Rapidus, Japan's most ambitious chipmaker, has unveiled plans to begin constructing a second factory in Hokkaido in 2027, with the production of its most advanced 1.4 nm chips expected to start in early 2029. This project is a central part of a trillion-yen initiative supported by substantial government funding. The new facility will follow the company's first plant in Chitose, which is on schedule to begin mass production of 2 nm chips by late 2027 . Rapidus plans to commence intensive research on 1.4 nm technology in 2026, continuing its collaboration with IBM, which has provided the technological foundation for its advancements.

We previously reported on the successful tape-out of a 2 nm GAA test chip, with plans for high-volume production by 2027. During their presentation at Hot Chips 2025, the company outlined its objectives for the new IIM-1 foundry, where these chips will be manufactured, as well as its strategy to attract customers familiar with other fabs like TSMC and potentially Intel. The Rapidus 2 nm GAA test chip was developed using EUV tools from ASML, and the node has met all the required electrical characteristics established from the outset. With volume production slated for 2027, the Rapidus CEO notes that approximately 25,000 wafers will be produced per month at their IIM-1 fab.