Japan to build R&D centre with Intel
US chipmaker Intel and a Japanese national research institute have announced plans to establish a joint research and development centre in Japan focused on cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing technology.
The centre aims to bolster Japan’s chip manufacturing equipment and materials industries, where the country has significant strengths.
The new facility, expected to be completed within three to five years, will feature extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) equipment.
Manufacturers of equipment and materials companies will have the opportunity to pay a fee to utilise the facility for prototyping and testing purposes.
This will be the first centre of its kind in Japan where industry members can collaborate and jointly access EUV equipment.
The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, will run the facility.
Intel will provide its chip manufacturing expertise with EUV technology. The centre’s total investment is expected to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Attribution: The Nikkei Asia
Subediting: M. S. Salama
