Rapidus, a large-scale project aimed at reviving the semiconductor industry in Japan, has embarked on the prototype of the world’s most advanced 2-nanometer semiconductor.
🟦 Rapidus Chitose Plant to start prototyping of state-of-the-art “2-nanometer” semiconductors
Rapidus announced that it has completed preparations for the production of a prototype of a 2-nanometer-class advanced semiconductor at its semiconductor factory under construction in Chitose City, Hokkaido. This means that the width of the semiconductor line (the fineness of the circuit) is at the world’s top level, and it is expected to become an indispensable important component in the field of autonomous driving technology and AI in the future.
The company expects to start production this month, with the first prototype expected to be completed in July 2025. This initiative is an important step toward full-scale mass production from 2027, and the focus will be on confirming the reliability of the product and the “yield” for mass production.
🟦 Why is Japan taking on the challenge of 2 nanometers now?: Global technology competition in the background
The 2-nanometer semiconductor that Lapidus is aiming for is a next-generation technology that has not yet been mass-produced in the world. Major companies such as Taiwan’s TSMC, South Korea’s Samsung, and America’s Intel are also struggling to build prototype and mass production systems.
Among them, Lapidus, which was established in 2022, was able to achieve prototype production in just a few years due to the huge support of more than 1.8 trillion yen from the Japan government and the technical collaboration with IBM. With the aim of enhancing economic security through domestic production, the national proposition of “domestic production of semiconductors” is driving Lapidus’ challenge.
🟦 Summary
Lapidus has announced that it is ready for pilot production of advanced semiconductors at its plant under construction in Chitose City, Hokkaido, and that prototypes are expected to be completed by mid-July 2025.
The technical hurdles are high, and there are many challenges such as securing stable yields, verifying reliability, and securing commercial orders.
