According to Bloomberg News, startup Rapidus said it has hired more than 200 employees and strives to build a cutting-edge fab by 2027, challenging TSMC.
It is understood that Rapidus is a company that has only been established for one year. It plans to install chip equipment and start trial production in December 2024. The goal is to mass produce 2nm chips within 4 years (2028 at the latest). Rapidus chairman Tetsuro Higashi said the goal was “tough but doable” with support from overseas partners and domestic equipment manufacturers.
About 130 people attended a groundbreaking ceremony for Rapidus’ soon-to-be-built factory, including executives from chip equipment makers such as ASML Holding NV in the Netherlands and Lam Research Corp in Fremont, Calif.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government has pledged billions of dollars in subsidies to bolster domestic chip production. The Japanese government has allocated 330 billion yen to Rapidus and Japanese Minister of Economy Yasutoshi Nishimura said: “The government promises to give Rapidus the greatest support.”
