(Yicai) May 25 -- Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies has presented the Tau (τ) Scaling Law, proposing to replace geometric scaling with time (τ) scaling as a new principle for the evolution of both semiconductors and electronics systems.

The τ Scaling Law is a new principle for guiding the future development of the semiconductor industry, He Tingbo, chairwoman of the Huawei Scientist Committee and president of the company's semiconductor business department, said in a keynote speech at the 2026 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers International Symposium on Circuits and Systems today.

Based on this principle, innovative technologies can be used to continuously compress signal propagation delay and steadily improve transistor density, which will drive the ongoing evolution of semiconductors and electronic systems, she noted.

In recent years, Moore's Law has faced severe physical limits and diminishing economic returns, according to He. The τ Scaling Law will help the semiconductor industry tackle the urgent and common challenge of overcoming the physical constraints of traditional processes and finding a new, sustainable evolution path that can match surging computing demands.

Huawei has developed innovative core technologies, such as LogicFolding, and established a multi-level co-optimization mechanism that spans semiconductor devices, circuits, chips, and systems based on the τ Scaling Law, He noted, adding that this mechanism aims to systematically shorten the time constant τ to drive up performance, energy efficiency, and transistor density.

By 2031, the high-end chips Huawei designs based on the τ Scaling Law are expected to feature a transistor density that is equivalent to 14 Å (1.4 nanometer) processes.

The company has designed and mass-produced 381 chips based on the τ Scaling Law over the past six years, serving a wide range of industries, sectors, and markets, He revealed.

The Kirin 2026 chips, expected to be released this fall, will be the first mass-produced product to adopt the LogicFolding architecture, which will considerably enhance the chips' performance, she said. They evolve from single-layer logic to double-layer logic and achieve a leapfrog in core indicators, such as the transistor density.

After the Kirin 9030 Pro was unveiled last year, Huawei chips have entered a saturation stage, and LogicFolding provides a new path to break through bottlenecks, He pointed out.

"We believe that openness and collaboration are key to driving ongoing progress in the semiconductor industry," she said. "With the τ Scaling Law, we look forward to working closely with scientists, engineers, and industry partners around the world to drive the sustainable development of the semiconductor and electronics industries."

Editor: Futura Costaglione