Japan’s 2nm hope Rapidus, joins IMEC’s ‘Core’ research program

Partners | April 4, 2023

By Peter Clarke

Rapidus Co. Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan), the newly-formed logic foundry aiming at 2nm production, has joined the Core Partner Program of research institute IMEC (Leuven, Belgium).

IMEC and Rapidus signed a memorandum of cooperation in 2022 (see Japan’s Rapidus signs up IMEC to support 2nm push). This agreement was supported by both the government of Flanders and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), and linked to a strengthening of the ties between the semiconductor industries in Flanders and Japan.

IMEC’s Core Partner Program has existed since 2005 provides an R&D collaboration where the world’s leading semiconductor companies can cooperate in a pre-competitive environment. The program includes foundries, IDMs, fab-lite, fabless chip companies and materials and chipmaking equipment suppliers. The program is now working on manufacturing processes at 5nm and beyond.

The program makes use of IMEC’s cleanroom and leading-edge chipmaking tools including deep ultraviolet (DUV) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography tools.

Great and good

Apart from Rapidus, IMEC’s Core Partner Program includes: Globalfoundries, Intel, Micron, Qualcomm, Samsung, SK Hynix, Sony Semiconductor Solutions, Kioxia, TSMC and Western Digital.

Atsuyoshi Koike, CEO of Rapidus, said: “Joining IMEC’s Core Partner Program is a significant milestone for us. It provides Rapidus with access to IMEC’s advanced technologies, system solutions, state-of-the-art 300mm pilot line, and extensive partner network.”

Luc Van den hove, CEO of IMEC, said: “Through this partnership, we will help Rapidus research and develop the key building blocks necessary for the mass production of state-of-the-art two-nanometer chip technology. Advanced chips like these can be used for 5G communications, quantum computing, data centers, autonomous vehicles, and digital smart cities.”