➀ Powerchip Semiconductor, the Taiwanese foundry, has abandoned its plan to build a fab in Japan in favor of constructing one in India. The company had previously entered into a partnership with SBI Holdings to build a 40k wpm fab in Sendai, Japan, starting with 40nm technology and moving to 28nm with volume production scheduled for 2027. The partnership has now been dissolved as Powerchip seeks to provide technology for a fab to be built in India by Tata. ➁ Last week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata, and Powerchip chairman Frank Huang, where PSMC expressed interest in expanding its presence in India. ➂ Powerchip and Tata have agreed to collaborate on a fab in Gujarat, India, with Tata providing the funding and Powerchip providing the process technology for PMICs and display drivers.

➀ Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. (PSMC) is withdrawing from plans to establish a chip plant in Japan due to financial constraints. ➁ PSMC has communicated its decision to SBI Holding, a Japanese financial services group. ➂ The agreement to build a facility in Miyagi prefecture, northeastern Japan, will be terminated.

➀ Japan's semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales have seen remarkable growth with August sales soaring by 20%; ➁ This marks the fifth consecutive month of double-digit growth; ➂ January-August sales reached an all-time high.

➀ Rapidus, the Japanese startup aiming for 2nm manufacturing capability, faces a $7 billion funding gap. Three Japanese banks are investing $35 million each, with the Development Bank of Japan adding $70 million. ➁ Rapidus originally estimated a $14 billion cost for its 2nm pilot line and $7 billion for volume production. Now, the company forecasts another $7 billion is needed to establish the pilot line, with the total estimated at $35 billion. ➂ Rapidus is seeking additional investment from corporate backers and government support for its expansion plans.

➀ Ten Japanese universities will receive $700,000 a year for the next four years to collaborate with European universities on semiconductor research, including AI. ➁ The program aims to address a talent shortage in essential industries, with the chip industry requiring an additional 40,000 people in the next ten years. ➂ The universities will work on various projects, including quantum, information, and life sciences education, and human resources AI development.

➀ Japan leads in three out of five categories of new 'semiconductor materials', with some categories seeing Japanese companies hold a 100% market share. Experts warn that Chinese and South Korean companies are gaining influence in the semiconductor materials field, with China pushing for domestication, potentially reducing Japanese market share. ➁ The Nikkei 2023 'Major Products and Services Market Share Survey' shows that Japanese companies rank first in 10 categories, an increase of 4 from the previous survey. In the new 'semiconductor materials' category, Japanese companies are first in three categories. ➂ Tokyo Ohka Chemical is the leading player in photoresist with a 22.8% market share, excelling in traditional automotive products and EUV photoresist for the latest smartphones. The company has strengthened production and sales systems in Kagoshima and North America, with a sales target for the fiscal year ending December 2030 set at 350 billion yen, 1.7 times higher than the original plan. ➃ Shin-Etsu Chemical has the highest global market share in silicon wafers, with 24.7%, and is the only company, along with Sumco, that can produce the most advanced products. ➄ In the Mask Blanks category, three Japanese companies dominate the global market share, with HOYA holding over 60% of the market share.

➀ Japan leads in three out of five categories of new 'semiconductor materials', with some categories seeing Japanese companies hold a 100% market share. Experts warn that Chinese and South Korean companies are gaining influence in the semiconductor materials field, with China pushing for domestication, potentially reducing Japanese market share. ➁ The Nikkei 2023 'Major Products and Services Market Share Survey' shows that Japanese companies rank first in 10 categories, an increase of 4 from the previous survey. In the new 'semiconductor materials' category, Japanese companies are first in three categories. ➂ Tokyo Ohka Chemical is the leading player in photoresist with a 22.8% market share, excelling in traditional automotive products and EUV photoresist for the latest smartphones. The company has strengthened production and sales systems in Kagoshima and North America, with a sales target for the fiscal year ending December 2030 set at 350 billion yen, 1.7 times higher than the original plan. ➃ Shin-Etsu Chemical has the highest global market share in silicon wafers, with 24.7%, and is the only company, along with Sumco, that can produce the most advanced products. ➄ In the Mask Blanks category, three Japanese companies dominate the global market share, with HOYA holding over 60% of the market share.

➀ Rapidus Corp. is seeking to raise ¥100 billion ($696 million) to finance its chip development efforts; ➁ The company is approaching existing investors including Toyota, Sony, SoftBank, and MUFG Bank, as well as new investors such as Mizuho Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.; ➂ Rapidus is part of Japan's campaign to regain leadership in the global chip industry.

➀ China has warned Japan that it will retaliate economically if Japan strengthens restrictions on the sale of semiconductor manufacturing equipment to Chinese companies. ➁ Senior Chinese officials have reiterated this stance during recent meetings with Japanese officials. ➂ Toyota, one of Japan's major companies, has expressed concerns that new semiconductor controls could lead to China cutting off essential mineral supplies necessary for automotive production.

➀ Rapidus is negotiating with Japanese banks to fill a $7 billion funding gap for its 2nm chip production plans. ➁ The company aims to set up a pilot line by 2025 and a mass production line by 2027, with an estimated total cost of $21 billion. ➂ Rapidus is also seeking additional investments from its initial backers and has secured $6.3 billion from the Japanese government.

➀ Power semiconductors handle high voltage and large current, used in various products like smartphones and EVs. ➁ The global market for power semiconductors reached $28.3 billion in 2023, with German Infineon leading at 22.8%. ➂ Japanese companies like Mitsubishi Electric and Fuji Electric also hold significant market shares. ➃ There is a growing demand for new materials like silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) to enhance efficiency in EVs and home appliances.

➀ Japan's exports grew for the eighth consecutive month in July, rising 10.3% year-on-year to 9.6 trillion yen, primarily driven by semiconductors and automobiles. ➁ Imports also increased, up 16.6% to 10.2 trillion yen, marking the fourth straight month of growth. ➂ The weak yen has contributed to the increase in export values, enhancing the competitiveness of Japanese products overseas.

➀ The Japanese Ministry of Finance has expanded the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act to require foreign investors to seek approval before investing in semiconductor manufacturing in Japan. ➁ This move aims to secure stable supply chains and prevent technology leakage. ➂ Japan has invested heavily in semiconductors and wants to protect its investments from foreign interference.

➀ Japanese semiconductor equipment sales surged, with April 2024 sales up 15.7% YoY. ➁ DISCO's Q1 2024 revenue rose 53.4% YoY due to increased demand for power semiconductors and AI-related products. ➂ Tokyo Electron plans to invest 1.5 trillion yen and hire 10,000 new employees to become the world's top semiconductor equipment maker. ➃ Screen's Q2 2024 revenue in China increased nearly 200% YoY, driven by strong demand from the semiconductor industry. ➄ Advantest raised its annual operating profit forecast by 53% due to stronger-than-expected demand for chip testing equipment.

1. Japan's AIST collaborates with IBM on a plan to build a 10,000-qubit quantum computer. 2. Fujitsu receives an order from AIST for a quantum computer. 3. QuEra's quantum machine will be deployed by AIST and connected to a classical supercomputer.