Japan's Rapidus Partners with UK and Italy for Chip Development

Japan's semiconductor national champion Rapidus has announced the signing of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with government-backed research institutions in both the United Kingdom and Italy, focusing on semiconductor technology collaboration. The partnerships aim to enhance manufacturing capabilities and open doors to potential clients.

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun, Rapidus finalized an agreement yesterday with Chips-IT, a research organization under the Italian government. Chips-IT is a public entity dedicated to advancing semiconductor R&D and fostering industry-academia collaboration in Italy. Rapidus hopes this partnership will increase its access to potential European customers.

The Asahi Shimbun also reported that Rapidus announced yesterday it has signed an MoU with the UK Semiconductor Centre. Established by the British government last year, this national institution aims to revitalize the UK's semiconductor industry.

Rapidus's consecutive agreements with official bodies in the UK and Italy align with Prime Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi's recent visits to both countries, where bilateral cooperation was discussed. On June 15, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held a bilateral summit in Rome, agreeing on technological collaboration. Specific details of the cooperation will be negotiated in the coming months.

Rapidus is primarily funded by the Japanese government, which holds the largest stake, with additional investments from private enterprises. The company aims to begin mass production of 2-nanometer process chips at its factory in Chitose City, Hokkaido, starting in fiscal year 2027. To date, the Japanese government has provided Rapidus with a total of 2.6 trillion yen in funding, making its ability to deliver technological results and secure major orders a key focus of attention.