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☆ Rapidus hunts for engineers to help Japan regain faded chip glory
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Tetsuro Higashi, the Chairman of Rapidus Corp., poses for a photograph during an interview with Reuters at the company headquarters in Tokyo, Japan February 2, 2023. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Government-backed Japanese chip foundry venture Rapidus is hunting high and low - including among industry veterans and overseas - to find engineers to help it revive a chip industry that was once the envy of the world. Rapidus is helmed by veteran chip industry executives who were working in the 1980s when Japan boasted a market share of around half of the global chips market. Rapidus' ambitious plans have been met with scepticism from chip industry insiders who have questioned whether the company will be able to achieve mass production and secure a sufficient customer base. Yonemaru last month relocated to work with IBM in New York state, part of a cohort of Rapidus engineers heading there as the fab is being constructed.

Persons: Tetsuro, Issei Kato, TSMC, Rapidus, Masami Suzuki, Suzuki, Naoto Yonemaru, Sam Nussey, Miho Uranaka, Tim Kelly, Jamie Freed Organizations: Rapidus Corp, Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, IBM, Rapidus, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Hokkaido, New York

The logo of Rapidus Corp. is displayed at the company headquarters in Tokyo, Japan February 2, 2023. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Japanese chip foundry venture Rapidus plans to open a sales office in the United States by the end of the financial year. Rapidus is led by veteran chip executives and hopes to manufacture cutting-edge chips by partnering with IBM (IBM.N) and Belgium-based research organisation Imec. The CEO of Imec said last week that what Rapidus is trying to do is "extremely difficult" adding he was "positive" about the prospects for the venture. Reporting by Kaori Kaneko and Sam Nussey; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Christian SchmollingerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Issei Kato, Rapidus, Taiwan's TSMC, Imec, Kaori Kaneko, Sam Nussey, Chang, Ran Kim Organizations: Rapidus Corp, REUTERS, Rights, IBM, Samsung Electronics, U.S, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, United States, Belgium, South, Chitose, China

☆ Japan's efforts to foster chip sector are 'impressive' -research org head
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Sam Nussey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Japan's efforts to regain its position as a leading manufacturer of chips are "impressive", the head of a leading chip research organisation said on Thursday. "Japan this time has taken a bold approach and has implemented very quick decision making," Luc Van den hove, CEO of Belgium-based Imec told reporters in Tokyo. One key initiative is chip foundry venture Rapidus, which is led by veteran chip executives and hopes to manufacture cutting-edge chips by partnering with IBM (IBM.N) and Imec. "What Rapidus is trying to do is extremely difficult," said Van den hove, adding that "the Japanese team and government are very motivated to make it a success, so I'm positive." Imec, an important part of chipmaking research efforts funded by industry and governments, is considering opening offices in Hokkaido, where Rapidus production will be located, and in Tokyo, Van den hove said.

Persons: Florence Lo, Luc Van den hove, Imec, Taiwan's TSMC, Van den, Sam Nussey, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, IBM, Samsung Electronics, U.S, Thomson Locations: Japan, Belgium, Tokyo, South, Van den hove, Hokkaido, Van, China

☆ Israel highlights fragility of new trade corridors
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Afiq Fitri Alias | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, Oct 10 (Reuters Breakingviews) - A new and deadly chapter of the decades-old Israel-Palestinian conflict is a reality check for an ambitious trade route. IMEC’s chief backers waxed lyrical about the potential of the trade route involving railways, ports and green energy. Demand is there: India's total trade with Saudi Arabia more than doubled in two years, hitting around $53 billion in financial year 2023. In the near-term, the Suez Canal will remain the primary route for goods travelling to Europe from India, while Turkey can press its own rival trade route. The Biden administration is continuing to push for normalisation talks between Saudi Arabia and Israel, the New York Times reported on Oct. 8.

Persons: Joe Biden, Ursula von der Leyen, Narendra Modi, India’s, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Washington, European, Indian, New, Saudi Crown, Israeli, New York Times, Thomson Locations: Israel, India, Middle, Europe, New Delhi, Saudi Arabia, Haifa, Gaza, China, People’s Republic, Suez, Turkey, United States, European Union, France, Germany, Delhi, Arabian, Asia

