Rapidus, an emerging semiconductor company, plans to scale up its 2nm efforts tremendously in the upcoming years as it sees massive interest from tech giants.
Rapidus's 2nm Process Features BSPDN & GAA Technologies, Making It a One-Of-A-Kind Implementation In The Industry
The semiconductor supply chain has been dominated by the likes of TSMC for quite some time now, and with competitors like Intel and Samsung Foundry making efforts to establish their market share, there's still a long way to go. However, Rapidus, Japan's leading chip fab company, is said to have joined the race for cutting-edge nodes, and according to DigiTimes, the firm has already developed a dedicated facility in Hokkaido, Japan, to reach mass production stages as quickly as possible.
It is claimed that Rapidus has seen interest from several industry clients; however, given its goal to maintain sustainable production, the firm will have fewer "long-term" partners. Apart from this, Rapidus is said to have acquired 2nm technology from IBM, and while the company believes it will achieve a breakthrough soon, currently, it is experiencing yield rate issues, mainly due to the 2nm technology being in the research stages. Moreover, the firm is also struggling with operating EUV equipment, which it has just acquired from ASML.
Interestingly, Nikkei Asia recently reported that Rapidus has been in contact with the likes of Apple and Google to mass-produce advanced chips, likely through the 2nm process. However, in terms of market competition, the Japanese chipmaker is said to be two years behind TSMC, but the firm claims that it can bridge the delay by providing "more efficient" solutions, although that is yet to be seen for now. Rapidus has reportedly started trial production for the 2nm process this month, with prototype chips expected to tape out by mid-May.
A factor that puts Rapidus' 2nm solution apart is the company's use of BSPDN (Backside Power Delivery Network) and GAA (Gate-All-Around) technologies, which are seen to be a first-of-type implementation. Only Intel has managed to integrate BSPDN with their 18A process, and Rapidus follows them, which means that the firm could potentially stand out in the advanced chip segment, given that they could nail the yield rates.
About the author: Muhammad Zuhair is a hardware and technology reporter for Wccftech, specializing in the semiconductor industry and the complex interplay between technology, manufacturing, and geopolitics. His coverage focuses on the corporate strategies and technological roadmaps of industry giants like TSMC, NVIDIA, Samsung, and Intel. Zuhair's expertise lies in deconstructing complex topics such as fabrication nodes (e.g., 2nm process), the economic impact of policies like the CHIPS Act, and the strategic development of AI infrastructure from NVIDIA, AMD and Intel.
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