Financial Wire

Japan Approves Additional Funding for Chipmaker Rapidus

-- Rapidus has secured additional funding from Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) for its fiscal year 2026 plans to accelerate next-generation 2nm logic semiconductor development.

The approval covers two projects: front-end process R&D for 2nm integration and short-TAT manufacturing, and back-end development for chiplet, package design, and manufacturing tech, according to a statement on Sunday.

The approved funding totalled 631.5 billion yen, according to a Reuters News report, citing Japan's industry ministry.

In fiscal year 2025, Rapidus verified Japan's first 2nm GAA transistor on 300mm wafers and prototyped the industry's first organic RDL interposer using a 600mm square panel.

With the new budget, Rapidus will now progress toward its target of starting mass production in 2027.

Rapidus was established in August 2022 with the support of eight major Japanese companies: Denso(TYO:6902), Kioxia(TYO:285A), MUFG Bank (TYO:8306), NEC(TYO:6701), NTT (TYO:9432), SoftBank(TYO:9984), Sony (TYO:6758), and Toyota (TYO:7203)

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