ラピダス融資に政府保証　量産支援で検討―経産省

　経済産業省は３１日、デジタル分野などの産業政策の在り方を検討する有識者会議を開き、次世代半導体の国産化を目指すラピダス（東京）への支援で新たな枠組みを検討する方針を示した。民間金融機関の融資に対し、政府保証を付けることなどが選択肢となる。量産開始をにらみ、円滑な資金調達を後押しする狙いがある。
　新たな枠組みについて法改正の必要性などを議論し、年末までに具体化する考えだ。経産省は、これまでラピダスに研究開発支援として最大９２００億円の国費の投入を決めた。量産化段階の支援策として、必要な製造装置の発注に伴う巨額な支払いへの助成などについて検討する。（2024/05/31-18:56）

Japan's industry ministry suggested Friday it is considering guaranteeing private loans to Rapidus Corp. to help the Japanese chipmaker mass-produce next-generation semiconductors at home.
   The loan guarantees are expected to be offered under an envisaged new framework to support Rapidus' smooth funding for the start of mass production, according to a plan presented by the ministry at a meeting of experts.
   The ministry plans to flesh out specific support measures by the end of this year after discussing possible revisions of related laws. As much as 920 billion yen in state aid will be provided to Rapidus for research and development. Subsidies to help the firm pay for huge orders of manufacturing equipment will be considered as a support measure at the mass production stage.
   Rapidus aims to start mass production of semiconductor chips with a circuit line width of 2 nanometers from 2027.
   The company is expected to spend some 5 trillion yen by the launch of mass production, including costs for its plant being constructed in Chitose, Hokkaido, northernmost Japan.