Japan has approved a $338 million (£238 million) semiconductor research project that will see Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) develop new chip technology in the country, amid an ongoing global shortage.
Over 20 Japanese companies are set to take part in the project worth 37 billion yen ($338 million), of which the Japanese government will pay half, according to the AFP.
The research will focus on tech for 3D chip assembly, to allow the creation of components that are more dense but still small, with the intention of boosting Japan's competitiveness in this key sector.
Construction of a trial facility will begin this summer at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in the city of Tsukuba, about 60km northeast of Tokyo, with a launch date expected in 2022.
Last month, TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, was reportedly making plans to build five more chip plants in Arizona. As the company makes most of its chips in Taiwan, the project in Arizona would represent a major expansion of TSMC's plans to shift its manufacturing to the US.
Discussions around building a TSMC semiconductor plant in Europe reportedly collapsed last month. There had been talks about opening a factory in the region to remedy the impact of the global semiconductor shortage on the continent, with the EU seeking to increase its share of global semiconductor production from 9% to 20% by 2030. The collapse in the talks has meant the chip company switched its attention to markets in North America.
Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins said in April the global semiconductor shortage might last for another six months, although the crisis is unlikely to be resolved until 2022. However, Dell founder and CEO Michael Dell said in May that he expects the chip crisis "will probably continue for a few years".
-
Bigger salaries, more burnout: Is the CISO role in crisis?In-depth CISOs are more stressed than ever before – but why is this and what can be done?
-
Cheap cyber crime kits can be bought on the dark web for less than $25News Research from NordVPN shows phishing kits are now widely available on the dark web and via messaging apps like Telegram, and are often selling for less than $25.
-
Boomi snaps up former MuleSoft executive as APJ channel leadNews Global software veteran Jim Fisher will work to expand the company’s channel operations across the region
-
What the US-China chip war means for the tech industryIn-depth With China and the West at loggerheads over semiconductors, how will this conflict reshape the tech supply chain?
-
Why Microsoft Teams has only just launched in ChinaNews The tech giant has officially launched Teams via its local partner in China, after it was launched globally in 2017
-
UK startup's Equinix deal marks step towards broad quantum computing accessNews Businesses around the world will be able to use its quantum computing as a service platform through Equinix
-
MI5 to establish new security agency to counter Chinese hacking, espionageNews The new organisation has been compared to GCHQ’s NCSC, and will provide companies advice on how to deal with Chinese companies or carry out business in China
-
UK set to appoint second-ever tech envoy to Indo-Pacific regionNews The role will focus on India after Joe White was made the first technology envoy, a role focused on the US, in 2020
-
Wipro faces criticism after cutting graduate salaries by nearly 50%News Graduates were given days to decide whether they would accept greatly reduced pay offers, prompting union action
-
Freshworks appoints Sandie Overtveld as new SVP of APJ and MEANews The digital transformation veteran brings years of regional expertise to lead Freshworks’ growth strategy
