隨著鰭式場效電晶體(FinFET)技術逼近物理極限,半導體產業正經歷典範轉移,2奈米以下製程必須採用環繞式閘極電晶體(GAA)與背面供電網路(BSPDN)。台積電雖持續主導先進製程製造,但日本國家隊Rapidus挾政府全力支持,目標在2027年實現2奈米製程商業化。
透過與IBM、IMEC和ASML的策略聯盟,Rapidus鎖定人工智慧與高效能運算市場,其成功關鍵在於突破三大挑戰:客戶群建立、良率競爭力提升,以及抗衡台積電規模經濟優勢。本文從技術路線、地緣政治與商業策略三維度,解析日本半導體復興計畫的核心佈局。
2奈米製程轉換的核心在於以GAA架構取代FinFET,藉由四面包覆的閘極結構提升電荷控制能力。台積電N2製程規劃2025年量產時僅採用GAA,將BSPDN延後至2026年A16製程導入。反觀Rapidus選擇同步整合GAA與BSPDN技術,預計較台積電初期N2方案提升7-10%電晶體密度。BSPDN將供電線路移轉至晶圓背面,能有效降低電壓損耗與訊號干擾,對資料中心AI加速晶片至關重要。此技術差異可能使Rapidus在2027年成為高效能運算領域的效能領導者。
Rapidus採用源自IBM的小批量試產模式,透過快速迭代加速製程調校,但此策略將使量測成本提升3-5倍。不同於台積電每月數十萬片量產帶來的統計製程管控優勢,Rapidus初期僅規劃每月2.5萬片產能,須仰賴日本材料商信越化學的高階光阻劑與東京電子的EUV量測設備來突破良率瓶頸。該公司2025年4月試產目標良率50%,最終需達80-90%方可具商業競爭力。
Rapidus是日本7兆日圓半導體振興計畫的核心項目,政府補助涵蓋50%研發經費,大幅降低豐田、索尼等企業的投資風險。日本在全球半導體材料市佔達50%,設備領域佔30%,此優勢體現於Rapidus供應鏈:東電子的EUV塗佈顯影設備與JSR的EUV光阻劑,將直接應用於其北海道千歲廠的2奈米產線。
美國晶片法案推動的半導體供應鏈分散政策,與日本技術自主目標形成戰略契合。Rapidus透過IBM取得2奈米GAA技術授權,並能優先取得ASML的EUV機台,相較台積電亞利桑那廠的勞資糾紛與進度延宕更具地緣政治吸引力。此合作模式可能吸引NVIDIA等美系客戶將部分訂單轉移,以規避台海風險。
有別於台積電服務蘋果、聯發科等大批量客戶,Rapidus鎖定AI新創公司與雲端巨頭的小批量高毛利訂單。其首個公開客戶Tenstorrent正是典型案例,該公司AI加速器需最先進製程但出貨量有限,難以在台積電產能分配取得優勢。Rapidus與博通合作開發的2奈米資料中心晶片原型,預計2025年6月完成,可望爭取Google與Meta的訂單驗證。
台積電「開放創新平台」整合設計服務、封裝測試與IP資料庫,形成客戶黏著度。Rapidus缺乏自有生態系,須依賴Alchip等第三方設計服務業者,在設計支援能力上處於劣勢。且台積電N2製程在2026年將達月產10萬片,規模經濟帶來的成本優勢仍是Rapidus難以跨越的門檻。
英特爾18A製程(等效2奈米)受困於GAA轉換與IDM 2.0模式調整,量產時程從2024年延至2025年後。其10奈米製程良率問題延續至Intel 4製程,反映組織慣性與技術路線搖擺的雙重困境。Rapidus憑藉全新產線與專注代工模式,避免重蹈英特爾的歷史包袱。
三星2022年量產的3奈米GAA製程良率長期低於50%,導致高通轉單台積電3奈米。2014年台積電商業間諜案更重創三星企業形象,使其難以爭取高效能運算訂單。Rapidus藉由IBM技術背書與日系品質信譽,有望突破客戶信任障礙。
Rapidus至2027年量產需投入4兆日圓(約253億美元),超過現有政府補助規模。儘管規劃2026年IPO募資1.5兆日圓,但若未能取得NVIDIA等指標客戶產能承諾,資本市場信心將面臨考驗。其1.4奈米研發計畫需與法國Leti合作開發CFET架構,技術不確定性極高。
中國武力犯台將癱瘓台積電生產,此情境使Rapidus成為美系客戶的風險分散選項。但「台灣+1」策略須在非危機狀態下證明技術競爭力,否則僅能扮演備援角色。Rapidus需在2027年前建立不可替代的技術優勢,方能擺脫地緣政治附屬定位。
Rapidus代表日本自1980年代半導體黃金時期後,最完整的產業復興戰略。其成功要素在於聚焦AI/HPC利基市場、突破良率門檻,以及爭取指標客戶背書。儘管台積電的生態系與規模優勢仍難撼動,但Rapidus憑藉國家資本、美日技術同盟與次世代架構整合,已成為先進製程領域的潛在顛覆者。值得關注的是,台積電將在2027年推進至1.4奈米製程,Rapidus的趕超窗口正在縮小。這場競賽不僅是技術之爭,更是全球半導體地緣政治重組的關鍵指標。
資料來源
[1] Clash of the Foundries: Gate All Around + Backside Power at 2nm https://semianalysis.com/2024/10/01/clash-of-the-foundries/
[2] Rapidus will be TSMC's strongest rival in the near future - Andy Lin https://www.granitefirm.com/blog/us/2024/10/02/rapidus-tsmcs-rival/
[3] The desperate battle for 2 nanometers will heat up next year https://semiwiki.com/forum/index.php
[4] Full text of "Technical Bulletins" - Internet Archive http://archive.org/stream/technicalbulleti276300usderich/technicalbulleti276300usderich_djvu.txt
[5] Japan's ambitious semiconductor plan - RIETI https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/papers/contribution/willem-thorbecke/22.html
[6] Japan's Rapidus shares views on TSMC competition and 2nm ... https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20230517VL203/japan-rapidus-tsmc.html
[7] IBM's Collaboration With Rapidus Will Likely ignite Japan's ... https://seekingalpha.com/article/4638236-ibm-collaboration-rapidus-will-likely-ignite-japans-semiconductor-industry
[8] TSMC reportedly rejected Samsung's bid for manufacturing Exynos ... https://www.reddit.com/r/hardware/comments/1i29mop/tsmc_reportedly_rejected_samsungs_bid_for/
[9] Full text of "Examination papers" - Internet Archive https://archive.org/stream/examinationpape01torogoog/examinationpape01torogoog_djvu.txt
[10] What are you thoughts on Rapidus Japan? : r/hardware - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/hardware/comments/1goqika/what_are_you_thoughts_on_rapidus_japan/
[11] Rapidus 2 nanometer has overtaken the curve and has 30 major ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LM-nnccBMQ
[12] Jung Yoon - IBM | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jung-yoon-1ab32815
[13] Japan Semiconductor Strategy 2024+1/2: AI Chip Enterprise ... https://riscv.or.jp/en/2024/11/japansemistrategy2024plushalf/
