IMEC, Europe's largest semiconductor research and development institution, will set up a research center in Japan to assist in the development of 2nm chips

CTOnews.com May 18 news, according to Japan's "Nikkei Asia" reported that Europe's largest semiconductor research and development organization IMEC executives said that they will set up a research center in Hokkaido, Japan, to assist Japanese semiconductor company Rapidus to develop 2nm chip mass production technology nearby.

▲ Picture from: IMEC official website

IMEC Executive Vice President Max Mirgoli will meet with the Japanese Prime Minister on the 18th. IMEC CEO Luc Van den hove said that in order to fully support Japanese semiconductor foundry Rapidus to develop 2nm chip mass production technology and strengthen cooperation with Japanese universities and enterprises, it has decided to set up a research center in Hokkaido, Japan.

Rapidus is a semiconductor company jointly established by Sony, Toyota, Mitsubishi UFJ, NEC, Kaixia and other eight companies, headquartered in Chiyoda District, Tokyo. CTOnews.com previously reported that Rapidus will start preliminary engineering at the wafer factory site in Chitose City, Hokkaido from June 2023, and start construction in September. It is expected to have trial production in 2025 and mass production of 2nm chips in 2027.