Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Doubles Down on Domestic Chip Production
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited the Rapidus Corp. semiconductor factory in Chitose, Hokkaido, on July 24th, 2023. During his visit, he reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the domestic production of next-generation chips and pledged government funding for the initiative.
Kishida emphasized the importance of investing in semiconductor and AI technology, stating, "We need to continue expanding investments in semiconductor and AI technology." He announced that the government would push forward legislation to encourage the mass production of cutting-edge chips by boosting funding.
"I will submit the necessary bills for mass production as soon as possible," Kishida declared.
Rapidus, a Japanese semiconductor company, is scheduled to complete prototypes of state-of-the-art semiconductors with a line width of 2 nanometers in 2025 and begin mass production as early as 2027. The government has already committed to providing up to 920 billion yen ($6.04 billion) towards the project.
The government's Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform, approved by the Cabinet in June 2023, also included legislative measures to support Rapidus. This policy demonstrates the government's strong commitment to fostering domestic chip production and securing a leading position in the global semiconductor industry.