[14] [半導體] 2奈米之戰!Rapidus 集日本全國之力,能否撼動台積電霸主 ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0YNFZTzixc
[15] TSMC gets emerging and serious challenges - Andy Lin https://www.granitefirm.com/blog/us/2023/01/28/tsmc-serious-crises/
[16] [PDF] Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County http://www.libraryweb.org/~digitized/serials/roch_academy_of_science/v8.pdf
[17] Rapidus tackles three major challenges; initial production yield ... https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20250110PD215/rapidus-2nm-chips-funding-production.html
[18] Taiwan's government approves plans for Silicon Valley-style tech ... https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/taiwans-government-approves-plans-for-silicon-valley-style-tech-hub-including-1nm-tsmc-fab/
[19] EUV's Future Looks Even Brighter - Semiconductor Engineering https://semiengineering.com/euvs-future-looks-even-brighter/
[20] If you believe in Hobbits you can believe in Rapidus - SemiWiki https://semiwiki.com/semiconductor-services/semiconductor-advisors/351409-report-from-semicon-japan-2024/
[21] Rapidus and IBM reach new milestone on 2 nm chip production https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rapidus-corporation-us_rapidus-and-ibm-reach-new-milestone-on-2-activity-7272037107785691136-dWfa
[22] Semiconductor Industry News - January 2025 Update - Sourcengine https://www.sourcengine.com/blog/semiconductor-industry-news
[23] my country is vigorously developing third-generation semiconductor ... https://en.eeworld.com.cn/news/manufacture/eic509328.html
[24] Rapidus CEO eyes Computex to pitch 2nm alternative to TSMC https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20250207PD229/rapidus-computex-ceo-tsmc-2nm.html
[25] kartik Nirwal on LinkedIn: Market Share in the Semiconductor ... https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kartik-nirwal-365095267_market-share-in-the-semiconductor-industry-activity-7264906356594216961-HhWP
[26] TSMC takes over Intel foundry? Samsung and Rapidus face steep ... https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20250219PD203/tsmc-intel-samsung-rapidus-market.html
[27] The third generation of semiconductor materials: the most ideal ... https://en.eeworld.com.cn/news/manufacture/eic509737.html
[28] [PDF] The Case for Globalization and Robust Global Value Chains Grows ... https://www.cgdev.org/sites/default/files/case-globalization-and-robust-global-value-chains-grows-stronger.pdf
[29] 台積電先進製程最大勁敵是日本?Rapidus衝2奈米勇奪 ... - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RznM6s50gSQ
[30] Japan's 2nm chip factory Rapidus trial production has ... - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vQLWywF4Zk
[31] Semiconductor Recap #6 - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/semiconductor-recap-6-edson-bellido-nr3bc
[32] This article discloses that “Japan's Semiconductor Strategy 2024+1 ... https://riscv.or.jp/en/2024/12/25169/
[33] A senior executive of a major Taiwanese company revealed the truth ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuBSo7AWIfs
[34] [PDF] agricultural experiment station - K-State Research and Extension https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/historicpublications/pubs/BR10.pdf
[35] Robert Quinn on LinkedIn: #semiconductors #2nm #rapidus ... https://www.linkedin.com/posts/robertquinn2020_semiconductors-2nm-rapidus-activity-7272952136513011712-llD5
[36] Bert Verrycken on LinkedIn: Japan government plans to invest $1.3 ... https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bertverrycken_japan-government-plans-to-invest-13-bln-activity-7265023645968703491-wZmx
[37] Interview: Henri Richard on Rapidus, experience and ecosystem ... https://www.eenewseurope.com/en/interview-henri-richard-on-rapidus-experience-and-ecosystem/