Recently, Intel has reached a collaboration agreement with Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), planning to establish a research and development center focused on chip manufacturing in Japan.
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This center will be Japan's first facility equipped with Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) equipment, which is used for manufacturing the smallest chipsets, as small as 5 nanometers or even smaller.
The newly established R&D center will be operated by AIST, while Intel will provide expertise in EUV technology. This means that Japanese chip designers will have the opportunity to collaborate with AIST and Intel, utilizing the latest process technologies to enhance their competitiveness in the global market.
It should be noted that the cost of EUV equipment is quite high, with each unit priced at approximately $200 million. Currently, Japanese companies typically access this advanced technology through overseas institutions, such as Imec in Belgium. Japanese semiconductor company Rapidus also plans to install its own Imec EUV technology in December.
The construction of the new R&D center is expected to take three to five years, considering the high cost of EUV equipment, the overall expense could reach several hundred million dollars. This center will become an important resource, providing services to chip manufacturers and material companies for a fee.
The collaboration between Intel and AIST will not only help advance Japan's semiconductor industry but also attract more international cooperation and investment, bolstering Japan's position in the global semiconductor market.
Key Points:
🌟 Intel collaborates with Japan's AIST to establish an advanced chip R&D center, filling the domestic gap in EUV technology.
💰 The new center will be equipped with expensive EUV equipment, aiding chip designers in enhancing their competitiveness.
🏗️ Expected construction to take three to five years, with total investment reaching several hundred million dollars, becoming an important resource for Japan's semiconductor industry.