Japanese semiconductor corporations Rapidus are working toward mass production in 2027 of 2-nanometer (nm; 1 nm = one-billionth of a meter) semiconductor products, according to reports on the 25th. Rapidus is a corporation established in 2022 under the leadership of the Japanese government. The Japanese government aims for a "revival of the semiconductor industry" through this corporation.
Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported on the 25th that Rapidus plans to start construction in fiscal 2027 of a second plant in Chitose, Hokkaido. The company intends to build the second plant before mass-production technology for 2-nanometer chips at the first plant matures. Rapidus said in July that it had succeeded in producing 2-nanometer chips and unveiled a prototype. The establishment of the second plant is described as a project aimed at producing advanced products such as 1.4-nanometer semiconductors starting in 2029.
Rapidus plans to ramp up research and development of 1.4-nanometer products starting next year. The company is receiving a technology transfer from U.S. IBM. Samsung Electronics targets 2027, and Taiwan foundry (contract semiconductor manufacturing) corporation TSMC targets 2028, to begin mass production of products using the 1.4-nanometer process.