Japan injects JPY150B into Rapidus to push for 2nm production by 2027 - digitimes

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced on June 5, 2026, that it has completed an additional JPY150 billion (US$937.9 million) capital injection into Rapidus, Japan's national semico... Read original →

Japan’s JPY150B injection into Rapidus isn’t just about hitting 2nm by 2027—it’s a geopolitical scramble for advanced-node sovereignty. This move pressures upstream suppliers to localize EUV-compatible materials and equipment, yet Rapidus’s lack of high-volume manufacturing experience makes the 2027 target unrealistic; wafer costs could surge over 30%. In response, TSMC (Taiwan, China) and Samsung are likely to lock down ASML’s High-NA EUV capacity and restrict IP access, effectively narrowing the technology window for newcomers. Over the next 12–24 months, Japan may lure Western chip designers with subsidized pilot runs, but if yields stay below 60%, the initiative risks becoming a fiscal sinkhole—ultimately consolidating 2nm leadership even more firmly in Korea and Taiwan, China.