The Japanese government is aggressively advancing its strategic layout for the chip and artificial intelligence industries. In this fiscal year, the Japanese government will add a special budget of 1.5 trillion yen (approximately 9.9 billion USD), targeting cutting-edge technology fields such as next-generation chips and quantum computers.
This budget is divided into two important parts: 1.05 trillion yen will be allocated for the research and development of next-generation chips and quantum computers, while 471.4 billion yen will focus on supporting domestic advanced chip production. Notably, the "Moon Landing Project" of Rapidus has garnered attention, although the specific funding amount has yet to be confirmed.
This initiative by Japan is a strategic response to global technological competition. Amid the high-tech investment frenzy led by the U.S. and China, Japan is determined not to fall behind. Senior officials in the Japanese government believe that chip technology is key to developing superior artificial intelligence and maintaining national security.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has pledged to invest over 10 trillion yen to support the chip and AI industries by the fiscal year 2030. This is not only an industrial revitalization plan but also a strategic guarantee for national economic security.
Over the past three years, Japan has invested approximately 4 trillion yen in chip-related support. This includes collaboration with TSMC to build a factory in Kumamoto, supporting Micron Technology to expand its DRAM production line in Hiroshima, and allocating 920 billion yen for Rapidus's factory in Hokkaido.
It is worth mentioning that Rapidus is attempting to build leading chip manufacturing capabilities from scratch, with plans to achieve mass production by 2027. As a project highly dependent on government support, its development is closely watched.
In addition to the chip sector, Japan has also approved a subsidy of 101.7 billion yen to strengthen the country's fragmented high-tech supply chain. Of this, 705 billion yen will be invested in the production of silicon carbide wafers and power chips for electric vehicles.
This series of actions clearly demonstrates Japan's determination in the global technology competition: through sustained, large-scale strategic investments, it aims to reshape its international position in the semiconductor and artificial intelligence fields.
