Japan’s Rapidus Gains Significant American Clients for Its 2nm Technology, Accelerating Competition with TSMC and Intel

Rapidus is making significant strides in the competitive 2nm semiconductor market, recently announcing notable interest from major American clients, with many more potential partnerships on the horizon.

Rapidus’ 2nm Technology: A Strong Contender Against TSMC’s N2

For those unfamiliar, Rapidus is a prominent player in Japan’s semiconductor industry, vying with global heavyweights like TSMC, Samsung, and Intel as it develops state-of-the-art chip technology, including the 2nm process. Last year, the company revealed its innovative ‘2HP’ manufacturing process, detailed extensively in our previous analysis on its logic density and specific capabilities. According to a recent report by a Japanese media outlet, CEO Atsuyoshi Koike has mentioned that major American firms are showing significant interest in Rapidus’ next-generation processes.

Atsuyoshi Koike, president of Rapidus (Tokyo), which aims to mass-produce next-generation semiconductors in Chitose City, stated on the 30th that several American companies will be considered for prototypes of customer products, which will begin next year. He emphasized that IBM and Tenstorrent, a semiconductor design company, are already frontrunners, with the possibility of contracts with other firms.– Hokkaido Shimbun

Two American titans are particularly notable among the companies interested in Rapidus’ 2nm process: IBM and Tenstorrent. IBM, a long-time collaborator with Rapidus, has provided essential packaging technology and R&D support, positioning itself as one of the primary users of this cutting-edge technology. The inclusion of Tenstorrent adds an exciting dimension to this narrative, especially given the industry insights of its CEO, Jim Keller, who has previously held executive roles at Intel and AMD.

Unbranded silicon wafer with colorful reflections on a dark surface. — Image Credits: Rapidus

Tenstorrent has quickly established itself as a leader in artificial intelligence solutions built on the RISC-V architecture. Keller’s reputation for innovative approaches and strategic maneuvers suggests that a partnership with Rapidus could yield groundbreaking results. There are also whispers that NVIDIA may be contemplating collaboration with the Japanese firm, but details remain uncertain.

With Rapidus aggressively advancing its 2nm offerings, the company is on track to provide Process Design Kits (PDKs) to clients by the first quarter of 2026. This timeline indicates that mass production could commence as early as late 2026 or early 2027, potentially giving Rapidus a competitive edge over TSMC and Intel, who plan to roll out similar technologies later. Nonetheless, Rapidus’ focus remains firmly on delivering a robust and high-quality product.

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