☆ EU and Belgium invest $1.6 billion in chip technology firm Imec
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, July 7 (Reuters) - The European Union and Belgium's regional Flemish government will together invest 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) in Belgian chip technology firm Imec, the Flemish government said on Friday. Imec will use the investment to expand its "clean room" test facility with the most advanced equipment and processes, the company said in a statement. Von der Leyen, who was visiting Imec, stressed the EU's stance that it should de-risk its supply chains for chips. While Von der Leyen did not directly address China's planned curbs on exports of strategic metals widely used in the semiconductor industry, she said the EU should reduce its dependency "on too few suppliers from East Asia". ($1 = 0.9195 euros)Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout; editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Imec, Jan Jambon, Ursula von der Leyen, Alexander De Croo, Von der Leyen, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Mark Potter Organizations: European Union, Flemish, European, Belgian, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, East Asia

☆ EU, Japan to deepen chip cooperation - Breton
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Sam Nussey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] EU Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton speaks during an interview with Reuters in Tokyo, Japan July 3, 2023. REUTERS/Issei KatoTOKYO, July 3 (Reuters) - The European Union (EU) will deepen cooperation with Japan on semiconductors, its industry chief said on Monday, as countries move to strengthen control over a technology vital for defence, electronic and automotive industries. The EU and Japan will work together to monitor the chip supply chain and facilitate exchange of researchers and engineers, Thierry Breton said. "We believe that it's extremely important to secure the supply chain of semiconductors," Thierry Breton told Reuters in Tokyo, where he is discussing cooperation on chips and artificial intelligence with the government and companies. The deepening cooperation between the EU and Japan comes as the bloc has pledged to reduce its dependence on China, which aims to increase its capabilities in high-end technology such as chips.

Persons: Thierry Breton, Issei Kato TOKYO, Rapidus, Breton, Sam Nussey, Chang, Ran Kim, Himani Organizations: Internal, Reuters, REUTERS, European Union, EU, IBM, JSR, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, EU, Leuven, Belgium, China

☆ Japan's prime minister to meet with top chip firms
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies Meeting could happen as soon as ThursdayWould include TSMC, Samsung, Intel, MicronTOKYO, May 17 (Reuters) - Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida plans to meet with top executives from global semiconductor companies as early as on Thursday to strengthen multilateral cooperation, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said. Japan is striving to reinvigorate its chip sector, whose global market share has fallen to about 10% from around 50% in the late 1980s. TSMC, the world's largest contract chip manufacturer, is building a major factory in western Japan. Samsung is considering setting up a chip packaging test line in the country, five people familiar with the matter said in March. Also, Intel is looking into opening up a research and development facility in Japan, the Yomiuri Shimbun daily reported on Wednesday.

☆ Japan PM Kishida to meet executives from top chip firms -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, May 17 (Reuters) - Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida plans to meet on Thursday with top executives from global semiconductor companies including TSMC to seek active investment in Japan, said two people involved in planning the meeting. Kishida will also ask those companies to develop closer cooperation with Japanese firms, the people said following a Yomiuri newspaper report on the meeting. Japan is striving to breathe vigour into its chip sector, whose global market share has tumbled to about 10% from around 50% in the late 1980s. TSMC, the world's largest contract chip manufacturer, is building a major factory in western Japan. Samsung is considering setting up a chip packaging test line in the country, five people familiar with the matter said in March.

☆ EU must build cutting-edge computer chips - industry chief Breton
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ANTWERP, May 16 (Reuters) - EU industry chief Thierry Breton on Tuesday touted the European Chips Act passed last month, saying Europe must manufacture its own cutting-edge computer chips and not be relegated to a position on research or in building relatively older chips. The Chips Act is Europe's answer to similar plans to encourage the manufacture of semiconductors in the U.S. and China, as well as in Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. He also rejected the idea that Europe should only focus on existing strengths in making relatively older chips, mostly for its car industry. He was speaking at an event hosted by Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC), one of Europe's top semiconductor research firms. He noted that the Chips Act has led to new projects planned by Intel, Infineon, STMicroelectronics and Global Foundries.

☆ Exclusive: EU Chips Act likely to get green light on April 18 -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The European Commission announced the Chips Act last year in a bid to cut EU reliance on U.S. and Asian semiconductors following global supply chain problems that hurt European businesses from carmakers to manufacturers. EU countries and lawmakers will meet at the European Parliament's monthly session in Strasbourg on April 18 to negotiate details of funding for the Act and will likely clinch a deal, the people said. Providing funding to the entire value chain also addresses complaints from the smaller EU countries about being left out after Intel (INTC.O), attracted by the Chips Act, picked Germany for its new mega chip manufacturing complex. Franco-Italian company STMicroelectronics has also teamed up with GlobalFoundries (GFS.O) to build a 6.7 billion euro chip factory in France, drawing on funding from the government. ($1 = 0.9163 euros)Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Jan Harvey, Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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