At a time when the global semiconductor industry is in full swing, a number of Japanese industry giants have joined forces to give birth to a new company called Rapidus. This is not only a combination of capital, but also an in-depth layout of Japan's domestic semiconductor technology development. The establishment of Rapidus, like a bright star, illuminates the way forward for the Japanese semiconductor industry, and its goal is directly aimed at the mass production of 2nm chips, bringing new challenges and opportunities to the global semiconductor industry.The birth of Rapidus is a major step in Japan's semiconductor industry. The background of its establishment is not only a response to the increasingly fierce competition in the global semiconductor industry, but also an inevitable product of the development of Japan's domestic semiconductor industry to a certain stage. In this context, Rapidus carries too much expectation and attention, and every dynamic of Rapidus affects the heartbeat of the global semiconductor industry.
The goal of RAPIDUS is clear and firm, that is, to promote the development of domestic semiconductor technology and successfully achieve the mass production of 2nm chips. It's a challenging goal, but it's also a promising prospect. Needless to say, the technical difficulty and commercial value of 2nm chips are the core competitiveness of the global semiconductor industry in the future.
So, what does the future hold for Rapidus? We can't have a future, but we can look for some clues from the background and goals of its founding. If Rapidus can make full use of Japan's advantages in semiconductor technology, actively integrate resources, and increase R&D efforts, then it may make a breakthrough on the road to mass production of 2nm chips. But at the same time, it will also face competitive pressure and challenges from the world, and it needs to continue to innovate and progress.
Rapidus was established by seven top Japanese companies, including Sony, Denso, Toyota, Kioxia, SoftBank, Tokyo Electric and NEC, with a registered capital of 7.346 billion yen, about 3 yuan700 million yuan. The joint investment of these companies not only reflects the importance that Japan attaches to the development of semiconductor technology, but also demonstrates their determination to compete in the global economy.
Rapidus has been working with IBM, ASML, IMEC and other companies since 2023, with the goal of sending 100 employees to IBM and ASML this year to learn Xi advanced chip technology. To date, the company has employed about 300 people. Judging from this aspect, Rapidus has basically adopted a take-it-or-leave-it approach, and the core technology should still belong to these companies controlled by the United States.
In terms of technology research and development, Rapidus has carried out in-depth cooperation with IBM in the United States and IMEC in Belgium to jointly develop the 2nm process. This collaboration will help enhance the R&D capabilities of Rapidus and accelerate the commercialization of the 2nm process, which is mainly based on the 2nm chip process developed by IBM 2021 in terms of public reports. This also shows that Rapidus adopts an open and cooperative strategy in technology research and development, and continuously improves its own technical level through cooperation with top international enterprises, but whether the use of IBM's technology can be truly commercialized is a big question mark. Because IBM does not have its own Fab factory so far, all 2nm technology may still be in the theoretical and laboratory stage, and semiconductor technology needs to cross many thresholds from R&D to real mass production, and I believe that Rapidus should also be prepared.
In order to achieve the R&D goal of 2nm process, Rapidus has established a 2nm chip R&D and production base in Hokkaido, Japan. Construction of the site began in September this year, and a trial production line is scheduled to start in April 2025. This means that Rapidus will start the production of 2nm chips in the near future, bringing new competitive forces to the global semiconductor market.
Currently, Rapidus has employed more than 200 people who will develop and produce 2nm chips at the R&D and production site. According to the company's plan, they strive to start the production of 2nm chips in 2027, which will provide a higher level of technology and products for the global semiconductor market.
The establishment and development of Rapidus is of great significance to the development of the semiconductor industry in Japan. First of all, it is expected to break the current pattern of the global semiconductor market and enhance Japan's competitiveness in the global semiconductor industry. Second, the establishment of RAPIDUS will help promote the innovation and progress of semiconductor technology in Japan and inject new vitality into the development of the Japanese economy. Finally, the success of Rapidus will encourage more Japanese companies to invest and innovate in the semiconductor industry, thereby promoting the development of the entire industry.
Rapidus, Japan's largest state-owned wafer foundry
However, before the development of Rapidus, there were Samsung and TSMC, and then there was the semiconductor industry support strategy of the United States, and the United States chip manufacturing reshored, in this double unfavorable background, as a 2nm chip research and development base jointly built by Japan's top enterprises, borrowing IBM's technology, can break out of the encirclement and have a far-reaching impact on the global semiconductor industry, it is not yet possible to give expectations. Of course, we also look forward to more breakthroughs and achievements in the future and make greater contributions to the development of global semiconductor technology.