Semiconductors

Development of the Next Generation of Semiconductor Design and Manufacturing in Hokkaido Made in Hokkaido

The demand for cutting-edge semiconductors is expected to further increase with the advancement of AI and automated driving technologies. Rapidus Corporation is at the heart of efforts to domestically produce next-generation semiconductors and they have chosen Chitose City as their manufacturing base, accessible by train from Sapporo in just 30 minutes. They are preparing to begin mass production in 2027 and have entered into a joint development partnership with IBM. Their attempts at mass production of 2-nanometer semiconductors, the world’s first, in addition to accumulating an investment of up to five trillion yen, are expected to create thousands of jobs, attract semiconductor-related companies, and increase the number of visitors to the area.

The semiconductor-related industry in Hokkaido is centered around Chitose City, and many semiconductor manufacturing factories, as well as a number of companies that produce parts, materials, and inspection equipment for the semiconductor industry, are located in the city. Additionally, due to the concentration of universities and enterprises in Sapporo, design companies for advanced semiconductor and AI divisions of major manufacturing equipment producers are based in the city.

In addition, half of Hokkaido’s higher education institutions are concentrated in the Sapporo area, and the city is actively working to develop and secure semiconductor-related human resources. Hokkaido University participates in the Leading-edge Semiconductor Technology Center (LSTC), a national development center for the next-generation semiconductor mass production technology, and four technical colleges in Hokkaido have started offering specialized courses in semiconductors.