A medium-long-term project has been put on the table; develop chips with nodes following 2 nanometer technology from 2025. That is the objective that arises as a result of the alliance established between the American IBM and the Japanese company rapidus. Specializing in the research, development, design, manufacture and sale of advanced logic semiconductors all over the world. Thanks to agreements reached with Japanese technology conglomerates such as Sony, Toyota, NEC and SoftBank.
The manufacture of these new 2-nanometer semiconductors is part of the multiple initiatives developed by Japan to become a world leader in the research, development and manufacturing of these components.
The country wants to recover the essential role it played in the production and supply of semiconductors globally. And it is that in the last 30 years, it has lost all the potential in technological innovation that characterized it, ceasing to have efficient resources to compete with other world giants from Europe, the United States and even from the Asian continent itself.
The new 2 nanometer logical scaling technology will be compatible with the rest of the standard offerings in the industry.
The agreement also involves the incorporation of Rapidus scientists at the New York Semiconductor Research Center, Albany NanoTech Complex, within which is IBM. But other leading companies in the sector also appear, such as Tokyo Electron, SCREEN JSR, Applied Materials or Samsung Electronics, among others.
IBM’s great challenge
IBM announced last year the launch of a two-nanometer architecture processor With performance greater than 45% and with a decrease in power consumption of 75%, compared to the most advanced 7-nanometer chips.
The company’s senior vice president and chief research officer, Dario Gilassures regarding what said agreement will entail: “guaranteeing a geographically balanced supply chain throughout the world, with advanced semiconductors and built from a vibrant ecosystem of like-minded companies and nations.”
Rapidus intends to implement differentiated strategies in the manufacturing and automation to gain speed in commercialization and develop unprecedented competitiveness. Today they make a 40 nanometer chip.
This merger was highly anticipated by the Japanese company, as expressed by its president and CEO, atsuyoshi koike: “I am fully confident that this collaboration will pave the way in our goal of contributing to the well-being of humanity through advanced logic semiconductors produced with technologies co-developed with IBM.”
Last November, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Japan announced the investment of 70 billion yen (500 million dollars) in Rapidus. However, new investments are expected in this regard, since this industry can face annual costs of tens of millions of dollars.
