Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing

History

2021: Start of chip plant construction

On November 9, 2021, TSMC and Sony announced the construction of a chip factory in Kumamoto, Japan. This plant will produce chips based on a 22/28 nm process.

Under the terms of the agreement, TSMC and Sony will be responsible for the construction of the factory. It will be called Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing. Sony will invest $0.5 billion in the new company in exchange for a 20% stake. The remainder will be owned by TSMC. The initial capital expenditures under the project will amount to $7 billion.

Sony begins construction of chip plant for $7 billion in Japan

It is assumed that about 1,500 jobs will be created at this plant for highly qualified specialists in the field of technology. The facility will establish monthly production of about 45 thousand 12-inch semiconductor plates with chips. They will be used in Sony image sensors, which are installed in smartphones and digital cameras. The start of production is scheduled for the end of 2024.

According to Reuters news agency, TSMC and Sony's decision to build a joint venture in Japan marks the success of local authorities who wanted the world's largest contract chip manufacturer to create enterprises in the country to supply chips to local electronics and car manufacturers. The deal is concluded amid the fact that trade disagreements between the United States and China increase the already big problems associated with the production of key components for electronics and the supply of finished products, the publication said.

TSMC and Sony emphasized that the joint project of the companies received "strong support from the Japanese government." At the same time, it is not specified whether the country's authorities will invest in the plant. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said earlier in November 2021 that the government plans to allocate subsidies for the construction of new semiconductor factories in the country.^[1]

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