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.

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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