Rapidus
playerNations & Geopolitics
Japan is spending $35 billion on a chip-making moonshot that exists mainly as a backup in case China takes Taiwan.
Who they are
Rapidus, a Japanese $35 billion project to make cutting-edge 2-nanometer chips, partnered with IBM.
What they do
It's an insurance policy for the advanced-chip supply chain, not a main supplier.
How it works
If Taiwan's chip production is lost, Rapidus would provide a secondary source of advanced chips; its target is to be running by 2027-2028, though that will likely slip.
Why it matters
It matters as a safety net for the world's supply of the most advanced computer chips.
The engine's record — word for word
Japan $35B 2nm moonshot. IBM partnership. Insurance policy for Genesis compute supply chain — if Taiwan falls, Rapidus provides secondary advanced fabrication node. Not replacement but backup. Timeline: operational by 2027-2028 target, likely delayed.
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