and that is why our world is getting messier. Don’t trust any of these creatures to make sound judgments, they are never very far from chaos.

If you push too much and the other person miscalculates, then everything will go wrong from there.

Comment 2: Prof. Sir, the teacher part of you explained microchips so plainly that even a primary school pupil can understand.
This so-called chips story in started with Donald Trump administration where Huawei was accused of comprising the security of American at the chip level in their equipment used in American. China responded by launching a an android-likw mobile OS called harmony. Many of the phones used in Nigeria and other African countries that are presumed to be using Android OS are actually using the Harmony operating system. Samsung phones are few of the popular brands that use Google’s Android OS.

China is making a retaliatory move that will see the products of US memory chip company, Micron Technology, banned in the country.

Beijing on Sunday declared the products of Micron Technology a “national security” risk, escalating its tech war with Washington. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said during the announcement that Micron poses “serious network security risks”.

The development marks China’s major move against a US chip company in retaliation to the recent decision by Washington mandating US chip companies to cut supplies to China.

“The review found that Micron’s products have serious network security risks, which pose significant security risks to China’s critical information infrastructure supply chain, affecting China’s national security,” the CAC said in a statement.

The CAC’s announcement means the firm’s products will be banned from key infrastructure projects in China. The agency did not give details of the risks it said it had found or in which Micron products it had found them.

The tech and economic supremacy contest going on between the US and China have put some companies in jeopardy. For instance, Huawei, a Chinese telecom vendor, was leading the global 5G roll out before Washington doled out a series of sanctions against the giant – forcing it off track.

Last year, President Joe Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 into law. The Act which empowers the US semiconductor industry with $52.7 billion in funding for five years was designed to help the US to maintain its lead over China in chip production.

China has also made arrangements to boost local chip production in the wake of US restrictions.

A spokesperson for Micron confirmed to the BBC that the company had “received the CAC’s notice following its review of Micron products sold in China”.

“We are evaluating the conclusion and assessing our next steps. We look forward to continuing to engage in discussions with Chinese authorities,” the spokesperson added.

Micron’s share price dropped by 5.3% in pre-market trading in the US, following the news.

In response to the development, the BBC quoted the US government as saying that it would work with allies to address “distortions of the memory chip market caused by China’s actions”.

“We firmly oppose restrictions that have no basis in fact,” a US Commerce Department spokesperson said.

“This action, along with recent raids and targeting of other American firms, is inconsistent with [China’s] assertions that it is opening its markets and committed to a transparent regulatory framework.”

The tension between the US and China intensified in the wake of global chip shortage induced by covid-19 pandemic.

The decision by the CAC is likely going to impact Micron, who has seen China as a key market – where it generated around 10% of its full-year sales. Out of the $30.7bn total revenue the company generated in 2022, $3.3bn came from mainland China. Micron has manufacturing facilities in the country.

However, analysts at investment banking group Jefferies quoted by the BBC said “the ultimate impact [of the ban] on Micron will be quite limited” because it does not rely on the Chinese government or telecommunication for most of the sales it generates in the country.

Tekedia Capital is excited to announce an investment in Vetsark Limited. Vetsark helps farms and agribusinesses by digitizing all aspects of their operations, and in the process helps them unlock  and access credit. We welcome Blessing Mene, CEO of Vetsark, and the whole team to the Tekedia community.

This is a more detailed info from Blessing here:

Today, we are pleased to announce that Vetsark Limited has successfully closed its equity pre-seed round. Many thanks to Tekedia Capital who led this round and our heartfelt appreciation to distinguished Ndubuisi Ekekwe whose conviction made this possible. We are also thankful for the participation of Katapult whose support gave us momentum and @The IDEA Center at the University of Notre Dame whose prize solidified our positioning. Super thankful to Niyi Yusuf for investing and supporting Vetsark’s journey. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Ucotra Consulting thank you for your investment readiness support which laid the foundation for this success.

Now our team will focus on what really really matters i.e one thing: unlocking capital for farms and agribusinesses over the coming months and digitizing them with #Cleva app.

For your generosity and kindness, more learners are attending Tekedia Institute’s programs for free. Thank you for #FundingTheFuture.

Thank you Olayinka Elegbede for #FundingTheFuture. Your generosity has made it possible for many young people to experience the excellence we have in Tekedia Mini-MBA.

We thank Soulmate Industries Limited, Africa’s largest indigenous hair care company,  for your generosity and kindness by continuously  funding young people to Tekedia Mini-MBA. Good People, when you find your soulmate, your hair looks great. Discover Soulmate today in the Americas, UK, EU, Nigeria and across Africa!  The mate is in Amazon here .Tekedia Mini-MBA delivers  practical business education which attracts professionals from 41 countries. The next edition begins June 5, 2023.

