Rapidus, a foundry (contract semiconductor manufacturing) corporations being pushed by the Japanese government, has entered the practical phase to commercialize the 2-nanometer (nm, one hundred millionth of a meter) process.
According to foreign media and the industry on the 19th, Rapidus began distributing a design kit (PDK) for the 2-nm process to initial customers early this month. This means the basic environment has been set up for fabless (semiconductor design) corporations to review chip designs tailored to the process, and it marks an attempt to move beyond a technology demonstration into actual business.
Rapidus recently succeeded in producing a prototype 2-nm GAA (gate-all-around) transistor at its Chitose plant in Hokkaido and is said to be confirming the targeted electrical characteristics. However, this is not its own technology but a stage of implementing process technology transferred from U.S. IBM at facilities in Japan. With Japan stuck at the 40-nm process, there is considerable market skepticism about whether it can skip several generations and secure a stable Production yield for the most advanced processes.
The cabinet led by Sanae Takaichi has designated semiconductors as a core national security asset and is continuing full-scale fiscal support. The cumulative budget injected so far amounts to 2.9 trillion yen (about 27 trillion won), and the plan is to spur a total 50 trillion yen in public-private investment by 2030. In particular, through cooperation with TSMC, it is seeking to fill technology gaps by increasing external cooperation, such as attracting a 3-nm process to the Kumamoto plant.
From the perspective of international dynamics, demand from U.S. big tech corporations to diversify supply chains is cited as an opportunity factor for Rapidus. U.S. IBM, a technology partner, is reviewing a direct capital investment in Rapidus and is undergoing regulatory screening, while major fabless corporations such as Apple and Google are entering initial talks to secure sources of supply. The U.S.-Japan semiconductor supply chain alliance appears to be supporting Japan's effort to restore its manufacturing base.
Korea's semiconductor industry is watching Rapidus' moves while remaining cautious. Japan's strength in materials, parts and equipment—fields where it once held semiconductor hegemony—remains formidable, but "Production yield management" and "mass-production stability," the core of the foundry business, are entirely different arenas. Some are urging caution by pointing to past government-led projects in Japan, such as Elpida Memory and Japan Display (JDI), that failed to produce visible results.
An industry official said, "Japan is mobilizing massive funds and diplomatic power, but it will not be easy to catch up quickly with the manufacturing completeness of Samsung Electronics or TSMC," adding, "We need to wait until actual mass-production results come out."