Rapidus Makes History as First Japanese Chipmaker to Receive ASML's EUV Machine
Sign up for ARPU: Stay ahead of the curve on tech news.
Rapidus, Japan's state-backed semiconductor company, has become the first Japanese chipmaker to receive an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machine from ASML, marking a significant step in Japan's efforts to regain its position in advanced chip manufacturing, reports Nikkei Asia.
The installation of the EUV system at Rapidus's new fabrication facility in Chitose, Hokkaido, began this week, with the first components arriving on Saturday. The massive system, weighing 71 tonnes and measuring 3.4 meters high, will be installed in four stages, with completion expected by the end of the month.
"We'll deliver cutting-edge semiconductors from Hokkaido and Japan to the entire world," said Rapidus CEO Atsuyoshi Koike at a ceremony on Wednesday at New Chitose Airport.
ASML, the world's sole supplier of EUV systems, is supplying the technology to Rapidus. Each EUV system costs approximately $180 million and requires significant operating expertise, making them a highly sought-after tool in the advanced semiconductor industry.
The acquisition of the EUV machine is a pivotal moment for Rapidus, which is partnering with IBM to develop prototype chips using the cutting-edge 2-nanometer process. Mass production of these chips is targeted for 2027, aiming to close the gap with TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, which plans to mass-produce 2-nanometer chips in 2025.
The ability to produce chips with finer circuits translates into greater energy efficiency and processing power, crucial for technologies like artificial intelligence, which are expected to drive economic growth in the coming decades.
Japan's semiconductor industry once dominated the global market, holding a share exceeding 50% in the 1980s. However, by the 2000s, Japan had fallen behind in the race to produce increasingly smaller logic chips. Currently, no Japanese chipmaker can produce chips more advanced than 40 nanometers.
Rapidus, established with government support, is tasked with reviving Japan's advanced chip manufacturing capabilities and reducing the country's reliance on imports. Tokyo aims to achieve more than 15 trillion yen ($97 billion) in sales for Japanese chipmakers by 2030, triple the figure from 2020.
The next phase for Rapidus involves building the necessary expertise. The company has sent approximately 150 engineers to IBM to learn the intricacies of managing advanced chip production lines.