日本造出本土首颗2nm晶体管

Core Viewpoint - Japan has made significant progress in its $34 billion (approximately ¥4.4 trillion) 2nm chip project, led by the government-supported startup Rapidus, which has successfully produced Japan's first 2nm transistor, although details on product quality and customer attraction remain limited [1][3][6]. Group 1: Project Overview - Rapidus has achieved a milestone by producing a functional 2nm transistor and is collecting data to improve chip manufacturing processes [3][6]. - The company aims to control defect rates at 50% initially, with a future target of 10%-20% [5][6]. - The project is part of Japan's strategy to rebuild domestic chip manufacturing capabilities, with support from major companies like Toyota, NTT, and Sony [6][7]. Group 2: Financial Aspects - The Japanese government has committed up to ¥1.7 trillion (approximately $11.5 billion) to support Rapidus, which is higher than the ¥1.2 trillion (approximately $8.1 billion) allocated for TSMC's factories in Kumamoto, Japan [7]. - The total estimated cost of the chip manufacturing project is ¥5 trillion (approximately $34 billion), raising concerns about the financial burden on taxpayers [7]. - Rapidus aims to secure an additional ¥200 billion (approximately $1.3 billion) in investments from government and private sectors this year [7][8]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Rapidus faces significant competition from established players like TSMC, Intel, and Samsung, which dominate the advanced chip market [9][10]. - TSMC holds a 67.6% market share in the global foundry market, while Rapidus is still in the early stages of development [9][10]. - The company is adjusting its business model to offer faster factory response times and is willing to produce custom chips in small batches [8]. Group 4: Technical Challenges - The project relies on EUV lithography technology, which is crucial for producing 2nm semiconductors [6][8]. - Rapidus is one of the first companies to commercialize fully single-wafer processing, which is central to its rapid unified manufacturing services [6][8]. - The introduction of gate-all-around (GAA) transistor design represents a significant technological shift, and Rapidus is collaborating with IBM to leverage this technology [8][9]. Group 5: Workforce Issues - Japan faces a shortage of skilled engineers, with many experienced professionals nearing retirement and younger engineers still in training [12]. - Rapidus is attempting to address this gap through partnerships with IBM and startups like Tenstorrent [12].