[News] Canon Reportedly Mulls Multi-Billion-Yen Investment in Rapidus’s 2nm Push

Japan is advancing its 2nm ambitions with Rapidus, and the investment required is enormous. According to Japanese outlet Kyodo News, sources say Canon is in the final stages of negotiations to invest in Rapidus, with the amount expected to be in the several-billion-yen range. As a semiconductor equipment maker, Canon aims to support Rapidus’s plan to begin mass production in the latter half of FY2027 by joining the supply chain as a capital partner. The report also notes that SoftBank intends to make an additional investment.

As the report notes, Canon has supplied a semiconductor lithography system to the prototype line at Rapidus’s Chitose plant in Hokkaido. Rapidus is operating the system alongside EUV lithography tools made by ASML, the Dutch semiconductor-equipment giant.

Beyond funding, The Sankei Shimbun notes that the restart of Hokkaido Electric Power’s Tomari Nuclear Power Plant is seen as a crucial factor for Rapidus’s success. According to the report, Hokkaido Electric Power reportedly aims to bring the Tomari plant back online in 2027 after completing its seawall—a schedule that closely aligns with Rapidus’s planned start of mass production. For Rapidus, easing concerns about tight electricity supply would create the conditions needed to focus fully on development and manufacturing, Sankei Shimbun adds.

Rapidus Outlines Massive Expansion and Funding Roadmap

Rapidus has been outlining bold plans to catch up with top global foundries. Reports from Nikkei and Yomiuri Shimbun say that while its first Hokkaido Chitose fab has yet to begin mass production, the company aims to break ground on a second facility as early as FY2027, targeting 1.4nm chip output in 2029.

In parallel with its expansion plans, Rapidus has also submitted a business plan to Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) outlining its goal of reaching operating profitability around FY2030 and pursuing an IPO in FY2031, according to Nikkei. With its planned production roadmap, the company’s total investment is projected to surpass ¥7 trillion. METI, for its part, will provide an additional ¥1 trillion in support across FY2026–27. Beyond subsidies for technology development, the plan also includes additional capital injections, lifting total government support to ¥2.9 trillion, Nikkei adds.

Read more

• [News] Rapidus Reportedly Eyes 2029 1.4nm Production with 2nd Hokkaido Fab to Catch Foundry Giants
• [News] Japan Reportedly Adding ¥1 Trillion in Rapidus Support as It Targets FY2030 Profitability, FY2031 IPO

(Photo credit: Rapidus)