Core Viewpoint - Japan's Rapidus is making strides in advanced semiconductor manufacturing, aiming to produce 2nm chips by 2027, with significant government support to regain technological leadership lost to the US, Taiwan, and South Korea [2]. Group 1: Company Developments - Rapidus has begun testing chip manufacturing equipment and plans to start trial production of advanced semiconductors by the end of April [2]. - The company has received a total of 1.72 trillion yen (approximately 115 billion) in government funding to support its initiatives [2]. - An additional support package of up to 802.5 billion yen (around 54 billion) is being provided to aid Rapidus in its development [2]. Group 2: Technological Challenges - The CEO of Rapidus, Atsuyoshi Koike, acknowledged the difficulties in developing 2nm technology and emphasized the need for extensive experimentation to reduce error rates and build customer trust [2]. - The first test chips are expected to be unveiled in July, with plans for large-scale production at a facility in northern Hokkaido [2]. - Analysts express skepticism about the feasibility of launching a 2nm production line by 2027, citing the challenges of mastering ASML's latest equipment and the inexperience of engineers with these tools [3].