Japanese technology news in February 2024 covered items and developments in industries and applications including: photonics chips in the semiconductor industry; moves to improve Japan’s government cybersecurity; semiconductor manufacturing investments in Japan in February; Japan’s quantum technology exports to the Australian market; and more.
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Critical technologies, globally: February 2024
- Intel, Japan’s NTT and South Korea’s SK Hynix partner on next-gen photonics chips, allowing communication using light instead of using electrons, with sights on semiconductor integration
- Japan: Gov’t considers which companies will receive subsidies from $20.3BN fund for clean hydrogen supply by the end of 2024, looking to cut the cost gap between H2 and fossil equivalents
- Japan and Italy to step up defense and economic ties as Rome positions for a greater Indo-Pacific role, shortly after Italy’s exit from China’s Belt and Road Initiative
“But in a Monday report, Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun said several government organizations handling classified information agreed to inspect their systems and improve their vulnerable programs. They include: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, the National Police Agency, the Public Security Intelligence Agency and the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office.”
“In order to drastically strengthen cyber defense, the Japanese government aims to introduce “active cyber defense,” which monitors information systems from peacetime to detect signs and prevent serious cyber attacks before they happen.”
“Japan expects to expand the number of specialized cyber units to approximately 4,000 by the end of 2027 from approximately 890 in 2022.”
- Japan to run cyber-defense drills with Pacific Islands nations Palau, Nauru, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Kiribati
- Japan: An intro to SKY Perfect JSAT, set to deploy orbital lasers to deliver high-precision ground surface data via LiDAR tech, alongside laser-driven space debris removal
- Japan: Gov’t backs research on cutting-edge fabrication tech with $300M for Leading-edge Semicon Tech Center, seeking coordination on nanotech, AI and more, and with support for Rapidus chip manufacturer
- Japan: Rapidus semiconductor firm plans prototype production of 2nm chips by H1 2025, stepping into direct competition with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing’s 2025 2nm mass production plans
Japan: “In June 2023, an obscure semiconductor materials supplier announced that it was set to be taken over by an investment fund in a $6.4bn deal….”
- Japan: Leading-edge Semiconductor Technology Center gains gov’t backing to as much as $300M with sights on 1.4nm chip manufacturing know-how by 2028, in partnership with Rapidus semicon firm
- Japan: City of Kochi to step into the metaverse for boost via ‘virtual tourism’ in partnership with Philippines-based Start Lands
- Japan component of US Space Forces expected to activate this year, building on activation of South Korea component in December 2022
ORF: Fixing Cyber Vulnerabilities – A Quad Agenda
- Japan: Techstars to launch 3-month program in Tokyo, selecting 12 startups for mentorship on business models and pitches, with potential for $120K investment
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency successfully launched its new H3 rocket, a delivery vehicle with a 6.5 metric ton payload capability
- Japan: Cabinet reportedly approved a relaxation to investment rules, allowing VC-style funds to hold cryptocurrencies and crypto-assets
- Japan: An overview of the factors underpinning the country’s achievements in swiftly developing a semiconductor manufacturing industry
NBR: Bolstering and Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains
- Japan: Softbank Group founder reportedly exploring establishment of $100BN AI chip company, Project Izanagi, with sights on similar industry standing to NVIDIA, Intel and AMD
- Inaugural Japan Global Innovators’ Forum set for March 15th, with discussions focusing on age tech, disaster relief tech, ESG and clean energy
- Japan: Government-backed research group to partner Tenstorrent Inc on the design of its first advanced AI semiconductor chip, built on open-standard RISC-V architecture
- Taiwan’s Touche Solutions’ enters Japan’s robotics sector with Touche ‘tactile skin’ to be integrated into Denso’s new ‘collaborative robot’ models as foundational safety measure
- Samsung wins its first 2nm AI chip order from Japan’s Preferred Networks Inc in switch from PFN’s past TSMC supply of advanced chips
WEF Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2024
- Samoa to gain $16M in grant aid to improve National University of Samoa facilities, boosting connections with the Pacific Islands nation
- Australia: Japan’s NEC conglomerate and Canada’s D-Wave launch two quantum tech services for the Australian market, featuring cloud access to quantum computing alongside consultancy services
- “In 2022, the bulk of its research and development engineers were based in China but [Taiwan’s] Alchip has begun moving roles overseas, many to Japan…”
- Australia: Battery manufacturing supply chain set for Queensland with agreement inked with Japan’s Idemitsu for grid-scale production of vanadium flow batteries, an alternative to lithium-ion
StormWall: Analysis of DDoS cyber-attacks in 2023 in Asia Pacific
Asia’s tech news: Other editions
Deloitte: Global Semiconductor Industry Outlook in 2024 –
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