Japanese Media Japan produces the most 40nm chips, but faces three obstacles in mass producing 2nm chips

Japanese Media Japan is the top producer of 40nm chips, but encounters three challenges in mass producing 2nm chips

【phoneauto News】Recently, phoneauto noticed that “Nikkei Chinese Network” published an article about the semiconductor industry in Japan. It mentioned that because Japanese companies had previously withdrawn from the competition to improve the integration of semiconductors, the current domestic factories in Japan can only produce general-purpose semiconductors with a size of 40nm. Producing 2nm chips will face three obstacles.

Image Source: Nikkei Chinese Network

On September 1st, Rapidus, a Japanese company entering the semiconductor foundry field, held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new semiconductor factory in Hokkaido. They plan to start mass production of cutting-edge 2nm semiconductors in 2027. It is reported that Rapidus plans to complete the construction of the factory in October 2024, start the trial production line in April 2025, and begin mass production in 2027. They will obtain the 2nm semiconductor design technology from IBM in the United States. Rapidus Chairman Higashi Tetsuro said, “The future is an era where cutting-edge equipment affects all industries. We hope to manufacture good products that can be left for future generations.”

Image Source: Nikkei Chinese Network

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“Nikkei Chinese Network” stated that in order to produce 2nm chips, they must overcome three major obstacles: technology development, obtaining domestic and foreign customers, and ensuring a huge amount of capital of 5 trillion yen. In terms of technology, Japan can only produce 40nm products domestically, so it is clearly difficult to make a leap to 2nm. In terms of customers, the current semiconductor foundry field is dominated by companies such as TSMC, Samsung, and Intel. Rapidus, a Japanese company, has no chance of winning against these giants. In terms of capital, Rapidus needs to prepare 5 trillion yen to produce 2nm chips.

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