ベルギー研究機関と連携　次世代半導体国産―ラピダス

　日本の半導体産業の復権に向けて国内企業８社が設立した「Ｒａｐｉｄｕｓ（ラピダス）」は６日、ベルギーの研究開発機関「ｉｍｅｃ（アイメック）」と次世代半導体の開発で協力する覚書を交わした。技術協力を受け、次世代半導体の量産技術確立に役立てる。
　ラピダスは、トヨタ自動車、ＮＴＴ、ＮＥＣなどが共同出資で設立。経済産業省の後押しを受け、２０２７年をめどに回路線幅２ナノメートル（ナノは１０億分の１）世代の先端半導体の量産を目指している。アイメックは、回路線幅の微細化に必要なＥＵＶ（極端紫外線）露光技術に強みを持つ。（2022/12/06-20:44）

A consortium formed by eight Japanese firms to revive the country's semiconductor industry signed Tuesday a cooperation deal with a Belgian research institute.
   The tie-up with the Belgian institute, imec, is expected to help the joint firm, Rapidus Corp., establish technologies to mass produce next-generation 2-nanometer chips around 2027. One nanometer is a billionth of a meter. The eight firms include Toyota Motor Corp. , Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. and NEC Corp. .
   "The collaboration with imec will lead to solving a number of technical challenges," Atsuyoshi Koike, president of Rapidus, told reporters after signing the memorandum on cooperation at the industry ministry in the presence of industry minister Yasutoshi Nishimura.
   The Belgian research organization is advanced in extreme ultraviolet exposure technology necessary for producing ultra-fine circuit lines.