Japan Plans Additional ¥400 Billion Investment in Rapidus to Advance 2nm Chip Production
METI’s proposed funding over fiscal 2027–2029 would raise total government investment to ¥650 billion and support efforts to secure ¥2 trillion in private financing ahead of planned 2nm mass production in 2027.
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) plans to seek an additional ¥400 billion (around US$2.5 billion) in government investment in chipmaker Rapidus over three fiscal years starting in 2027.
The plan was disclosed on 19 October in documents submitted to a subcommittee of the Fiscal System Council, which advises Japan's Finance Minister. METI is seeking ¥150 billion in its fiscal 2027 budget request and expects to request a further ¥150 billion for fiscal 2028 and ¥100 billion for fiscal 2029.
The new funding would bring total government investment in Rapidus to ¥650 billion, on top of the ¥250 billion already committed. It is intended to strengthen the company's equity base and help it secure around ¥2 trillion in private loans, partly backed by government guarantees.
Rapidus is targeting mass production of 2nm logic semiconductors in the second half of fiscal 2027 at its IIM-1 facility in Chitose, Hokkaido. In April 2026, the company opened an analysis centre and its Rapidus Chiplet Solutions back-end R&D base in Chitose. As of June 2026, its stated capital and legal capital surplus totalled ¥424.95 billion.