Tekedia Institute appreciates the Trustees of  Late Most Supreme Apostle Matthew Omodayo Owotuga Foundation for your donations, in honor of Late Most Supreme Apostle Omodayo Owotuga, to Tekedia Mini-MBA, making it possible for many young people to attend our program. Thank you for #FundingTheFuture through Africa’s largest business school for entrepreneurial capitalism.

Tekedia Institute appreciates and recognizes Axa Mansard Insurance Plc for offering scholarships to many young people to attend Tekedia Mini-MBA. We thank the insurance giant for #FundingTheFuture. Win more markets and territories.

Tekedia Institute appreciates and recognizes Unyime Obot for his generosity for endowing a multi-edition scholarship in our Institute. Through his kindness, many young people have attended our world-class Tekedia Mini-MBA and CollegeBoost programs. Thank you for #FundingTheFuture. Tekedia Institute is a temple for the mastery of Africa’s entrepreneurial capitalism. The next edition of Tekedia Institute Mini-MBA begins soon.

Our school, Tekedia Institute, thanks and recognizes Mr. Faruk Ibrahim Aliyu for his generosity of providing scholarships which have enabled many young men and women to attend Tekedia Mini-MBA. We’re happy that another set is joining in the new edition beginning June 5, 2023.  Thank you for #FundingTheFuture via Africa’s finest school for entrepreneurial capitalism. Every year, Tekedia offers hundreds of scholarships, making it possible for young people to experience our world-class programs. Donors like Mr. Aliyu have made the dreams come to pass. Tekedia Institute >> to discover and make scholars noble, bright and useful.

Tekedia Institute is honoured to recognize Hajia Aisha Ahmed & Family  for funding dozens of young people to Tekedia Mini-MBA. Through the family’s generosity, many young innovators in Kano have attended our program. Some have gone to use the knowledge to raise money and expand their ventures. We thank the family for #FundingTheFuture. More young entrepreneurs spend time here than any business school in Africa.

Out of the beautiful Sierra Leone, he provided 100 scholarships to empower young people on entrepreneurial capitalism. Tekedia Institute thanks and recognizes David Meek Jah, the Group CEO of CADAP World Corporation, for funding the future. With more than 41 countries represented in our country, we’re scaling the mission and business leaders like David are making it possible for young people to experience the quality of a modern business education. Thank you for #FundingTheFuture.

He has funded many young people to Tekedia Institute Mini-MBA. And many of those young people have him proud. Just a few days ago, he made another donation. Tekedia Institute thanks Nnaemeka Anyanwu, MBA, PMP, ACP, for his generous donations to Tekedia Institute General Scholarship Fund. Through his generosity, more young people will experience our category-king business education. #FundingTheFuture

Tekedia Institute appreciates and recognizes  Victor Ekpenyong, CEO of Kenyon International West Africa Limited, for #FundingTheFuture through a generous endowment which offers scholarships to young people. Kenyon Scholars are #winners, #innovators and #changemakers, who uplift and build their communities. We wish Kenyon more open doors in the market.

Tekedia Institute appreciates and recognizes  McPherson University, the home of the Champions, for an exceptional partnership our young institution has enjoyed with the university. Thank you for raising Champions for  the society, and bigger Thanks for giving us the opportunities to be part of that progress. Tekedia salutes the #Champions

Tekedia Institute appreciates and recognizes the First Lady of Kwara State, Amb Dr Mrs. Olufolake Abdulrahman, for funding the FUTURE. Through her non-profit, she has sent more than 600 youth and small business owners to our world-class program. Amb Dr Mrs. Olufolake Abdulrahman has also commended Tekedia Institute for the evidential impacts we have made in the learners who came to our Institute. We use this moment to thank Ambassador Abdulrahman for #FundingTheFuture at Tekedia Institute.

Tekedia Institute appreciates and recognizes Mr.  Femi Akintunde, Group CEO of Alpha Mead Group, for funding the future. Through his generosity, many students from the University of Ibadan and their supervising faculty co-learned with Tekedia Institute for over three months.  Thank you for #FundingTheFuture.

He funded 100 young scholars to experience the world-class quality of Tekedia Institute. Tekedia Institute appreciates and recognizes Oluwaseun Fadipe, MBA, Ph.D, for his generosity in funding the future through Prince Fadipe Foundation.  We’re Africa’s largest school for entrepreneurial capitalism in Africa, and hundreds attend our programs via scholarships, through the generosity and kindness of global citizens and companies. Thank you for #FundingTheFuture. Tekedia Institute >> to make scholars noble, bright and useful.

Tekedia Institute appreciates and recognizes David Onaolapo for his uncommon generosity via a series of donations to our Institute. With citizens like Mr. Onaolapo, more young people are being transformed through the entrepreneurial business education which Tekedia Institute offers. Our promise is to continue to do what we do best: design, develop and deliver world-class business education at the least cost possible.  Thank you David for #FundingTheFuture.