Japanese firm Rapidus to cooperate with Belgium group in chip production, development

Japanese semiconductor company Rapidus will collaborate with Belgian research organization Imec, to develop next-generation chips for production in Japan.

Rapidus, which was launched last month by eight Japanese corporate giants, is aiming to revive Japan’s chip industry,

Imec is known for nanoelectronics and digital technologies key to developing next-generation chips.

According to Japan’s Economy and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, the cooperation with Imec in semiconductor production at its international research facility, which ranks as one of Europe’s best, is extremely meaningful.

The deal was signed by Rapidus President Atsuyoshi Koike and Imec President and CEO Luc Van den hove, who is in Japan as part of a business delegation led by Belgium's Princess Astrid.

Imec, or Interuniversity Microelectronics Center, is known for its expertise and technology needed to make advanced chips that require miniaturization and extremely thin circuitry. The collaboration is aimed at helping Rapidus develop and mass-produce 2-nanometer chips by 2027. The tie-up is the first known deal for Rapidus.