Japan was the king of semiconductors in the 80s. Rapidus is their only hope to compete again in this market
Japan is making a significant strategic push to re-establish dominance in the global semiconductor market, a sector it once led in the 1980s. The nation's ambition is channeled through Rapidus Corporation, a new entity formed by a consortium of major Japanese industrial giants including Sony, Toyota, and SoftBank. This initiative aims to reclaim a crucial position in advanced chip manufacturing, a move reflecting broader global trends towards technological self-sufficiency. Rapidus was established with an aggressive initial target of producing 2-nanometer chips by 2027, though this timeline has since been adjusted. The Japanese government has demonstrated its commitment by becoming the largest shareholder in Rapidus, injecting substantial capital to bolster the company. Total investment has surged to ¥420 billion (approximately $2.7 billion), a dramatic increase from its initial funding, underscoring the strategic importance placed on this venture. The Japanese government's involvement extends to holding a "golden share" in Rapidus, granting it veto power over critical decisions such as management changes and mergers. This mechanism is designed to safeguard the project from foreign acquisition and ensure national control over its advanced semiconductor capabilities. This focus on domestic technological sovereignty mirrors similar efforts being undertaken by other nations worldwide to secure their digital futures.
Curated and translated by Europe Digital for our multilingual European audience.
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