Japan approves $3.9 billion in subsidies for chipmaker Rapidus

Japan's industry ministry said on Tuesday it has approved subsidies worth up to 590 billion yen ($3.9 billion) for chip foundry venture Rapidus as Tokyo pushes forward with plans to rebuild the country's chip manufacturing base.

Rapidus is headed by industry veterans and is targeting mass production of cutting-edge chips on the northern island of Hokkaido from 2027 in partnership with IBM and Belgium-based research organisation Imec.

Countries around the world are looking to strengthen their control over chip supply chains after global shocks including the COVID-19 pandemic and trade tensions between the United States and China.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), the world's largest contract chipmaker has spent decades honing its processes, and many in the industry are sceptical about the prospects for success by Rapidus.