Japan plans to provide Rapidus Corp., a state-backed Japanese chipmaker founded in 2022, with another 150 billion yen, or about US$944 million.

The funding is intended to support domestic production of advanced semiconductors and reduce reliance on overseas suppliers.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will also seek more funding for Rapidus in its fiscal 2027 budget, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The latest package would add to funding that Rapidus previously said included 267.6 billion yen (US$1.68 billion) from the Japanese government and private-sector companies, and a separate 150 billion yen (US$943 million) government round.

Rapidus aims to make 2-nanometer chips by 2027.

Its plan relies in part on licensing IBM’s 2-nanometer process technology and related know-how.

Japan has also granted subsidies to TSMC’s Kumamoto operations, suggesting the Rapidus funding is part of a broader semiconductor industrial policy.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg

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