Latest news with #AtsuyoshiKoike
Nikkei Asia
11-08-2025
- Business
- Nikkei Asia
Japan's state-backed Rapidus needs plan B in pursuit of 2-nm chips
Comment With government funding, foundry has charged ahead without heeding industry shifts Rapidus Chairman Tetsuro Higashi, far left, and CEO Atsuyoshi Koike, second from left, celebrate the successful production of a 2-nanometer transistor in July. (Photo by Rie Ishii) TAKEHIKO KOYANAGI August 12, 2025 05:40 JST TOKYO -- When Rapidus successfully formed 2-nanometer transistor structures on a silicon wafer at its Chitose plant in Hokkaido this July, it marked the first time since around 2009 to 2010 that a Japanese company had produced cutting-edge semiconductor elements in Japan.
Japan Forward
22-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Forward
Rapidus Ushers in New Era with Operational 2nm Chip Prototype
このページを 日本語 で読む On July 18, Rapidus, the company spearheading Japan's efforts to domestically produce next-generation semiconductors, hosted a customer event at a hotel in Chitose, Hokkaido. The venue was located near the site of the company's semiconductor manufacturing facility, which is currently under construction. Speaking at a press conference beforehand, President and CEO Atsuyoshi Koike announced that the pilot production line, launched in April 2025, was running smoothly. He also revealed that the company had successfully confirmed the operation of a prototype 2-nanometer semiconductor chip. This marks a major milestone in Japan's semiconductor ambitions. Chairman Tetsuro Higashi of Rapidus, Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki, and Chitose Mayor Ryuichi Yokota also attended the press conference. President Koike underscored the significance of the achievement, calling the 2-nanometer prototype Japan's first and a groundbreaking milestone. "We achieved this at an unprecedented speed," he said. Looking ahead, he stated that Rapidus will continue refining the chip with the goal of entering mass production by 2027. Attendees at the press conference (from left) Rapidus Chairman Tetsuro Higashi, President and CEO Atsuyoshi Koike, Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki, and Chitose Mayor Ryuichi Yokota. July 18, Chitose City, Hokkaido (©Sankei by Takahiro Sakamoto) Governor Suzuki expressed strong optimism, stating, "Today marks a major milestone in the history of Hokkaido's semiconductor industry." He also affirmed his commitment to ongoing support. On the same day, members of the media were given a tour of the new IIM-1 factory, which is now approximately 80% complete. The customer event at the hotel drew around 200 participants, including suppliers and prospective business partners from around the world. Author: Takahiro Sakamoto, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
Japan Times
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- Japan Times
Rapidus reports 2-nanometer progress, moving Japan closer to semiconductor goals
Rapidus has prototyped an advanced chip, an early step in the government-backed startup's attempt to leapfrog years of innovation with the help of billions of dollars in public funding. The company last week printed circuitry on wafers using 2-nanometer gate-all-around process technology, President Atsuyoshi Koike told reporters Friday. He did not disclose the number of functional chips produced. Rapidus, which in April began developing wafers using extreme ultraviolet lithography equipment from ASML Holding, aims to be ready to help customers with their chips by March, Koike said. The company, which hopes to mass produce cutting-edge semiconductors by 2027, remains far behind industry leader Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's plans to begin volume production of its own 2nm process later this year. "I don't think anyone else has been able to succeed at EUV lithography in just three months,' Koike said at a news conference in Chitose on Hokkaido, the site of Rapidus' factory. "To get to this stage, none of us slept.' Japan has earmarked more than ¥1.72 trillion ($11.6 billion) for Rapidus, part of a moon-shot bid to manufacture bleeding-edge chips at home. The overwhelming majority of the world's advanced artificial intelligence chips are manufactured by TSMC, sparking fears about reliance on an island that China claims as its own. Critics, however, point to how past Japanese government efforts to help the private sector failed to revive the nation's leadership — whether in displays, solar panels or memory chips. Nonetheless, uncertainty about U.S. President Donald Trump's willingness to defend Taiwan in the event of an attack is spurring Japan's efforts to build its own foundry. Rapidus has also received funding from local industry leaders like Toyota Motor and Sony Group. "The world is astonished by how far we've come. Japan's now taking on cutting-edge technology after lagging behind by more than a decade,' Rapidus Chairman Tetsuro Higashi said. Japanese officials have acknowledged the risks associated with the project. Tokyo is studying plans to obtain golden shares with veto powers in exchange for some of the public money it has promised. The government also is preparing to guarantee Rapidus' debt, a move the country's lenders say is essential for them to lend to a startup that requires billions of dollars in equipment. Rapidus is developing advanced chipmaking processes with IBM, and has partnerships with the likes of Belgian research hub Imec, the University of Tokyo and Japan's Riken.
Bloomberg
18-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Japan Inches Toward AI Goals With Rapidus' First Chip Prototype
Japan's Rapidus Corp. has prototyped an advanced chip, an early step in the government-backed startup's attempt to leapfrog years of innovation with the help of billions of dollars in public funding. The company last week printed circuitry on wafers using 2-nanometer gate-all-around process technology, President Atsuyoshi Koike told reporters Friday. He did not disclose the number of functional chips produced.
Reuters
04-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Japan's Rapidus in talks with Apple, Google to mass-produce chips, Nikkei reports
April 4 (Reuters) - Japanese chipmaker Rapidus is negotiating with Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab, Google (GOOGL.O), opens new tab and dozens of other potential clients to mass-produce advanced chips by 2027, the Nikkei business daily reported on Friday, citing the company's CEO Atsuyoshi Koike. A prototype chip line, which began partial operation on Tuesday at a plant in Hokkaido, is scheduled to be fully up and running within the month, the report said. The CEO did not name any specific customers but said the company is in discussions with Google, Apple, Facebook (META.O), opens new tab, Amazon (AMZN.O), opens new tab and Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab.
